First Time Trip

[BigErn]

After reading this forum for over a year, I finally get to post a question as we are taking our first trip to IR in early June. My girlfriend, best friend and his girlfriend. All are in our 20s and are in good shape. I was hoping for ideas on a good route. Hoping to vary our hikes each day between the 3 to 10 mile range.

We are departing from Grand Portage and taking it to McCargoe Cove. We have five nights on the island and are getting picked up at Chippewa Harbor.

Other than McCargoe and Chippewa, we definitely want to hit Moskey Basin, but other than that we're open to ideas. Moving from north to south, does anyone have a good route or sites to stay? We were originally thinking of staying at a different site each day, but if one place is better than others, we'd consider staying a couple nights at one.

[drobarge]

Welcome Ern!

I'm sure you will get plenty of advice. I'll give you my quick 2 cents. Mcargoe is probably a good idea for the first night. I think you will arrive there around 2:30 if i remember correctly. walk up to the Minong mine and poke around till dinner time. Mcargoe is a good candidate for 2 nights but I'm sure you will be anxious to get going. Avoid spending the night at E. Chickenbone. Moskey is a favorite of many... don't miss out on a night there. Chippewa is easily a 2 night stop with exelent day hiking to pass the time.

Welcome to the boards and enjoy your planning!

[Tom]

Welcome!

Like drobarge says, staying the first night at McCargoe would be perfect. The boat will arrive around 1:30 CDT (2:30 Island time, but most of us coming from MN just keep our watches on Central, since that's what the boats do.) You'll have plenty of daylight to hike up to the Minong Mines, and relax by the dock. There is also a community fire ring, although good wood can be hard to find. If you snag a shelter, you won't need to set up your tent, and they can accommodate four without worry.
So... Let's see... Answer: McCargoe, Moskey, Chippewa. Question: What is the trifecta of campsites I would have no issue staying multiple nights.
You can't go wrong, and with the area of the island you have planned, you have options. Sure, the easy answer (and easy on the legs) would be McCargoe - Chickenbone West - Ritchie - Moskey - Chippewa. You can fish the inland lakes without a license; the other three have availability of shelters, and fires can be made at the first and last. (Chippewa has grill stands at the shelters, and rings at the tent sites.)
If you want a bigger challenge, then you could do: McCargoe - Todd Harbor - Hatchet Lake - Lake Ritchie - Chippewa. If the legs are good, you can bypass Ritchie and go another 2.1 miles to Moskey that day, or hop off the boat and skip McCargoe for more options.
Or, relax your way on the Isle; McCargoe, Moskey, Chippewa - Pick any two for a extra night each.

Planning is half the fun!

[bergman]

We have five nights on the island and are getting picked up at Chippewa Harbor.

Assuming everyone in your party can make it happen, why not 6 nites in the park? (Sail monday with a sunday return).

Early June will be a great time to go; plenty of wildflowers & good chance to see a newborn calf. But there is a good chance for some "challenging" weather, which could potentially put a damper on a day or two. Having that extra day, especially on your 1st trip to the park, could prove to be outstanding.

[BigErn]

Thanks all for the advice and info. We would love to stay six nights, but the other couple are flying in from AZ to Duluth, so we can only fit it in for those nights that accomodate the flight times, so we're doing Saturday through Thursday morning.

Tom, I'm really liking the idea of staying a couple nights at either Chippewa and McCargoe, or two nights at one of them and then staying one night at Ritchie. I see there are two listed campsites on Ritchie, one right on the trail and one just off the trail to the west. Is either one suitable?

Really hoping the weather is somewhat accomodating. How are the bugs typically at that time of year?

[Ingo]

The Lake Ritchie site to the west is the canoe campground and is not trail accessible. Generally bugs will worse at the inland sites (Ritchie and Chickenbone). Nice thing is that if they're too bad you have the option of going on a couple miles to Moskey. No guarantee they'll be better, of course , but the odds are better.