Isle Royale Forums

Gimp wrote:Just be aware that some of the paddle in campsites are also accesible by larger boats. I spent last Saturday night on Caribou Island and had the unpleasant experience of a group of fisherman playing loud music on their boat ('Swedish Hooker' out of Grand Marais, MN) at the dock from around 8:30 pm to about 11:15 at night. Once the music went off they was still a lot of loud laughing and talking but at least my ear plugs blocked that out. If I could have paddled my canoe over to quiet Daisy Farm I would have done it. Caribou and Daisy Farm aren't really that far away from Rock Harbor. It only took me an hour and 20 minutes to paddle from Caribou Island to Rock Harbor including a five minute stop at Three Mile (they heard the music too). But then I was really ticked off and motivated to get to the Ranger station to file a report about the music, the loud talking, and the still smoldering logs that were left outside of the fire ring.

I didn't stay at Tookers Island but I did visit it on Sunday morning. It's a nice site, but very small. Have a good book with you because there really doesn't seem like much to do there. It's a good way across the water from Rock Harbor so consider your experience because you could find yourself waiting out any high winds or rough conditions. I noticed a sailboat docked at Tookers in the morning before I paddled over for my look around.

I'd recommend that you do your canoe paddling on the Northwest side of Rock Harbor or Tobin Harbor as the terrain and trees protect you from the wind. I wanted to paddle along the Eastern side but found that I was spending too much energy fighting the wind and resulting waves so I crossed over to the Rock Harbor Trail shoreline. I'd read a lot of comments about the prevailing winds on the waterways so I was not too surprised by this, but encountering it first hand was educational to say the least. I've always backpacked the island and enjoyed a good breeze. I have a new perspective after experiencing the winds in a canoe.

I've never been to Merritt Lane but I think that could be a nice destination. You could stop to survey the infamous Duncan to Tobin Harbor portage trail and visit Lookout Louise.

Gimp wrote:drobarge - I hope you didn't take my comment as a criticism of your presence there. I would have met you if I hadn't been so determined to get to the Ranger Station first. A sailboat was docking in Rock Harbor just as I was paddling out to Tookers. Was that you?