Mid August trip - how crowded?

[egraetze]

The last time I waet to Isle Royale was 25 years ago (86 & 87). Both trips were in early June. The first year we arrived and departed from Rock Harbor and went as far west at McGargo Cove. We only saw a handful of people on the trail through the day and the only busy area seemed to be around Daisy Farm. The second year we went the length of the island. From Windigo we didn't see a single person on the trail nor at Island Mine, Lake Desor, nor Hatchet Lake. We saw our first people in 3 days at Chickenbone Lake.
I intend on doing the length again this summer. How crowded does it get in August - for west of Chickenbone, and for Lake Richie on east to Rock Harbor? I am concerned with having to deal with crowds.

Eric

[Keweenaw]

Hi,

Mid-July to mid-August is the "busy" time so you will be on the tail end of it. "Crowded" is usually a relative term on the Island. When it's crowded you may pass 4 or 5 people/groups on a 10 mile hike and you run the chance of having to double up a tent site in a campground. On the other hand, you may see nobody. Generally speaking the largest "crowds" will be Daisy Farm, Threemile, and Rock Harbor. After that I would say McCargoe Cove, West Chickenbone, and Moskey Basin. A lot of people, especially first-timers, do a loop out of Rock Harbor.

Bob

[egraetze]

Thanks for the reply. We are going for sure and will do the length. Really wanted to have a stay are Lake Richie, which I considered the nicest site from my first stay there, but will likely avoid and stick with the Greenstone Ridge and may not stay at Daisy Farm, and would not stay at 3 Mile. I am just debating whether I want to give the Minong Ridge a try. I may just go up Greenstone, then cut over to Minong at Hatchet Lake. Can't wait to go, and am not worried about crowds anymore.

[fonixmunkee]

I've avoided August on Isle Royale for the fact that it is busy during that time (as mentioned, "busy," of course being a relative term). However, the one time I did go I made the large mistake of spending time on the east end of the island, specifically the places you should avoid in busy times...Rock Harbor, Daisy Farm, and Three Mile.

Daisy Farm was a zoo, it was so packed. It felt more like a KOA campground than a "backwoods" camp site. Three Mile wasn't as busy because people pushed to Daisy or Rock, and when we had to stay at Rock to catch our boat, we were forced into a group campsite because everything else there was full up.

Best bet is the West side of the island, and probably the parts that don't get a lot of action because they are really only accessed by the VII from Grand Portage. If you are coming to the island from Grand Portage, you're in great shape. That's the less traveled side, so you're going to be sitting pretty. However, spots like Chickenbone will be bumping, because they are popular during peak season (great lake, great views, great campsites, on the "main drag,", great fishing, etc. etc.). I'd be fully prepared to have to push through to Richie, or split a group site at West Chickenbone. And from what I've heard, sharing a group site with strangers or heading to Richie is better than spending time at EAST Chickenbone.

I'll be doing the Minong this year, and can guarantee you'll have some crowd-free days. The last time I did the Minong was early June, and we had a full boat from Grand Portage. However, when we got on the Minong we only saw two people the entire time...one person at Todd Harbor, and then one person just outside of McCargoe. I think the same will ring true for any time of year because the Minong is the equalizer...it's a tough trail. A lot of the weekend warriors will shy away from this and stick to the relative ease of the East side trails.

And again. no matter what, "busy" is again relative. A "busy day" on Isle Royale is probably the least-troublesome thing you'll experience in your life.

[egraetze]

Thanks for the additional advice. I've stayed at East Chickenbone after a long trek from Lane Cove on our second day there during the first time to the island. I did not like it, and would not stay there again. West Chickenbone was much nicer and Lake Richie was our favorite for the east end. For the west end, Lake Desor was a beautiful place to camp. I am thinking now to stick to the west side longer and do as much of the Minong as we believe we can handle, then try for McCargoe Cove as our first mid island site. From there, head down to Lake Richie for an easy day, or stick with the Greenstone and completely avoid the Rock Harbor/3 mile/Daisy Farm highway. I do recall that the trip from Lake Richie to Daisy Farm on our first trip to the island was not particularly scenic whereas the Greenstone from Lane Cover to Chickenbone was very scenic. The only drawback at the time was a long hike in upper 80 degree weather. We were pretty exhausted by the time we reached East Chickenbone so we didn't press to West Chickenbone nor McCargoe Cove that day.
This trip we are arriving by plane to Windigo on a Saturday, then departing by plane or Ranger III the following Saturday. Going with my son and older daughter. They are both excited to be taking the trip.