Isle Royale Forums

Does the East feldtman Trail still exist? It is shown on the topo heading south from Windigo and passing east of Feldtman lae and joining the Feldtman Ridge trail. It is not shown on any park map as a legitimate trail and was wondering if it still existed. Can see no evidence of it on aerials but then again none of the other trails show much either.

No, the East Feldtmann Lake Trail does not exist anymore.

Some of the trails on Isle Royale have been rerouted over the years and the older USGS maps do not always reflect those changes. The best and most up-to-date map for the trails on Isle Royale is the "National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map".

Does the Trails Illustrated map have the same degree of detail you can get with a 7.5 topo map? I assume all trails and portages are highlighted as well?

Check out the following link. Click the "Open Preview" button.

http://www.natgeomaps.com/ti_240

Funny you should bring this up. I have just obtained an "official" trail map from 1965. I am going to do a comparison in detail when I get a chance, but to follow up on the question. I was aware and have a map showing the East Feldtmann Trail that was abandoned, but the 1965 map shows only that trail (the east) and does not even show the current trail. I was also aware of Island Mine and East Chickenbone being relatively new campgrounds, but this map does not have either Lake Richies, Lane Cove and quite a few canoe campgrounds and all campgrounds along the Minong Ridge Trail except Todd Harbor because there was not a Minong Ridge Trail! Just a trail to Todd via Hatchet Lake.

I must be out of date on something on my computer. The map at the link you posted just comes up black but thanks for trying:-)The map info says 1:50,000,000 so it is only one fourth as detailed as a 7.5 minute map (1:24,000,000) Still no doubt good enough to hike by but I"d prefer a 7.5 minute map especially if going cross country. The elevation changes are so much more detailed on a 7.5 as opposed to a 15 minute quadrangle.
Also I have noticed that the topos are quite out of date in regards to campsites also.

Mike has detailed every trail, portage and campground in his book. It was a long tedious process, but he accomplished it.

MikeT wrote:Funny you should bring this up. I have just obtained an "official" trail map from 1965.

Pictures please! This sounds really cool.

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I just posted a short trip report on this trail (under trip reports) from a 1985 hike.