Isle Royale Forums

Hi, y'all.

I'm planning to solo hike along the Minong Ridge at the end of this month (August). Assuming there are no delays with the Queen IV schedule, I hope to arrive at Rock Harbor by ~11:30 AM. Assuming I'll be ready to hike by 12:30 PM (is there a lot of time involved in getting adjusted when arriving, i.e. permits, etc?), which itinerary is recommend over the other?

Day // Hike
1 Take Queen IV (8:00 am) to Rock Harbor (11:30 am), hike to Moskey Basin: 11.0 mi (11.0 mi)
2 Hike from Moskey Basin to Todd Harbor: 15.2 mi (26.2 mi)
3 Hike from Todd Harbor to Lake Desor (North): 11.2 mi (37.4 mi)
4 Hike from Lake Desor (North) to Windigo: 12.9 mi (50.3 mi)

1 Take Queen IV (8:00 am) to Rock Harbor (11:30 am), hike to McCargoe Cove: 15.1 mi (15.1 mi)
2 Hike from McCargoe Cove to Todd Harbor: 6.6 mi (21.7 mi)
3 Hike from Todd Harbor to Lake Desor (North): 11.2 mi (32.9 mi)
4 Hike from Lake Desor (North) to Windigo: 12.9 mi (45.8 mi)

The main difference between the two is whether I camp the first night at Moskey Basin or McCargoe Cove. What appeals to y'all?

I liked Moskey better personally, but McCargoe isnt bad either. If the boat ride is rough and you are not feeling it maybe you can do the shorter mileage day on day 1 (moskey) and save the bigger miles for the next day.

you can't lose. The stretch of the Greenstone Ridge you could take if you targeted McCargoe (Mt Franklin junction to jog north to McCargoe) is spectacular, but so are the trails you'd walk to (and from) Moskey Basin. I've stayed at Moskey and only walked through McCargoe, so I'm not an ideal witness, but I'm with the sneakymonkey on the relative merits of the campsites.

McCargo is great, but Moskey is awesome, in my opinion. I'm starting at Chippewa this year, up to McCargo and then across the Minong. Even going g to check out East chicken bone.

Of all the sites on the Island, Moskey is #1, McCargoe is #2 or #3 depending on the season.

Just FYI, your mileage between McCargo and Todd is way off unless you're planning to hike back out to the Greenstone and cut over at Hatchet Lake junction; otherwise it's about 6.5 miles if I remember correctly. Personally I'd choose Moskey as your first night...simply to watch the sunrise there the next morning.


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Thanks for the thoughts, y'all. Looks like I'll stick with Moskey.

Donk_67 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 10, 2017 9:21 pm Just FYI, your mileage between McCargo and Todd is way off unless you're planning to hike back out to the Greenstone and cut over at Hatchet Lake junction; otherwise it's about 6.5 miles if I remember correctly. Personally I'd choose Moskey as your first night...simply to watch the sunrise there the next morning.


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Ah, you're absolutely right!! Thanks. I corrected the #'s in my original post.