Isle Royale Forums

Hi everyone. I haven't done an overnight backpacking trip since 2019 in Colorado. Lots of day hikes but nothing remote enough for my taste. I was last on IRNP in 2018, and have the itch. I moved back to the Midwest, and although my partner refuses to do backcountry backpacking I'm ready to get out there again. I look forward to reading through last year's trip reports, but wondering if anyone has anything "new" to share that might have changed on the Island in the past 7 years.

I'm looking at a possible early June trip this year. Glad to be back in the MW and happy to be back on IR Forums!

There are some new food storage rules (because of the wolves) for specific campsites on the eastern end of the island. Take a look at the website for specifics.


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I think you may notice more hikers than seven years ago, perhaps especially first timers. Make sure you reserve your ferry seats (if that is how you plan to arrive).

JerryB wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2025 4:16 pm I think you may notice more hikers than seven years ago, perhaps especially first timers. Make sure you reserve your ferry seats (if that is how you plan to arrive).

Interesting. It looks like 2023 had the highest visitation since the record of 1987. I wonder how many visited in 2024. Still my favorite place to visit, even if there will be more people. I went down the Minong Ridge last time and ran into very few people (and an abandoned tent) between McCargoe Cove and Wendigo, which were both packed.

On one of my trips Rock Harbor looked like a refugee camp because the Ranger was delayed by a day. There were people sitting around on nearly every free space. Can't wait to get back at it.

Thanks for the heads up about food storage!

The island has officially gone "cashless" for the past few years, but be careful: That only means that the NPS-operated portions require credit cards and won't accept cash. The concessionaire-operated portions (such as the stores) still seem to accept cash. Early in the season, the concessionaire only accepts cash.

Long story short, bring both cash and card, just in case.

The forum seems a lot quieter than I remember. Are people using other formats like Facebook or Reddit?

Neither are very active in my experience but Reddit gets a lot of 'Check My Itinerary' posts

Welcome back, Tortuga!

Quieter forums: I suspect other newfangled (snappier and more photo friendly) platforms have siphoned off activity/new recruits. But words abide, and so will we.

island changes: brace yourself for a new and most inane LNT briefing upon arrival!

torpified wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:35 am island changes: brace yourself for a new and most inane LNT briefing upon arrival!

How inane is it?!

"if" they hire staff in time to give the talks

RedLeg wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 8:50 am "if" they hire staff in time to give the talks

I'm assuming if they can't hire they may not be able to even staff the Ranger over. And if there's a shutdown, doesn't the park close?

torpified wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:35 am Welcome back, Tortuga!

Quieter forums: I suspect other newfangled (snappier and more photo friendly) platforms have siphoned off activity/new recruits. But words abide, and so will we.

island changes: brace yourself for a new and most inane LNT briefing upon arrival!

Thank you! Saw you might be doing moose watch, and while it's something I would never do myself, I wish you an amazing and safe experience!

dcclark wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:54 am How inane is it?!

So inane that if you know better, you can snag a shelter before the end of the briefing!

re Food storage... Last year a couple a couple of young wolves decided that food from humans was easier than hunting, humans aren't that scary, and proceeded to raid campsites, dumpsters in R.H., dragged off packs, etc. It seemed to be limited to 2 wolves. By the end of summer the NPS had food lockers (initially the crates/cages that were used to relocate them to IR) at all campgrounds from Moskey to R.H. The rules (for the NE campgrounds) were all food and such had to be stored in the lockers, and you could not leave anything, including packs, unattended or outside a shelter. So yes, if you were tenting and wanted to day hike, you had to pack your pack with you. And they did write some citations. The hope is they'll learn better behavior over the winter, or perhaps the high 1st year mortality of wolves will solve the problem. I would expect the rules may be fluid over the season as the situation becomes known and plays out (like they were last year).