Isle Royale Forums

I just discovered this forum, and have enjoyed reading through it. My family (including two kids, who will be 6 and 4 years old) would like to visit Isle Royale next summer.

We enjoy camping, but we are definitely not well-seasoned outdoorspersons. I did some backpacking in boy scouts about 100 years ago, but that's about it. At this point, extensive backpacking is not something we would be able to do. We are in Minnesota, so it looks like the easiest way for us to get there would be from Grand Portage to Windigo.

It looks like the Washington Creek Campground is .3 miles from Windigo, which I think we could handle. I've carried suitcases that distance through airports. However, it looks like the next closest campground is 3 miles away. Carrying all of our junque 3 miles is probably beyond our capabilities.

So here are my questions:

1. Does this sound like a crazy idea? We'll take the time to do the planning, but we'll basically be a bunch of out-of-shape city slickers showing up in the wilderness for a couple of nights.

2. More importantly, is there any possibility that we show up and the Washington Creek Campground is completely full? I think we would prefer a shelter, but we'll have a tent with us. If necessary, we would be willing to double up on a tent site with another group. But it would be a major problem if we showed up (just as the boat is sailing away, no doubt) and be told that the campground is absolutely completely full, and we have to hike to the next one three miles away. Is there any possibility that would happen?

3. Is drinking water available in Windigo (either for sale or from the tap)? I can probably walk .3 miles to fetch water, which I would prefer to buying a water filter.

4. It looks like sandwiches and other food are for sale in Windigo. It would help with the food planning if we could plan on buying one meal a day. Is that a viable plan?

5. From Minnesota, is Windigo the best place to go? It looks like we can also take the boat to Rock Harbor, which also has a campground near the dock, but that looks like a much longer boat ride.

I'll probably have more questions (unless you manage to talk us out of this), but that should get us started!

rpc wrote: So here are my questions:

1. Does this sound like a crazy idea? We'll take the time to do the planning, but we'll basically be a bunch of out-of-shape city slickers showing up in the wilderness for a couple of nights.

Sounds reasonable to me. How does the wife feel about pit toilets?

2. More importantly, is there any possibility that we show up and the Washington Creek Campground is completely full? I think we would prefer a shelter, but we'll have a tent with us. If necessary, we would be willing to double up on a tent site with another group. But it would be a major problem if we showed up (just as the boat is sailing away, no doubt) and be told that the campground is absolutely completely full, and we have to hike to the next one three miles away. Is there any possibility that would happen?

There are no guarantees. There are something like 15 shelters at Windigo.

3. Is drinking water available in Windigo (either for sale or from the tap)? I can probably walk .3 miles to fetch water, which I would prefer to buying a water filter.

There is a tap near the dock where the ferry stops.

4. It looks like sandwiches and other food are for sale in Windigo. It would help with the food planning if we could plan on buying one meal a day. Is that a viable plan?

There are no guarantees. When I arrived at Windigo they were out of bread and cold cuts. Those items arrived on the ferry later that day. The store at Windigo is at the end of a very long and complicated supply line. Best if you don't plan to depend on them every day. They are also rather expensive.

5. From Minnesota, is Windigo the best place to go? It looks like we can also take the boat to Rock Harbor, which also has a campground near the dock, but that looks like a much longer boat ride.

It is a longer ride. They also have a bigger store, restaurant, lodge, etc.

I'll probably have more questions (unless you manage to talk us out of this), but that should get us started!

The road to the shelters at Windigo is flat and level, but not paved. You could easily take some sort of cart to the shelters, which are not in the wilderness area. At Rock Harbor they have a number of garden carts people use for moving gear around. I don't recall if they also have these at Windigo. During the store's open season at Windigo there are flush-toilet rest rooms plus a pay self-service laundry and pay showers near the dock. When the store closes, these close too. The store at Windigo does not actually have a lot of food, it's mostly souvenirs. A little milk, sodas, some cereal, a few freeze-dried items, some canned stuff, like Spam, candy, etc.

Hi,

Good that you are checking with the folks here - better than surprises when you get there!

1. Does this sound like a crazy idea? We'll take the time to do the planning, but we'll basically be a bunch of out-of-shape city slickers showing up in the wilderness for a couple of nights.

Crazy ideas are not the same as bad ideas. This sounds like good crazy to me.

2. More importantly, is there any possibility that we show up and the Washington Creek Campground is completely full? I think we would prefer a shelter, but we'll have a tent with us. If necessary, we would be willing to double up on a tent site with another group. But it would be a major problem if we showed up (just as the boat is sailing away, no doubt) and be told that the campground is absolutely completely full, and we have to hike to the next one three miles away. Is there any possibility that would happen?

It is possible but not likely that it would be completely full. They do not put "full" signs out like at state parks. Normally you can double up at a campsite or the rangers may let you stay in a group site overnight if there are no groups there. The next day at around 1 pm the campground will empty out as people get on the Voyager for the return trip. THERE IS A 3 DAY STAY LIMIT AT WINDIGO FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST.

3. Is drinking water available in Windigo (either for sale or from the tap)? I can probably walk .3 miles to fetch water, which I would prefer to buying a water filter.

Yep.

4. It looks like sandwiches and other food are for sale in Windigo. It would help with the food planning if we could plan on buying one meal a day. Is that a viable plan?

As Don said - depends. Also depends what you consider "food". The kids might go for a candy bar dinner.

5. From Minnesota, is Windigo the best place to go? It looks like we can also take the boat to Rock Harbor, which also has a campground near the dock, but that looks like a much longer boat ride.

Rock Harbor stay limit is 1 day during the main season, so probably not an option. If you have the bucks the housekeeping cabins at Rock Harbor are an option.

Keweenaw wrote:THERE IS A 3 DAY STAY LIMIT AT WINDIGO FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST.

And keep in mind that the store (and restrooms) closed on Sept 7th (Labor Day). So, that gives you a fairly narrow window.

Also, in early Sept. I noticed an elderly couple camping at Daisy Farm. They had used C-clamps, battens and a tarp to add some privacy to the front of their shelter (not allowed to use nails or staples). They had obviously been coming to ISRO for many years and knew exactly when, where and how to do it within the rules.

If you do show up at Windigo, it might be a better chance of getting a shelter in the middle of the week.

We have people do this quite often. Just remember, no fires at Washington, so bring a cook stove. The showers and laundry close when the store does, the bathrooms were just closed yesterday. They do have a couple of carts to use at Windigo.

Capt Don wrote:the bathrooms were just closed yesterday.

That's interesting. The store manager told me that the toilets close when the store does. Thanks for the correction.

Thanks for all of the information!

We'll probably be going during the summer months, so we'll avoid things being closed as much as possible.

How does the wife feel about pit toilets?

I think she can handle that. The four year old (now 3) might present the greatest challenge in that department. Having a flush toilet a mere .3 miles away might come in handy.

THERE IS A 3 DAY STAY LIMIT AT WINDIGO FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST.

That would probably be about the limit of our endurance anyway. We were thinking of going for two nights.

They had used C-clamps, battens and a tarp to add some privacy to the front of their shelter (not allowed to use nails or staples).

This brings up another question. We would prefer a shelter, but we'll be bringing a tent just in case. If it gets chilly, can we set up a tent inside the shelter? I'll have to check the dimensions, but I'm pretty sure the one we have would fit.

If you do show up at Windigo, it might be a better chance of getting a shelter in the middle of the week.

That's what I was thinking.

They do have a couple of carts to use at Windigo.

That's a very useful piece of information! Among other things, that means I don't have to worry so much about water.

Thanks again for all of the information. I'm sure we'll have more questions!

This brings up another question. We would prefer a shelter, but we'll be bringing a tent just in case. If it gets chilly, can we set up a tent inside the shelter? I'll have to check the dimensions, but I'm pretty sure the one we have would fit.

On our first trip to the island and on our first night staying in a shelter we set up our tent, which was a 4 man tent. It fit fine, but after that and on all my subsequent trips whenever I have gotten a shelter I have never set up the tent in the shelter. Too much work.

rpc wrote:

They had used C-clamps, battens and a tarp to add some privacy to the front of their shelter (not allowed to use nails or staples).

This brings up another question. We would prefer a shelter, but we'll be bringing a tent just in case. If it gets chilly, can we set up a tent inside the shelter? I'll have to check the dimensions, but I'm pretty sure the one we have would fit.

The inside of the shelters is about 8'x12' but I think setting up a tent inside a shelter is a bad idea. Most sleeping bags are good to freezing and I doubt you'd see it that cold in the summer. Most of the time our sleeping bags were too hot and were used as a quilt. The shelters at Windigo are quite protected, so I doubt that any rain would blow into them.

We have set up our tent in the shelter when it is cold/windy (usually May or October). There is no rule against it and it is a good option to have.

Bob

We too have used the tent as a barrier to the wind and for warmth when it was cold out.

Keweenaw wrote:We have set up our tent in the shelter when it is cold/windy (usually May or October). There is no rule against it and it is a good option to have.

While I admit that ISRO is not good about clearly publishing all their regulations, the 2009 Greenstone does say (p. 5),

Tents may not be erected at shelter sites.

If inside the shelter is not at the shelter site, I don't know what is.

DonNewcomb wrote:

Keweenaw wrote:We have set up our tent in the shelter when it is cold/windy (usually May or October). There is no rule against it and it is a good option to have.

While I admit that ISRO is not good about clearly publishing all their regulations, the 2009 Greenstone does say (p. 5),

Tents may not be erected at shelter sites.

If inside the shelter is not at the shelter site, I don't know what is.

This refers to people setting a tent up next to a shelter, in the general area of a shelter.

johnhens wrote:

DonNewcomb wrote:

Keweenaw wrote:We have set up our tent in the shelter when it is cold/windy (usually May or October). There is no rule against it and it is a good option to have.

While I admit that ISRO is not good about clearly publishing all their regulations, the 2009 Greenstone does say (p. 5),

Tents may not be erected at shelter sites.

If inside the shelter is not at the shelter site, I don't know what is.

This refers to people setting a tent up next to a shelter, in the general area of a shelter.

Correct - this reg is about limiting the footprint of use and also not using the shelter as a storage facility.

Keweenaw wrote: Correct - this reg is about limiting the footprint of use and also not using the shelter as a storage facility.

I guess we won't know until someone runs into a very pedantic ranger and an equally pedantic Federal Magistrate.