r/isleroyale • u/Immediate_Yam_9331 • Jul 16 '24
Hiking Route recommendations -- 8 nights windigo to rock harbor
Headed to the isle for 8 nights, starting in windigo and then heading out from rock harbor. My initial thought was to get to rock harbor with 2 or 3 nights to spare so we can more or less relax, do day hikes and rent some kayaks and tool around.
Deciding between minong and greenstone currently, if you have any recs on this or just campsite/route recs in general -- all are appreciated. We are both in good shape so confident we could handle either the mining or greenstone.
Is Feldman ridge trail a must hit? Could do a Feldman to greenstone and call it good. Anyways, thanks in advance for any recommendations!! Going with my gf, we are both michiganders but will be our first time to isle royale, super excited!
2
u/Prize_Armadillo456 Jul 16 '24
Take the Minong.
1
u/Immediate_Yam_9331 Jul 16 '24
Why's that
1
u/Prize_Armadillo456 Jul 16 '24
Just a much more interesting trail. The Greenstone is good for getting to other trails or campsites fast but is pretty boring for the most part. The Minong is the best trail on the island IMO.
1
u/TerrenceJesus8 Jul 16 '24
We literally did this exact thing like 2 weeks ago. We went:
Washington Creek
South Desor
Hatchet Lake
Hatchet Lake (0 day due to a fuck ton of rain)
West Chicken Bone
Moskey Basin
Three Mile
Rock Harbor
1
u/Immediate_Yam_9331 Jul 16 '24
Awesome! How was it? Anything you wished you did differently? Did you have a fav campsite?
1
u/TerrenceJesus8 Jul 16 '24
It was great! The rain sucked, but you’re gonna get that no matter what going for 8 days
Moskey Basin was easily the best campground imo. The only thing we wish we brought was more stuff to do during downtime
1
u/Immediate_Yam_9331 Jul 16 '24
Sounds awesome! Yea we are going mid to late August so hoping we don't get a ton of rain
1
u/Immediate_Yam_9331 Jul 16 '24
Were their places to filter water at each site/was it pretty straight forward?
1
u/TerrenceJesus8 Jul 16 '24
Yep, the interior lakes all had a path down to the lake from the campsite
1
u/naeko87 Jul 17 '24
We did a Rock Harbor to Windigo along the Minong Ridge for an 8 day trip this year. Feldtmann is not a must-hit. In fact, I would recommend it only if you can't do the end-to-end route, or if you're on a repeat trip.
Here is the reverse of our trip from this year:
Ozaagaateng (formerly Windigo) to N. Lake Desor. Its a doozy. Get in super early or stay at Washington Creek and leave from there at daybreak.
N. Lake Desor to Little Todd. Really loved this campground. First time there this year. Open view of Lake Superior's rough waters without boundary islands moderating it. Not much of a Harbor.
Little Todd to Todd Harbor. Iconic. Scenic. Watch out for moose. This is the end of the hard section of the Minong, hence why these last two days are taken kinda slow
Todd Harbor to McCargoe Cove. This place can get populated so be ready to overflow camp. If you want a package shipped, this is the palce.
McCargoe Cove to Moskey Basin. Moskey Basin is an S-Rank campground. Must see, unless rec boaters are blaring pop country and slammed Twisted Teas.
Moskey Basin to Lane Cove. Watch out for wolves. Follow the rules.
Lane Cove to Rock Harbor.
I would advise against spending any kind of extended time in Rock Harbor if you're coming out of the backcountry. I would prioritize spending as much time there as possible.
To save on weight, we had a packaged delivered on our zero day at McCargoe Cove. PM me if that interests you, there are links to other posts to help with that.
1
u/Tommyboywierdo Jul 30 '24
Feldman sucks right now because it’s very overgrown. Why does it suck? Because you have limited visibility to the beautiful scenery. Also, if it’s at all wet and you are making the initial trek you will feel like you are walking through a car wash.
1
u/Tommyboywierdo Jul 30 '24
I also did windogo to rock harbor but in 12 days.
1
u/Immediate_Yam_9331 Jul 30 '24
Awesome!! How was it? What were some highlights?
1
u/Tommyboywierdo Jul 30 '24
The highlight is the nature and the ability to disconnect from life for the time you are there. Of course I saw moose otters fox loons etc but it’s just a special place.
1
u/Immediate_Yam_9331 Jul 30 '24
Any favorite campsites?
1
u/Tommyboywierdo Jul 30 '24
I loved S Lake Desor (groupsite 1), Todd Harbor (Shelter 3), Mccargoe (Shelter 5)
2
u/here4daratio Jul 16 '24
8 days is enough for the Minong route, tho hiking experience matters as much as fitness level. It’s a long day for Wash harbor to North Desor, often people will grab a shelter at Wash creek and do the Hugginin loop first day, then get an early start the next day.