Parking
Start at Windigo Dock; the Feldtmann Lake trailhead is just southwest of the dock and pavilion.
Overview
About Feldtmann Lake Trail
Why go
- Harbor views, a ridge overlook, and an inland-lake finish.
- Grace Creek Overlook gives the route a worthwhile shorter turnaround.
Heads up
- It is 8.5 miles one way; a return walk makes about 17 miles.
- The wooded descent can be thick with wet vegetation.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Isle Royale map
Full mapElevation594–856 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Isle Royale alerts
- ClosureSeasonal park closure begins November 1Isle Royale closes to public use November 1–April 15 because extreme winter weather threatens visitor safety; the closure extends 4.5 miles into Lake Superior from the island.Official details
- ClosureCamping closures at east-end campgrounds and Zone 9Camping restrictions are in effect at four east-end campgrounds and Off-trail Camping Zones 9–13 and 30–38 because of increased human-wildlife interactions and food-storage concerns.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Isle Royale Tour Guide
Your drive to Feldtmann Lake Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Isle Royale National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Minong Ridge Overlook from Windigo0:00 / 0:22
“Coming up is the Windigo trail access for Minong Ridge Overlook. For a rugged half-day hike, it's six miles out and back, taking roughly four hours over rocks, roots and creek crossings.”
Plays on the road 0.9 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Isle Royale Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Squirrel's Winter Pantry
- A Lodge with an Underwater Door
- The Forest After the 1936 Fire
- A Moose's Underwater Lunch
- 17 audio storiesacross Isle Royale’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Moose, Wolf, Bald Eagle, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 39 trails, 83 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Feldtmann Lake Trail
The Windigo-to-lake hikeFeldtmann Lake Trail is an 8.
Feldtmann Lake Trail is an 8.5-mile, one-way point-to-point hike from Windigo to the primitive Feldtmann Lake Campground. It follows Washington Harbor, climbs to a ridge overlook, then descends through woods to the lake. This is the first leg of the longer Feldtmann Loop, not an 8.5-mile loop. The park describes the one-way leg as a day hike; walking back to Windigo adds another 8.5 miles.
Harbor first, ridge nextThe trailhead sits just southwest of Windigo Dock and the pavilion.
The trailhead sits just southwest of Windigo Dock and the pavilion. The narrow track starts tight to Washington Harbor, with views toward Beaver Island and across the water. After about a mile it leaves the shore and climbs inland to a ridge. Grace Creek Overlook is the main viewpoint, looking over Grace Creek and Grace Harbor toward Lake Superior. It also makes a natural turnaround for a shorter walk from Windigo.
The descent to Feldtmann LakePast the overlook, the trail descends gently toward Grace Creek.
Past the overlook, the trail descends gently toward Grace Creek. Small rocks beside the path are remnants of an older Lake Superior shoreline. From there, the route winds down through woods to Feldtmann Lake. Vegetation can grow thick along this last descent; long sleeves and pants help, and rain gear may be useful when the brush is wet.
At the lakeThe route ends at the campground on Feldtmann Lake’s west shore.
The route ends at the campground on Feldtmann Lake’s west shore. It’s a primitive backcountry stop with seasonal water. Overnight camping requires a free permit, and park entrance fees apply. Windigo’s visitor center, store, and comfort station are back at the start, not along the trail. Pets aren’t allowed in the park.
Rainbow Cove is a separate 0.8-mile walk from the campground, beyond the route endpoint. Its rocky Lake Superior shore is a good place to watch the sunset, and Rock of Ages Lighthouse may be visible on a clear day.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Isle Royale
308 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
93 sightingsWolfMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
77 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
150 sightingsLoonMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
24 sightingsTrumpeter SwanMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
71 sightingsBeaverMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Isle Royale. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
