Isle Royale National Park, MI
A narrow backcountry connector through wetlands and rocky outcrops.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Isle Royale Tour Guide
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.
“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
Lake Richie Trail is a 1.9-mile, one-way connector from the Rock Harbor Trail junction north of Moskey Basin to Indian Portage Trail. It is a through route, not a loop. The Lake Richie Campground is another 0.2 mile west on Indian Portage, beyond this trail’s endpoint. Allow roughly 1 to 1.5 hours for the named segment.
The route passes streams, wetlands, and rocky outcrops. Its tread is about 18 inches wide, with rocks and roots; vegetation can overgrow the trail. The ground and narrow path can slow you down, especially when the tread is hard to read.
The Moskey Basin end starts at the Rock Harbor–Lake Richie junction, about 0.2 mile north of Moskey Basin Campground. Reach Moskey Basin by water taxi from Rock Harbor Lodge with an advance reservation, or on foot from the park’s trail network. The trail ends at Indian Portage; continue west there for Lake Richie Campground. Conditions change, so bring a map and compass and know how to navigate with them. Pets aren’t allowed on Isle Royale.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
EasyLake Mason Access Trail0.6 mi · 24 min · 2 mi awayA short side trip to the bluff above Lake Mason.
ModerateIndian Portage Trail10.6 mi · 8 hr · 2.2 mi awayA rugged 11-mile crossing through Isle Royale’s inland lakes.
ModerateEast Chickenbone Trail1.6 mi · 1.3 hr · 2.5 mi awayA forested connector with glimpses of Chickenbone Lake.
ModerateMinong Mine Trail2.2 mi · 2 hr · 2.6 mi awayA rugged detour into Isle Royale’s ancient copper workings
ModerateChickenbone Lake Loop6.4 mi · 3 hr · 2.6 mi awayA forested lake loop with a short, repeated McCargoe Cove approach.
ModerateDaisy Farm Triangle5.1 mi · 3.5 hr · 4.6 mi awayBoardwalks, ridge climbs, and a historic tower above the island.
ModerateDaisy Farm Trail1.7 mi · 1.3 hr · 4.6 mi awayBoardwalks cross beaver wetlands on the climb to the ridge.
ModerateMount Ojibway Trail3.4 mi · 2.5 hr · 4.7 mi awayA steep island climb to a historic tower and ridge views.
Campground · 0.4 mi awayLake Richie CampgroundA lakeside overnight on the interior paddling route
Campground · 1.2 mi awayLake Richie Canoe CampgroundThree tent sites on a remote canoe-only lake route.
Campground · 1.5 mi awayEast Chickenbone CampgroundFour forest sites for an inland night, not a lakeside stay.
Campground · 1.7 mi awayMoskey Basin CampgroundA remote shoreline camp with six shelters and Lake Superior sunrise views.
Campground · 2.1 mi awayWest Chickenbone CampgroundA backcountry lake camp reached on foot or by portage.
Campground · 2.2 mi awayChippewa Harbor CampgroundFour shoreline shelters make a remote harbor stop easier to plan.
Campground · 2.4 mi awayIntermediate Lake CampgroundA tent-only overnight for paddlers crossing the island's inland lakes.
Campground · 2.6 mi awayMcCargoe Cove CampgroundA remote cove camp with boat access and six shelters.Parkwolf’s Isle Royale ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
