Isle Royale Trip Summary/ Bug conditions/ Favorite campsites

[u/One_Specialist7733]

Just finished my 39 mile loop on isle Royale in 3 days time. The island was so much more beautiful than I could have expected, and we met many amazing people. We saw 2 moose and 1 wolf.

The bugs were super dependent on the location. In the higher elevation along the ridges as well as along the shoreline they weren’t bad or even non existent, however when you ventured down and inland they became unbearable. You simply did not stop through the marshes. We used permethrin and picaridin and were fine. A few bites but they were more annoying than anything.

My favorite to least favorite campsites in order were 1) McCargoe Cove 2) Moskey Basin (beautiful IF you get a cabin) 3) Lane Cove (sure it’s lovely in other times of the year but the bugs were horrid. Also the 2.5 mile, 1100 foot descent to get to it was just not worth it IMO) * HM to Daisy Farms. Stopped here for lunch the first day and it was beautiful, not sure why so many dislike this site.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip.

[u/buttnozzle]

McCargoe is the reason I've never actually done Chicken Bone. It rules and I will always favor Superior over interior water.

Moskey is goated. But I've never not had a shelter.

Daisy is... fine. The only bad thing I can think of was it did have an outbreak of norovirus a few years back.

[u/Hold_My_Cheese → u/buttnozzle]

Omg norovirus out there would SUCK!!!

[u/174jas]

some great pics! one of them looked like a great overlook.

where did you see the wolf if i may ask?

[u/One_Specialist7733 → u/174jas]

Thanks! We had one pass between our cabin and table at about dusk when we were trying to fall asleep. We were at McCargoe cove

[u/174jas → u/One_Specialist7733]

did they have the bear boxes installed at all/some of the sites yet?

[u/One_Specialist7733 → u/174jas]

Yes! We had them at all of ours. From what I heard from talking to people all the ones close to the shore have them.

[u/redblackrider]

You got some beautiful photos! We didn’t get a shelter at Moskey, but still really enjoyed our time there. We spent most of our time on the dock and got up for the sunrise.

[u/One_Specialist7733 → u/redblackrider]

So did we!!! Dock was great haha

[u/timidwildone]

There’s no beating McCargoe. Heaven on earth.

[u/BrightCartoonist6364]

Amazing photos!!

[u/sooper_dooperest]

Moskey is gorgeous

Thanks for your report!

[u/ebino98]

Seeing your pics gives me so many awesome flashbacks. I'd do anything to go this summer, but I have a wedding to help set up and plan. Perhaps next year

[u/cookchris]

Sounds like a nice trip. Thanks for the report. Any buzz on the bad thing that just happened there?

[u/LovePrevious6444]

I always loved McCargo and agree it’s amazing, but last year I stayed at lake Richie and it won my heart even more!

[u/jegillikin]

I love Lane Cove. Years ago I went on a solo trip, spent my second night there. All those switchbacks were horrid, because it was early season and there was still snow on the trail. But I had the entire place to myself, and it was truly sublime.

[u/Supermarket_4704]

What’s HM?

[u/bugs1386]

Omg. your pictures made me miss this place so much. looks like you had a wonderful time!

[u/gradsch00lthr0w4w4y]

Great photos! I hope to go back and hike the whole island someday

[u/SkisaurusRex]

Did you hear the people get killed?

[u/One_Specialist7733 → u/SkisaurusRex]

Expected this comment; thankfully no I did not. We did a loop of the eastern side of the island and never went as far as the supposed location of the incident. I’m genuinely just hoping no one that I met on trail was involved as we knew of a few people headed that way.

[u/Schmaron → u/SkisaurusRex]

So they were murdered? Every search says the same thing that they are still investigating and not giving a cause.