Traveling Ted is a blog that takes readers along on my adventures hiking, canoeing, skiing, and international backpacking. Many blogs focus on one aspect of backpacking, but I tackle both the outdoor adventure side and international exploration as well.

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Isle Royale National Park

Tobin Harbor Trail- Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royal National Park in Michigan is so beautiful I could easily do five to ten photo essays and still have enough photos left over. That would get a little ridiculous, so I am going to limit it to two.

One will be this one, which will focus on the inland portion of this fifty mile long by ten mile across island in Lake Superior. The other will concentrate on the Lake Superior shoreline.

The inland geography of Isle Royale is quite fascinating and it is amazing how it changes from one scenery to the next sometimes in minutes. You have hardwood and boreal forests, bogs, over 40 inland lakes, rocky dry cliffs and 1,500 foot mountains and ridges all within a small island. There are over 165 miles of hiking trails, so it is quite easy to explore.

Isle Royale National Park

Hiking through a boreal forest along the Tobin Harbor Trail in Isle Royale National Park

Unfortunately, unseasonably high temperatures and a problem filtering water hampered my ability to explore the island as much as I wanted to, but I did spend 6 nights camping and enjoyed my time. I look forward to returning later in the fall or earlier in the spring in order to avoid the warm temperatures. More on these issues will be forthcoming in later posts.

Isle Royale National Park

Tobin Harbor Trail – Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale is on many lists for the least visited U.S. national park; however, the captain of the ferry noted that according to the park service the island is one of the most re-visited parks in the system. I can see why after spending a week there and having hiked the park for two weeks when I was 10 years old with my dad. The park has a way of getting a hold of you and making you want to return. I hope you can see why through the photos in this post.

Isle Royale National Park

Hardwood forest – Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park

An Isle Royale beaver pond

Isle Royale hiking trail

3% of the hiking trails in Isle Royale are planked according to the national park newsletter

Isle Royal National Park Michigan

Isle Royale planked hiking trail

Isle Royale National Park bog

Isle Royale bog

Isle Royale National Park

Another bog flanked with pine trees

Isle Royale National Park wildflowers

Beautiful wildflowers growing in an Isle Royale swamp

 

Isle Royale National Park Chickenbone Lake

Chickenbone Lake – One of the more than 40 inland lakes in this giant island

Isle Royale National Park

Many great views of the whole island can be found from the top of one of the many ridges and mountains

Isle Royale National Park hiking

Another planked trail over a beaver pond

Isle Royale National Park hiking

A planked trail going over a bog on the way to Daisy Farm

Isle Royale National Park

A look from the planked walkway in the above picture to the right

Isle Royale National Park

Now to the left

Isle Royale National Park

Small bridge heading away from McCargoe’s Cove

Isle Royale National Park

A hiking trail surrounded by green ferns

Isle Royale National Park Michigan

A swampy area near McCargoe’s Cove

Isle Royal National Park

Beautiful clouds hover over an Isle Royal marsh

Isle Royal National Park

Isle Royal National Park swamp

Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park hiking trail near McCargoe’s Cove

Isle Royale National Park

Approaching a ridge in Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park

Another planked trail

Isle Royale National Park

And another on the Stoll Trail

Isle Royale National Park

A rocky trail near Lake Superior in Isle Royale National Park

TT

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