We planned to rent kayaks and paddle around Tobin Harbor on the second day of our July 2016 visit to Isle Royale National Park. However, the wind exceeded the limits set for the concessionaire to rent kayaks. Instead, I hiked southwest along the Rock Harbor Trail just over three miles to the junction with the Mount Franklin Trail. Another post will provide details of my return trip along the Tobin Harbor Trail after using the Mount Franklin Trail as a connecting route for a 6 ½ mile loop.
The trail surface varies from packed dirt and small rocks to rock outcrops and includes a number of 12 inch wide boardwalks to cross swampy or sensitive areas. Several rock cairns that mark the trail along the rock outcrops were missing. However, careful examination of the area usually revealed a path of muted colors among the lichen. The Rock Harbor trail is rated easy to moderate depending on the distance hiked. The elevation varied multiple times about 40 feet from lakeshore to successive bluff top.
 |
| Topographic map with GPS route |
 |
| Wide trail leads to Rock Harbor campground |
 |
| Ranger quarters near trail |
 |
| Rock Harbor campground site number 8 |
 |
| Trail narrows past the campground |
 |
| Trail weaves through a thimbleberry patch |
 |
| The trail is usually close to the shoreline |
 |
| Bridge over a small stream |
 |
| Boardwalk |
 |
| View from the trail |
 |
| Back in the woods |
 |
| Along the shoreline |
 |
| Looking back at the Isle Royale Queen IV at Rock Harbor |
 |
| Crossing a rocky area |
 |
| Double-wide boardwalk |
 |
| Lake Superior |
 |
| Rocky steps |
 |
| A muddy patch |
 |
| Trail follows the sloping rock outcrop |
 |
| Another look back at the docked Isle Royale Queen IV |
 |
| A boardwalk with steps |
 |
| Back along the lakeshore |
 |
| Roots and rocks |
 |
| A small islet just offshore |
 |
| Another patch of thimbleberry |
 |
| A double-width boardwalk |
 |
| Clear water |
 |
| The trail climbs high above the lake... |
 |
| ...to provide great views... |
 |
| ...before descending to the lake again |
 |
| Side trail to Suzy's Cave |
 |
| First view of Suzy's Cave |
 |
| Suzy's Cave |
 |
| View from inside Suzy's Cave |
 |
| Lake view from the Suzy's Cave trail |
 |
| Back on the Rock Harbor Trail |
 |
| Roots and roots |
 |
| Follow the sign and climb the rocks |
 |
| Looking for rock cairns |
 |
| A private boat motors down the channel |
 |
| Follow the break in the vegetation |
 |
| Emerging from the woods onto another rock outcrop |
 |
| Another view of Lake Superior |
 |
| Descending from the bluff |
 |
| Ascending another bluff |
 |
| Shallow rocks visible under the water |
 |
| Rock cairn marks the trail |
 |
| The trail veers right to the single remaining rock of a cairn |
 |
| Another boardwalk |
 |
| Where's the trail? |
 |
| Easy walking |
 |
| A long boardwalk |
 |
| Three Mile Dock |
 |
| A curved boardwalk |
 |
| Crossing a ridge between sections of the Three Mile Campground |
 |
| Meeting other hikers is always a good sign you're still on the trail |
 |
| One last look at Lake Superior |
 |
| Post marks the Mount Franklin Trail junction |
Entry to Isle Royale National Park is free. However, the park charges a daily user fee of $4 per adult (over 11 years) per calendar day. This fee is not covered by the Interagency Annual Pass, Interagency Senior Pass, or the Interagency Access Pass. In addition, this is the only national park that completely closes for the winter. The island is closed from November 1 through April 15.
The park website is https://www.nps.gov/isro.
No comments:
Post a Comment