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Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Rock Harbor Trail from Rock Harbor to Three Mile - Isle Royale National Park


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.

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