Tobin Harbor Trail - Isle Royale National Park

My 6.4 mile day hike in the Rock Harbor area of Isle Royale National Park continued with a 0.4 mile section of the Mount Franklin Trail from the Rock Harbor Trail to the Tobin Harbor Trail. The first part of the hike can be viewed here. This included the longest and highest climb on the loop with an elevation gain of over fifty feet! The summit area contains a small creek that was crossed by way of a boardwalk bridge. After descending the ridge, the trail crossed a wetlands area on a boardwalk that is over 400 feet long. Since the boardwalk is only one plank or 12 inches wide, this is not a place to meet oncoming hikers. Luckily, I had the entire section of trail to myself.

Once I reached the Tobin Harbor Trail junction, I turned northeast to follow it three miles back to the Rock Harbor Visitor Center. This trail is not as scenic as the Rock Harbor Trail, but it is much easier hiking on the dirt and gravel surface. The Tobin Harbor Trail is also easier to navigate as the path is well-defined without the need to search for rock cairns.

Topographic map with GPS route

The trail climbs a rock outcrop

Rock cairns mark the trail

Looking back at Lake Superior

A boardwalk crosses a marshy area near the summit

Passing through a meadow

Beginning of the 400 foot boardwalk

The Mount Franklin trail splits a patch of thimbleberry

The Tobin Harbor Trail begins in another patch of thimbleberry

First glimpse of Tobin Harbor

A better view of the end of the harbor

Plenty of sunshine on the trail

Tree roots double as stairs

Rock outcrop across the harbor

A short climb on loose gravel

A small islet in the harbor

Forest and thimbleberries

Trail hugging the shore

Butterfly

Understory growth below dead trees

Open forest

Shaded trail

Tobin Harbor

Shelf fungi

Another glimpse of Tobin Harbor

Trail surface of roots and rocks

Another islet in Tobin Harbor

Thimbleberry growing waist high

The trail widens past the turn to the Tobin Harbor docks

The trail ends near the Rock Harbor Visitor Center

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.