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Isle Royale NP: East Chickenbone Trail



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Trail Details

County
Houghton
Regions
Western Upper Peninsula
Latitude
N 48° 04' 27.84"
Longitude
W 088° 41' 40.92"
Distance
1.6 miles
Trail Type
Foot path
Terrain
Forested ridges and Chickenbone Lake
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Nearest City or Town
Houghton
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The East Chickenbone Trail begins 0.7 mile from McCargoe Cove Camp¬ground and swings around the east end of Chickenbone Lake to the Greenstone Ridge Trail. It is often combined with part of the Greenstone and Indian Portage trails for a pleasant 7-mile day hike around Chickenbone Lake from McCargoe Cove.
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Description
The East Chickenbone Trail begins 0.7 mile from McCargoe Cove Camp­ground and swings around the east end of Chickenbone Lake to the Greenstone Ridge Trail. It is often combined with part of the Greenstone and Indian Portage trails for a pleasant 7-mile day hike around Chickenbone Lake from McCargoe Cove.

East Chickenbone is located in the trees west of the trail. It has three individual sites and a group site but none have a view of the lake below. Gathering water at camp is a steady descent to the lake below. Canoers and kayakers should keep in mind that West Chickenbone Campground is much more accessible for paddlers.

From the junction to the campground, East Chickenbone Trail ascends briefly before arriving at the junction with the Greenstone Ridge Trail.
Amenities & Services
Camping
Difficulty - Moderate
Foot Path
Trail Guide

The East Chickenbone Trail is covered in Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes by Jim DuFresne. To order the 184-page guide to the wilderness island, Click Here.

Facilities

Shower tokens, clean towel, and bar of soap can be purchased at the camp store at Rock Harbor or Windigo. Some backpackers like to book a room for their final night at Rock Harbor, either at the lodge or in one of the housekeeping units that can be shared by six people and feature small kitchenettes. For reservations, contact the park concessionaire, Forever Resorts (866-644-2003 or 906-337-4993 in summer;  www.rockharborlodge.com).

Supplies

In the Upper Peninsula, on the way to Isle Royale National Park, the best place to pick up equipment is Downwind Sports which has two stores at 514 N Third St. in Marquette (906-226-7112) and 308 Shelden Ave. in Houghton (906-482-2500). Once on the island, information, maps and backcountry permits can be obtained from the Rock Harbor or Windigo Visitor Centers at the foot of the ferry wharf. There are also small stores at each entry port with limited and very expensive supplies.

Hours & Fees

Isle Royale National Park opens April 16 and closes on Nov. 1 to all visitors for the winter.  The park has a entrance fee of $7 per person per day or an annual pass for $60. You can pay the entrance fee once you arrive at the park or in advance at at pay.gov  and avoid congestion and long waits on the island. All park visitors who plan to camp overnight at campgrounds or cross-country sites are required to obtain a camping permit. This permit can be obtained free of charge at the visitor center at Windigo or Rock Harbor when you arrive or on board Ranger III on the way to the Island.

Directions

From the McCargoe Cove Campground the north end of the East Chickenbone Trail is 0.7 miles and reached via the Indian Portage Trail. The south end of the trail is along the Greenstone Ridge Trail, 5.7 miles from the Mount Ojibway Tower.

Information

Call the Isle Royale National Park headquarters in Houghton (906-482-0984) or check the Isle Royale National Park website (www.nps.gov/isro).


Geo-referenced maps from MichiganTrailMaps.com range from $1.99 to $2.99 each.

Download the Avenza app from the App Store or Google Play

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