320

Trails Reviewed

Find Trails & Maps

Search for Trail
Search by Location
Search by

Back to listing

Isle Royale NP: Greenstone Ridge Trail-Map 4



Buy the Geo-referenced map
for use in the Avenza Maps App

Trail Details

County
Houghton
Regions
Western Upper Peninsula
Latitude
N 48° 02' 58.20"
Longitude
W 088° 45' 9.00"
Distance
7.9 miles
Trail Type
Foot path
Terrain
Greenstone Ridge
Difficulty
Moderate to challenging
Nearest City or Town
Houghton
(map loads here)
view map
Avenza Maps
Geo-referenced maps from MichiganTrailMaps.com are available through Avenza Maps and range from $1.99 to $2.99 each.

Download the Avenza app from the App Store or Google Play

App Store Google Play

The Greenstone Ridge Trail from West Chickenbone Lake to Hatchet Lake Campground is a 7.9-mile trek that includes step climb within a mile of the campground that gains 250 feet in less than a half mile. You also ascend near Mount Siskiwit but the elevation gain comes with several viewing points enjoyed from grassy opening along the ridge.
Expand All
Photos
Description
The Greenstone Ridge Trail from West Chickenbone Lake to Hatchet Lake Campground is a 7.9-mile trek that includes step climb within a mile of the campground that gains 250 feet in less than a half mile. You also ascend near Mount Siskiwit but the elevation gain comes with several viewing points enjoyed from grassy opening along the ridge.

The Greenstone Ridge Trail stretches between two campgrounds. The West Chickenbone Campground is 0.2 mile north of the trail and is a favorite among backpackers. A pretty area situated on the shores of the lake, the campground has individual and group campsites. The lake itself is excellent for pike, yellow perch, and an occasional walleye. Beaver lodges dot the far shore, and moose frequent the waters.

Hatchet Lake Campground is 0.5 mile from the junction of the Greenstone Ridge Trail. It's reached by first following the spur to Minong Ridge Trail and then heading west along the lake at a posted junction. The individual and groups sites are on a wooded hillside above the lake's south shore. There is an angler’s trail that continues to the west end of the lake. Although there are populations of brook trout, Hatchet Lake has never been known as an angler's hotspot.

 

 
Amenities & Services
Camping
Difficulty - Moderate
Foot Path
Trail Guide

The Greenstone Ridge Trail is covered in detailed with maps in Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes by Jim DuFresne. To order the 192-page guide to the Greenstone Ridge Trail and the rest of the wilderness island, Click Here.

Facilities

Shower tokens, a clean towel, and a 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.isleroyaleresort.com).

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 an 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 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 onboard Ranger III on the way to the Island.

Directions

To return to Rock Harbor from Windigo after hiking the Greenstone Ridge Trail many backpackers book passage on the Voyageur II. After arriving at Windigo from Minnesota, the ferry circumnavigates the island clockwise and overnights at Rock Harbor Lodge. The following day, it continues with possible stops at Daisy Farm, Chippewa Harbor Campground, Malone Bay Campground, and Windigo before returning to Grand Portage. The trip not only gets you back to Rock Harbor but provides a view of Isle Royale not seen from the crest of the Greenstone Ridge.

Information

For more information on the Voyageur II contact the Grand Portage – Isle Royale Transportation Line (651-653-5872, 888-746-2305; www.isleroyaleboats.com).


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

App Store Google Play

Michigan TrailMaps.com Michigan's Premier Trail Resource Contact

Trail Mix News

by travel and outdoor writer Jim DuFresne!

Sign Up
Enews Signup
Find a Trail

Find Trails & Maps

Search for Trail
Search by Location
Search by