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Isle Royale NP: Lookout Louise Trail

Trail Details

County
Houghton
Regions
Western Upper Peninsula
Latitude
N 48° 09' 31.32"
Longitude
W 088° 28' 21.72"
Distance
1 mile
Trail Type
Foot path
Terrain
Greenstone Ridge
Difficulty
Moderate to difficult
Nearest City or Town
Houghton
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By renting a canoe or joining the MV Sandy at Rock Harbor Lodge, you can combine a water cruise with hiking and visit some of the most interesting spots on the Island. One of them is Lookout Louise, a favorite among visitors. The lookout spot provides the most spectacular view in the park, but most of the mile-long trail is a straight, uphill climb.
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Description
By renting a canoe or joining the MV Sandy at Rock Harbor Lodge, you can combine a water cruise with hiking and visit some of the most interesting spots on the Island. One of them is Lookout Louise, a favorite among visitors. The lookout spot provides the most spectacular view in the park, but most of the mile-long trail is a straight, uphill climb.

Succession and young saplings have eroded the panorama over the years but it's still a spectacular sight. Stand on a rock if you have to and look to the east to see the jagged peninsulas at the end of Duncan Bay. To the northwest is the rest of the bay along with Five Finger Bay, Belle Harbor, and even Amygdaloid Island. Due west you can see the Greenstone Ridge extend along a good portion of the Island, and then look down: You will nervously realize that Lookout Louise is the crest of an incredibly steep bluff.
Amenities & Services
Difficulty - Moderate
Foot Path
Trail Guide

Lookout Louise Trail is covered with detailed maps 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.
You can book a room 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).

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

To reach Rock Harbor and Isle Royale National Park there's the Isle Royale Queen IV (906-289-4437; www.isleroyale.com), a ferry that departs from Copper Harbor.

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.

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