Isle Royale National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Isle Royale National Park

Rock Harbor Area Guide

Welcome to Wilderness Enter the quiet of the boreal forest and wander beneath spruce and fir trees draped with tangles of Old Man’s Beard. Perch on a rock and experience Lake Superior’s moods which shape and change this area’s rugged shoreline. Listen for the cry of the loon, luring you deeper into this isolated Island wilderness. Explore…

The northeastern end of Isle Royale National Park offers a variety of activities designed to enhance your park experience. Drop by the Rock Harbor Visitor Center to: view dis-plays, browse publications, receive your backcountry permit, check the interpretive pro-gram schedule, or have your questions answered. To aid in your explorations, the Rock Harbor Lodge offers boat, canoe, and kayak rentals, as well as sightseeing tours.

Suzy’s

Cave

Edisen

Fishery

Three Mile

Rock Harbor Lighthouse

Passage IslandLighthouse

Mott IslandPark Headquarters

Caribou Island

MerrittLane

Saginaw Point

Chippewa Harbor

Tookers Island

The

Palisades

RaspberryIsland

Blake Point

Locke Point

ScovillePoint

2.0

2.4

4.2

1.5 1.7

1.9

3.7

1.4

3.4

1.2

1.8

1.2

Greensto

ne Ridge Tra

il

Seaplane Dock

To Lookout

Louise

Rock Harbor LodgeTo

bin H

arbo

r

1.0

0.8

0.7

0.5

0.5

To S

uzy’s

Cave

Stoll M

emor

ial Tr

ail

ScovillePoint

Hidden Lake

Rock Harbor Visitor Center

LegendHiking Trails

Interpretive Trail

Paved Walks

Campgrounds

Visitor Center

Tower

Scenic Overlook

IsleRoyale

DaisyFarm

Mt.Franklin

Mt. OjibwayTower

Look

out L

ouis

e

DuncanNarrows

Wood

Lake

Intermediate

Lake

Lake Richie

Lake

Whittlesey

Lake Live

rmore

Lake LeSage

Five F

inger

Bay

Lane Cove

Lake O

jibway

Moskey Basin

Dunca

n Bay

Daisy Farm Trail

Mt O

jibway Trail

North

Lake Superior

Lake Superior

Suzy’s

Cave

Edisen

Fishery

Three Mile

Rock Harbor Lighthouse

Passage IslandLighthouse

Mott IslandPark Headquarters

Caribou Island

MerrittLane

Saginaw Point

Chippewa Harbor

Tookers Island

The

Palisades

RaspberryIsland

Blake Point

Locke Point

ScovillePoint

2.0

2.4

4.2

1.5 1.7

1.9

3.7

1.4

3.4

1.2

1.8

1.2

Greensto

ne Ridge Tra

il

Seaplane Dock

To Lookout

Louise

Rock Harbor Lodge

Tobin

Har

bor

1.0

0.8

0.7

0.5

0.5

To S

uzy’s

Cave

Stoll M

emor

ial Tr

ail

ScovillePoint

Hidden Lake

Rock Harbor Visitor Center

LegendHiking Trails

Interpretive Trail

Paved Walks

Campgrounds

Visitor Center

Tower

Scenic Overlook

IsleRoyale

DaisyFarm

Mt.Franklin

Mt. OjibwayTower

Look

out L

ouis

e

DuncanNarrows

Wood

Lake

Intermediate

Lake

Lake Richie

Lake

Whittlesey

Lake Live

rmore

Lake LeSage

Five F

inger

Bay

Lane Cove

Lake O

jibway

Moskey Basin

Dunca

n Bay

Daisy Farm Trail

Mt O

jibway Trail

North

Lake Superior

Lake Superior

Tobin Harbor

Snug Harbor

Lake Superior

RockHarbor

Ampitheater

SmithwickMine

Stoll

Mem

orial T

rail

to S

covi

lle P

oint

Stol

l Mem

oria

l Tra

il

to S

covi

lle P

oint

Tobin Harbor Trail

Kneutson Tra

il

Rock HarborCampground

Rock Harbor

Trail

N

0 50 100Scale in Feet

Buildings

Docks

Walking Trails

Paved Paths

Fuel Dock

BoatRentals

AmericaDock

SeaplaneDock

213/214

205/206

207/

208

215/216

217/

218 219/2

20

209/2

10 211/

212

203/

204

201/

202

Chippewa 1-15

Saginaw 21-35

GuestHouse

RestaurantSnack BarGift Shop

Nokomis 41-55

Ojibway 61-75

AuditoriumSprucesFirst AidStationTra

sh

RestroomsShowersLaundry

Store

LodgeOffice

FishCleaningStation

Restrooms

VisitorCenter

Short Trips

Canoe or Boat

Further Afield

Scoville Point4.2 mile loopThis trail winds its way between the forest and shore-line communities out to spectacular Scoville Point. The contrast between the intimacy and protection of the woods and the powerful influence of Lake Su-perior is dramatic, especially on a stormy day. Hike all or part of this figure eight loop to experience the interplay of land and water. Interpretive signs along the Stoll Memorial section (1.8 miles) offer insight into these processes and their effect on the Island’s history.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A 0 7 / 0 5

Suzy’s Cave3.8 mile loopFollow the Rock Harbor Trail 1.8 miles beyond the Rock Harbor Campground and turn inland at the wooden post directing you to Suzy’s Cave. Discover a wave-washed cliff and an inland sea arch, both formed by wave action some 4000 years ago when lake water levels were higher. From here the trail leads on to the gentler Tobin Harbor Trail, which loops back to Rock Harbor. Along the way, watch and listen for loons, moose, and other wildlife, as you meander through a thick canopy of spruce, fir and birch.

Mount Franklin10 mile roundtripTo reach this scenic overlook honoring Benjamin Franklin, take either the Rock Harbor Trail or Tobin Harbor Trail until they meet the wooden post which directs you to the Mount Franklin Trail. Then begin your ascent of Mount Franklin, a high point on the Greenstone Ridge. From this breathtaking overlook, view the Island’s interior and north shore, as well as the distant Canadian mainland. Bring along a day pack including lunch, a day’s supply of water, and rain gear on this all day hike through the Island’s Wilderness.

Raspberry Island2 mile roundtripLooking across the Rock Harbor Channel from the America Dock, you see will see Raspberry Island, just a short canoe or boat ride away. Venture across the channel to explore the boreal forest, a fragile bog and scenic rocky shores. Paths and planked bridges lead you past many unusual plants; including the insect-eating sundew and pitcher plant, that thrive in the acidic bog environment. Interpretive signs along the route explain the ecology of this island’s rich and varied plant life and the geologic origins of its rugged shores. Take your time and you will discover enough variety on this island to keep you intrigued for half a day.

Tobin HarborFor a peaceful day of canoeing or boating, explore the calm waters of Tobin Harbor. This area once attracted summer vacationers with its cottages, re-sorts and even a post office; but today is a haven for wildlife. Loons and mergansers frequent the area, so keep your eyes and ears open. Tobin Harbor, with its numerous small islands, provides ideal nesting habitat for Common Loons. Please respect these birds by keeping your distance and avoid landing on islands from early spring through late July, the end of the nesting season. Check with a ranger to learn more about protecting Tobin Harbor’s loons. As with all Isle Royale waters, be careful of shallow reefs and protruding rocks.

Ojibway Fire Tower3.5 mile roundtrip or 5.1 mile loopStarting at Daisy Farm Campground, the Mt. Ojib-way Trail climbs up and over several ridges to the highest point on the eastern end of Isle Royale. Formerly a fire watch station, the tower room today is complete with scientific instrumentation which serves to support a nationwide atmospheric moni-toring program. The tower room is closed, but you may climb partway up the stairs for views of the Island’s interior lakes and bays. To return, retrace your steps, or loop back via the longer Greenstone Ridge and Daisy Farm Trails that wind through diverse habitats.

Edisen Fishery and Rock Harbor LighthouseStep back in time at the historic Edisen Fishery located across the harbor from Daisy Farm. Named for commercial fishers Pete and Laura Edisen, this friendly couple’s restored fishery tells the story of this once booming industry. After exploring the fishery, walk the quarter-mile to the Rock Harbor Lighthouse, built in 1855 to guide ships safely to Isle Royale’s copper mining ports. Like the min-ing industry, the light was short-lived, lit for only 24 years. Today, exhibits in the lighthouse illuminate the Island’s maritime heritage.

Lookout Louise2 mile roundtripA 20 minute paddle or water taxi ride will put you at the start of the Lookout Louise Trail, which leads hikers to a magnificent overlook. The trail winds its way past Hidden Lake, a small pond with a natural mineral spring which is a lure for moose; and then begins the climb upward. Halfway up the ridge, Monument Rock looms over the trail. This inland sea stack was carved by wave action thousands of years ago when lake levels were significantly higher than today. Traverse higher to the overlook and be reward-ed by a superb vista of the north side of Isle Royale and the Ontario mainland. Adventurous people equipped with a day’s supply of water, rain gear, and snacks may choose to hike the 9.4 miles back to Rock Harbor via the Greenstone Ridge, Mount Franklin, and Tobin Harbor Trails.