Hatchet Lake Campground
The Quick Take
Hatchet Lake sits near the geographic heart of Isle Royale, which means you have to earn it. There is no quick way in — you are hiking several miles from either end of the island through dense boreal forest before you reach this small cluster of sites on a quiet inland lake. That remoteness is the entire point. With only a handful of individual sites and no potable water, Hatchet Lake filters out casual visitors and rewards backpackers who want a genuine midland basecamp. The lake itself offers solid fishing for pike and perch with barbless hooks, and on still evenings the water goes glassy enough to mirror the spruce line. If you are crossing the island on a multi-day traverse and want a layover day that feels truly removed from civilization, this is your stop. Best suited for experienced backpackers comfortable with water purification and Leave No Trace camping.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 8 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
No wheelchair access. No Roads
Rules to Know
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m.
Pro Tips
Hatchet Lake is a natural midpoint on an east-west island traverse — plan your itinerary so this is your rest day rather than a pass-through, because the surrounding trail junctions give you options to adjust your route if weather turns.
There is no potable water here, so bring a reliable filter or purification system and top off from the lake. The food lockers are a lifesaver since this is prime moose and fox territory — use them religiously, even for cookware with residual food smells.
The two-night stay limit during peak summer means you cannot linger, so if you want more time in the island interior, pair Hatchet Lake with a night at nearby Lake Desor or Ishpeming Tower campgrounds to extend your backcountry stretch.
Photos
NPS / Katie Keller
NPS
