Island Mine Campground
The Quick Take
Island Mine is one of Isle Royale's quieter interior campgrounds, tucked half a mile off the Greenstone Ridge Trail in a pocket of boreal forest that most through-hikers blow right past. With only a handful of shelters, it rarely fills up even during peak season, which is saying something on an island where backcountry sites can feel surprisingly competitive in July. The trade-off is real: no lake access, no reliable water source (the Little Siskiwit River can dry to a trickle by late summer), and nothing resembling a modern amenity beyond food lockers to keep your provisions safe from Isle Royale's famously brazen foxes. But that austerity is the point. If you want a genuine wilderness layover between the Greenstone Ridge and the south shore trails without fighting for a spot at the lakeside campgrounds, Island Mine delivers honest solitude. Best for experienced backpackers who treat campgrounds as a place to sleep, not a destination.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 6 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
- Fires:Campfire rings or standing grills provided.
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m.
Pro Tips
Call or stop by the Windigo or Rock Harbor Visitor Center before heading out to check current water status at Little Siskiwit River. In dry years (typically late August onward), the creek can run bone-dry, and the nearest reliable water source becomes a serious detour. Carry at least two liters extra if you are hiking in after mid-August.
Island Mine sits at a natural crossroads between the Greenstone Ridge Trail and the south shore routes, making it an ideal second or third night on a Windigo-to-Rock Harbor traverse. Time your itinerary so you arrive by late afternoon to snag one of the more sheltered sites closer to the tree line.
Isle Royale campfires are allowed only in provided rings, and downed wood on the island is often damp and punky. Bring a reliable backpacking stove and skip the campfire ambitions entirely. Your neighbors in those few shelters will thank you for not smoking them out.
Photos
NPS / Jenna Behnke
NPS / Jenna BehnkeGetting There
Directions
The Island Mine Campground is located .5 miles south of the Greenstone and Island Mine Trails junction, off of the Island Mine Trail.
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