McCargoe Cove Campground
The Quick Take
McCargoe Cove is one of Isle Royale's quieter backcountry campgrounds, tucked into a narrow inlet on the park's north shore where the water goes still and the only traffic is the occasional canoe gliding in from Lake Superior. With a handful of individual sites and a few three-sided shelters, it feels more like a wilderness outpost than a campground. There are no showers, no potable water, and no camp store -- just food lockers to keep the moose out of your provisions. The tradeoff is real solitude: this spot sits well off the main Greenstone Ridge corridor, so foot traffic drops considerably compared to campgrounds like Daisy Farm or Rock Harbor. The portage from Chickenbone Lake is short but not trivial with a loaded canoe. Choose McCargoe Cove if you want a backcountry basecamp for fishing the cove's pike-rich waters or simply need a night away from every other hiker on the island.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 12 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
16 ADA-accessible campsites. No wheelchair access. No Roads
Rules to Know
- Fires:Fires in community ring only.
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m.
Pro Tips
The shelters here fill before tent sites, especially in July and August. If you want a roof over your head, plan your itinerary so you arrive by early afternoon -- or better yet, make this a midweek stop rather than a weekend destination.
McCargoe Cove is one of the best spots on the island for northern pike fishing, and you do not need a license for inland waters. Bring artificial lures with barbless hooks as required, and fish the shallow end of the cove near the lily pads at dawn.
There is no potable water here, so pack a reliable filter or chemical treatment. The cove water is clear but untreated. Fill up before your hike in if you can, and carry at least two liters per person as a buffer.
Photos
NPS / Derrick Jaeger
NPS / Brad SmithGetting There
Directions
McCargoe Cove Campground is located in McCargoe Cove, on the north shore of Isle Royale National Park, off of the Indian Portage and East Chickenbone Trails.
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