West Chickenbone Campground
The Quick Take
West Chickenbone sits at the quiet end of a lake most Isle Royale visitors never see, and that's exactly the point. Getting here requires either a solid day of hiking along the Indian Portage Trail or a portage from McCargoe Cove that will make you question every ounce in your pack. The reward is a small, intimate campground on an inland lake where the only sounds are loons and the occasional splash of a northern pike. There are no flush toilets, no potable water, no cell service -- just nine sites, food lockers to keep the wolves honest, and some of the most genuinely remote camping in the lower 48. The two-night limit during peak season keeps turnover steady, but this place rarely feels crowded. Choose West Chickenbone if you want to earn your solitude and don't mind filtering your own water.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 9 sites are reservable.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
No RVs. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible. No Roads
Rules to Know
- Generators:Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m.
Pro Tips
The 1.2-mile portage from McCargoe Cove to Chickenbone Lake is short on paper but brutal with a loaded canoe -- scout the trail first if you can, and bring a portage yoke or you'll regret it by the halfway point.
Chickenbone Lake is one of the better inland fishing spots on the island for northern pike. Barbless hooks and artificial lures only, no license needed for inland waters, so pack a lightweight rod even if fishing isn't your main objective.
There is zero potable water here, so bring a reliable filter or purification system. Lake water is your only source, and while Chickenbone Lake looks pristine, giardia doesn't care about aesthetics. Fill up at every treated water source before you hike in.
Photos
NPS / Paul Brown
NPS / Paul Brown
NPS / Mike AusemaGetting There
Directions
West Chickenbone Campground is located on the west end of Chickenbone Lake, off of the Indian Portage Trail.
Get directions
