Feldtmann Loop Section 3: Hike from Siskiwit Bay to Island Mine
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The trail surface is rough with exposed roots, loose rock, and sections of standing water — ankle-supportive boots are essential, not optional. A turned ankle out here means a long and painful evacuation from a remote island.
Isle Royale has no cell service and no road access. You are genuinely on your own if something goes wrong, so carry a PLB or satellite communicator and let someone know your itinerary before heading out.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Carry a physical map and compass for this section — trail markers can be sporadic and the path gets indistinct through boggy stretches between the bay and the mine site. GPS signals can be unreliable under the dense canopy.
Time your arrival at Carnelian Beach during lower water conditions in late summer for the best rock-hunting. The translucent reddish-orange carnelians are easier to spot when wet, so check the waterline where waves lap the gravel.
Spend time poking around the Island Mine ruins — most hikers blow past them, but the stone foundations and old test pits are spread across a wider area than the obvious remains suggest. Look uphill from the main ruins for additional excavation sites.
Photos
© SETH HIERS
