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
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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
