Greenstone Section 5: Hike from Hatchet Lake to Ishpeming Tower
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
Overgrown vegetation and faint trail markings make route-finding genuinely challenging in midsummer — losing the trail here means bushwhacking through dense forest with no cell service and no quick bailout.
Isle Royale is moose country, and cow moose with calves can be aggressive in spring and early summer. Give them a wide berth, especially in dense vegetation where surprise encounters happen.
Trail Details
Pro Tips
Carry a physical map and compass — GPS signals can be unreliable on Isle Royale, and this section has stretches where the trail blurs into the undergrowth, making wrong turns easy to miss until you've gone too far.
Time your arrival at Ishpeming Tower for late afternoon when the light rakes across Lake Superior and the bugs tend to settle down. The tower platform is small, so you'll want a few minutes without rushing.
Hatchet Lake campsite fills up during peak summer — if you're doing the full Greenstone Ridge traverse, plan to arrive by early afternoon or have a backup plan for South Desor or Ishpeming Point camps.
Photos
NPS / DERRICK JAEGER
