Harbor to Hills Section 4: Hike from Moskey Basin to Lake Richie

This short connector trail between Moskey Basin and Lake Richie packs a surprising amount of variety into under two miles. You'll start along stream corridors where the water runs tea-dark from tannins, push through sections where the vegetation crowds the trail like it's trying to reclaim the path, then climb onto exposed rocky outcroppings that offer views across the interior lake country. The terrain shifts constantly — boggy wetland crossings give way to bare rock scrambles within a few hundred yards. Don't let the modest distance fool you; this is Isle Royale backcountry, which means no blazes you can trust, overgrown stretches that hide the tread, and the kind of quiet that makes your own breathing sound loud. Backpackers connecting campsites and solitude seekers who want to feel genuinely remote will find exactly what they're after here.