Hike the Mount Franklin Trail

This is Isle Royale at its most rewarding-per-mile. From Rock Harbor, you'll wind through dense boreal forest on a narrow track that fights back — expect roots grabbing at your ankles and vegetation brushing your shoulders on both sides. The trail is rugged enough to demand your attention but short enough that even moderate hikers can manage it without drama. About halfway through, the canopy thins and you start catching glimpses of Lake Superior through the trees. The payoff at Mount Franklin's overlook is a wide-open panorama of the northern shoreline and the vast, cold expanse of Superior stretching toward Canada. On a clear day, you can see the Ontario coast. This is the kind of trail that rewards hikers who don't mind a little bushwhacking for a view that feels entirely earned and rarely crowded.