"Middle Islands Passage, Isle Royale National Park, 2015." by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
Isle RoyaleWindigo Area Guide |
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Isle Royale
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Isle Royale National Park
Windigo Area Guide
A Portal to Wilderness
A warm breeze blows through the maples and birches, a splash echoes across the water as a
cow moose wades into the protected harbor, an osprey circles overhead. This is the edge of
Wilderness. Welcome…
A Community Carved
from the Wild
Step one hundred years into the past and imagine living
in this isolated outpost year round. A community of 135
worked and played on the island’s west end; although
the forest has grown and hidden much of the evidence,
a discerning eye may discover remnants of the people
who once lived here.
The Wendigo Mining Company operated from their
headquarters, which was located just behind the Windigo Visitor Center, from 1890-1892. Workers and their
families braved the isolation and long winter months
in hopes that a workable deposit of copper would be
found - it never was. After these few brief years this
Members Only
If you wanted to visit Windigo in the early 1900s, you
needed to carry a membership card! The Washington
Club, a group of Duluth businessmen, used this area
as a private retreat. They relaxed in their club house,
the former headquarters for the mining company; and
tried their luck hunting caribou and other game. They
A Guiding Beacon
Captains navigating the western passage around Isle
Royale must have breathed a sigh of relief after passing the warning light of the Rock of Ages Lighthouse, a
double flash every ten seconds that could be seen for
almost 20 miles.
bustling mining company port and the small settlement of Wendigo fell silent, ending the last attempt to
mine copper from Isle Royale.
The network of old mining roadways stretching between Huginnin Cove and Lake Desor now serve as
pathways into Isle Royale’s Wilderness. As you follow
these trails, you walk in the footprints of those who
came before. Look carefully, rusty nails, rotted timbers
and broken clay pipes all have stories to tell: stories
of those who called this place “home” in a time not so
long ago.
even had white-tailed deer imported to the island! The
deer and caribou are gone and so is the club. Only the
building’s foundation, beside the present day Windigo
store, remains.
Among the most remote life stations on the continent,
the light was “home” to keepers who lived there for
months at a time, protecting vessels from the dangers
of the surrounding shallow reef.
The light’s second-order Fresnel lens was the largest
sized lens used on the Great Lakes. View this magnificent lens at the Windigo Visitor Center. It was relocated
to Windigo in 1985 when the Coast Guard installed a
new battery-powered solar beacon.
No Moose Allowed!
Isle Royale supports a large population of moose. In
1995 an amazing 2400 moose were estimated to be on
the Island! Near the Windigo Store, you can witness the
effect that these large herbivores have on the Island’s
vegetation. A fenced-in exclosure, installed in 1979, was
designed to keep moose out.
The difference between the “moose-free” exclosure
and the surrounding forest landscape is dramatic.
While current populations of moose are smaller,
they still continue to have enormous impact on the
Island.
Windigo Area
North
Minong Ridge
Overlook
3 Miles One Way
Huginnin Cove
9.4 Mile Loop
Huginnin
Cove
ong
Min
3.1
Trail
West Huginnin Cove
McGinty
Cove
3.3
Huginnin Cove
Campground
East Huginnin Cove Trail
Lake Superior
Windigo to
North Desor
Campground
12.9 Miles
e
Ridg
Trail
eek
n Cr
ngto
hi
Was
6
0.
6
0.
Beaver
Island
Beaver Island
Campground
ton
hing
Was
bor
Windigo to
Feldtmann Lake
8.5 Miles
Windigo to
Island Mine
Campground
6.9 Miles
Moose
Exclosure
Self-Guided
Nature Trail
1.2 Mile Loop
il
ra
eT
ak
L
n
ldt
Fe
n
ree
Windigo
Feldtmann Lake Trail
Windigo to Overlook
1.8 Miles One Way
Har
il
Tra
G
0.3
SeaPlane
Landing Area
e
idg
eR
n
sto
0.3
Washington
Creek
Campground
n
ma
Grace
Creek
Overlook
Grace Creek
Gas
Campground (Individual Only)
Visitor Center
Campground (Individual & Group)
Store
Trail
Overlook
Dock
0
1/2
0
1 Mile
1 Kilometer
Discoveries Await
The southwestern end of Isle Royale National Park
offers a variety of activities designed to enhance your
park experience. Drop by the Windigo Visitor Center
to view displays, browse publications, receive your
backcountry permit, check the interpretive program
schedule, or have your questions answered. Explore
the trails, relax on the deck of the Windigo Store or
take a dip in the often chilly, but refreshing waters of
Washington Harbor.
Short Trips
Grace Creek Overlook
3.6 mile roundtrip
This scenic trail skirts the Washington Harbor shoreline through the boreal forest, thick with lichens, and
then cuts inland. As the trail climbs higher, forests
of mature hardwoods give way to an open ridge
top. Follow the ridge then turn on the small spur
trail leading to a rocky outcropping for a view of the
Island’s interior and Lake Superior’s Grace Harbor.
Follow the Feldtmann Lake Trail which begins near
the main dock. Return to Windigo by retracing your
steps.
Windigo Nature Trail
1.2 mile loop
Explore the varied forest environments of Windigo
as you stroll along this gently rolling trail. Traverse
fern-filled cedar lowlands, wander through hardwood
forests of maple and birch and watch for evidence of
wildlife in the boreal forest. Pick up a trail guide at the
Visitor Center to deepen your understanding of this
diverse area.
Minong Ridge Overlook
6 mile roundtrip
For those who seek adventure, the Minong Ridge
offers a challenging trip. Although the entire trail
stretches 26 miles to McCargoe Cove, the day-hiker
can experience a portion of this rugged trail. Beyond
the Washington Creek and Huginnin Cove trail junctions, the route drops into marshes rich with signs
of beaver and moose. The route becomes rocky as
you climb through a pine forest. Follow the ups and
downs of the ridge until the forest opens to a spectacular view of flat-topped Pie Island and the rest of
the Canadian shoreline.
Huginnin Cove Loop
9.4 mile roundtrip
Follow this picturesque trail which weaves over ridges,
through wetlands and along the Lake Superior shoreline. At the trail junction beyond the bridge over
Washington Creek, choose either fork. Travel through
planked cedar swamps, discover the remnants of an
historic mine exploration site, watch for wildlife near
beaver ponds and enjoy the views of Canada from the
rocky cliffs and cobble beaches. Bring along a day pack
including lunch, a day’s supply of water, and rain gear
on this all day adventure through Isle Royale’s Wilderness.
Other Adventures
Trail begins up the hill past the Visitor Center.
Washington Harbor
Canoe or Kayak
The calm protected waters of Washington Harbor
are ideal for a leisurely paddle. Head out to Beaver
Island, explore Washington Creek or just cruise
along the shoreline. Opportunities for wildlife
viewing abound as mergansers, otters and moose all
reside in the harbor. Canoe and kayak rentals are
available at the Windigo Store.
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA
07/05