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Backpacking

Isle Royale backpacking: wolves howling as I got into the tent

Started by a Wild10 member · 8/5/2026

#trip-report#isle-royale#wolves#michigan#wildlife

Isle Royale backpacking, and the moment that made the whole trip was lying down for the night and hearing wolves start up somewhere across the ridge. Not one — a chorus, answering each other, going for what felt like a long time and was probably ninety seconds. The island itself is a fantastic backpacking destination: no road noise, no vehicles, moose everywhere, water on both sides of nearly every ridge. Rough notes: - Ferry logistics dictate your itinerary more than mileage does. - The trails are wetter and rootier than the mileage suggests. Waterproof footwear or accept wet feet. - Bugs in early summer are serious. Head net. - Moose are the actual hazard, not wolves. If you have been, what loop did you do? I want to go back and do a longer traverse.

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