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#8 on this list
Isle Royale National Park
Michigan
Warmest month on the island; backpacking the Greenstone Ridge.
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#9 on this list
Beartooth Highway
Montana / Wyoming
The high alpine drive is fully open; wildflowers at 10,000 feet.
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Specs side by side
| Spec | Isle Royale National Park | Beartooth Highway |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Lake Superior, Michigan | — |
| Access | Passenger ferry or seaplane only | — |
| Trail Network | 165 miles of maintained backcountry trails | — |
| July Temperatures | Highs 70°F to 75°F, lows around 50°F | — |
| Permit System | Free backcountry permit issued on arrival | — |
| Campground Style | First-come, first-served tent pads and shelters | — |
| Peak Elevation | — | 10,947 feet (Beartooth Pass) |
| Total Distance | — | 68 miles (Red Lodge to Cooke City) |
| Typical Season | — | Late May through mid-October |
| Route Designation | — | US Route 212 / All-American Road |
| Managing Agencies | — | USFS (Custer Gallatin & Shoshone) and NPS |
| Jurisdiction | — | Montana and Wyoming |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Isle Royale National Park
- Pristine wilderness isolation with minimal crowd density
- Comfortable July daytime temperatures avoiding mainland heat waves
- High probability of close moose encounters along trails and bays
- Well-designed network of lakeside backcountry shelters
- Intense black fly and mosquito pressure throughout mid-summer
- Costly and weather-dependent ferry or floatplane transportation
- Zero resupply options or cell coverage across the interior
Beartooth Highway
- Direct highway access to rare arctic-alpine tundra ecosystems
- Spectacular July wildflower blooms across high plateau scree
- Seamless connection to the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley in Yellowstone
- Abundant roadside access to alpine lakes and wilderness trails
- Sudden summer snowstorms can prompt abrupt, unannounced road closures
- Heavy RV and camper traffic crawls up steep, narrow switchbacks
- Total absence of cellular phone service along the mountain pass
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