Campsites at Mccargoe Cove Campground (2026 Guide)

Most campers heading to Isle Royale head straight for Rock Harbor or Windigo. That means McCargoe Cove Campground sees a fraction of the traffic - and those who make the trip get something better: a basecamp on the north shore that puts the island's most challenging trail right at your tent door.

Located off the Indian Portage and East Chickenbone Trails, this 12-site campground sits on the north shore of Isle Royale National Park. It is accessible only by foot, canoe, kayak, or private boat - no ferries stop here. If you are looking for a jump-off point for the Minong Ridge Trail, this is it. For a more detailed breakdown of everything the park offers, check the complete visitor guide.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

Getting There

McCargoe Cove is not a drive-up campground. You earn your arrival.

By foot, you reach it via the Indian Portage Trail or the East Chickenbone Trail. The closest interior lake access is Chickenbone Lake - from there, it is a 1.2-mile portage to the cove. Canoe and kayak users can also come in from Lake Superior directly, tying up at the dock.

The dock sits in 7 feet of water under normal conditions, and boats can stay overnight. If you are paddling, expect to share dock space with overnight boaters. The dock is functional, not fancy - cleats and basic tie-ups.

Season and Stay Limits

The campground is open April 16 through October 31 annually, 24 hours a day. The park effectively shuts down November 1 through April 15, so plan accordingly.

Stay limit is 3 nights from June 1 through Labor Day. Outside that window, the limit loosens. Rangers will tell you the 3-night cap exists for good reason - this is a heavily used through-hiker stopover, and sites fill in sequence.

Fees and Reservations

Small-party camping (6 people or less) costs $0. A free overnight permit is required.

Group tent sites cost $25 per permit. All parties of 7 or more must submit group permit requests through the park's online request system. The fee is per permit, not per person.

No reservations for individual sites. Everything is first-come, first-served. That means you arrive, find an open site, and claim it. The parking situation here is nonexistent - you park your boat or your boots. There are no vehicles.

Sites and Shelters

The campground has 12 sites total, with 6 shelters and 3 tent-only sites. Shelters go fast. Most visitors underestimate how quickly the shelters fill on summer afternoons. If you arrive after 3 PM on a peak-season day, plan on your tent.

The shelters are three-sided Adirondack-style structures with wood floors. They offer wind protection and a roof, but they are not sealed. Bring a ground cloth regardless.

Trail Access: The Minong Ridge Starts Here

The single biggest reason to pick McCargoe Cove over the larger, busier campgrounds is trail access.

Minong Section 1: McCargoe Cove to Todd Harbor

This is the most-trafficked section of the Minong Ridge Trail, and for good reason. The trail runs about 6.7 miles to Todd Harbor. It is primitively maintained - expect rocks and roots on the trail, steep inclines, and slick surfaces when wet. Changing trail conditions require a map, compass, and navigation skills.

Cell service drops out at the trailhead. Actually, cell service drops out long before you get here. Do not rely on your phone for navigation. Rangers will tell you that the most common call they get from this section is someone who thought the GPS would work. It does not.

The trail narrows here considerably compared to the Greenstone Ridge. You are walking on what amounts to a footpath through boreal forest, with periodic views of the cove and Lake Superior beyond.

Portage Routes

McCargoe Cove is also a hub for paddlers moving between interior lakes and Lake Superior. Three portage routes connect here:

• Lake Livermore to Lake LeSage: 0.4 miles, rocks and roots. Short but steep in places.
• Lake LeSage to Lake Richie: 0.6 miles. Connects to the larger Lake Richie system.
• Lake Richie to Chippewa Harbor: 1.2 miles. This is the big one - it connects the interior to the south shore of the island.

These portages are maintained but rough. Expect mud after rain, exposed roots, and uneven footing. A canoe cart helps on the longer portages but is more trouble than it is worth on the short ones.

Other Trails Within Reach

From McCargoe Cove you can also access:

• Greenstone Section 3: Mount Ojibway to Chickenbone Lake, about 5.7 miles. Rocks and roots, navigation skills required.
• Greenstone Section 4: Chickenbone Lake to Hatchet Lake, about 7.2 miles. Changing trail conditions require a map and compass.
• Hike the Mount Ojibway Trail: About 1.7 miles, with an old fire tower at the summit. This is the highest point on the eastern half of the island.
• Harbor to Hills Section 5: Lake Richie to West Chickenbone, about 3.6 miles including spur trails to campgrounds.

What Makes McCargoe Cove Different

The North Shore Experience

Most Isle Royale campgrounds sit on the south shore or on interior lakes. McCargoe Cove gives you the north shore of the island, which faces the open expanse of Lake Superior toward Canada. The views are different here - less sheltered, more exposed to weather moving across the lake.

Early morning is your best bet for calm water on the cove. By afternoon, the lake breeze picks up and the water gets choppy. Boaters take note: if you are heading out in the afternoon, expect a harder paddle back.

Wildlife

The cove sees moose regularly, particularly in early morning and late evening. They come down to the water to browse aquatic vegetation. Keep your distance - moose are not aggressive unless provoked, but they are large and fast.

Wolves have been documented in the area. As of 2026, new food storage guidelines are in effect to reduce human-wildlife interactions after wolves accessed human food and garbage around Rock Harbor and east-end campgrounds. Use the food storage lockers at the campground. Do not leave food in your tent or shelter.

The trail register is full of comments from visitors who spotted fox near the dock and loons on the cove at dawn.

Solitude

McCargoe Cove is busy by Isle Royale standards during peak season, but "busy" on Isle Royale means something different than it does on the mainland. You will see other campers. You will likely share a shelter if you arrive late. But you will not hear road noise, generators, or anything mechanical except the occasional boat engine.

The crowds thin dramatically after Labor Day. September is arguably the best month for this campground - cooler temperatures, fewer bugs, and empty shelters.

Practical Takeaways

• Arrive early: Shelters fill by early afternoon. If you want one, plan to arrive before 2 PM.
• Bring a tent anyway: Even if you want a shelter, carry a tent as backup. The 6 shelters go fast.
• Respect the 3-night limit: June 1 through Labor Day, you get three nights. Plan your route accordingly.
• Know the portages: If you are paddling, familiarize yourself with the portage distances before you go. The 1.2-mile portage from Lake Richie to Chippewa Harbor is a commitment with a loaded canoe.
• Food storage is mandatory: Use the lockers. Hang nothing. The wolves have learned that human food is accessible, and the park is adjusting protocols.
• Navigation skills required: The Minong and Greenstone trails in this area are not marked like front-country trails. Bring a paper map and compass. Know how to use them.
• No services: There is no potable water, no ranger station, no store at McCargoe Cove. Treat all water before drinking. Pack out all trash.

Final Thoughts

McCargoe Cove Campground occupies a specific niche in the Isle Royale system: it is a through-hiker's stopover, a paddler's connector, and a north-shore basecamp all at once. It does not have the amenities of Rock Harbor or the ferry access of Windigo. What it has is location - the jumping-off point for the Minong Ridge, the portage connection to the interior lakes, and the quiet of the north shore.

The campers who end up here tend to know what they are doing. They have a route planned, a map in hand, and a realistic understanding of what 6.7 miles of primitively maintained trail feels like after a full day of carrying a pack.

If that sounds like you, this is your campground.

For a full list of camping options across Isle Royale, including sites that do require reservations, see the all campgrounds page.

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