Isle Royale National Park · Michigan

Mount Franklin Trail

2.0 mi of trail, end to end · about 50 ft of climbing · 500 ft of descent · 611 ft–1,063 ft

1,063 ft 618 ft · 1.9 mi high 1,063 ft

Hike the Mount Franklin Trail the Park Service's write-up

1-4 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start Mount Franklin Trail at Isle Royale National Park

Two people sit on a rocky outcropping over looking a forest and lakes on an island in Lake Superior.
The Mount Franklin Trail is steep and offers a scenic view to the north. Photo: © YEVA CIFOR

About this Trail

Mileage: About 2.5 miles (including spur trails to overlook and campground)

Rocks and roots on trail

Overgrown vegetation near trail

Changing trail conditions require a map, compass, and navigation skills

Trailheads

Rock Harbor

Windigo via the Greenstone Ridge Trail

Hidden Lake

Via water taxi from Rock Harbor Lodge . Reservations needed in advance.

The Mount Franklin Trail connects the scenic overlook at Mount Franklin to the Tobin Harbor Trail junction and eventually Three Mile Campground to the south. This trail has a steep gradient. At the northern point of this trail is the junction with the Greenstone Ridge Trail and the Lane Cove Trail. Backpackers often use this trail to climb off the Greenstone Ridge and hike into Rock Harbor via the Tobin Harbor Trail or Rock Harbor Trails.

Found Nearby

Rock Harbor

Three Mile Campground

Lane Cove Campground

Rock Harbor Campground

Daisy Farm Campground

Accessibility The trail is 18 inches wide and covered in rocks and roots.

This hike on nps.gov

Hike the Tobin Harbor Trail the Park Service's write-up

2-4 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start Tobin Harbor Trail at Isle Royale National Park

A trail winds through moss and a forest.
The Tobin Harbor Trail's easy footing makes for smooth hiking into Rock Harbor. Photo: © KAITLYN KNICK

About this Trail

Mileage: About 3 miles

Rocks and roots on trail

Trailheads

Rock Harbor

Windigo via Greenstone Ridge Trail

The Tobin Harbor Trail connects the Rock Harbor area with the Mount Franklin Trail. The Mount Franklin Trail gives access to Mount Franklin, Suzy's Cave, Three Mile Campground, Lane Cove Campground, and the Greenstone Ridge Trail. Some backpackers and day hikers prefer the Tobin Harbor Trail over the Rock Harbor Trail because of the Tobin Harbor Trail's smoothness and gentle grade.

At the junction with the Mount Franklin Trail the Tobin Harbor Trail winds gently downhill through boreal forest until it meets Tobin Harbor. The remainder of the trail continues on a general downward slope hugging Tobin Harbor. This trail ends near the Rock Harbor Lodge in the Rock Harbor area.

Found Nearby

Rock Harbor

Rock Harbor Campground

Three Mile Campground

Suzy's Cave

Mount Franklin

Lane Cove Campground

Accessibility The trail is about 18 inches wide and is not paved. The trail is covered in rocks and roots.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 44 trails in Isle Royale National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.