Greenstone Ridge Trail, Hiking trail on Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, United States.
The Greenstone Ridge Trail is a hiking path on Isle Royale, an island in Lake Superior in Michigan, running from Windigo Harbor to Rock Harbor along the natural spine of the island. The route passes through dense forest, open ridgelines, and rocky terrain, with the landscape changing noticeably as you move from one end to the other.
Indigenous peoples lived on the island thousands of years ago, mining copper and using it as part of wider trade networks before European settlers arrived in the 19th century. The island became a national park in 1940, ending permanent human settlement and leaving the land largely undisturbed since then.
The island served as a meeting point for people who used its resources and established trade connections across generations. Today, visitors walking through can still discover old foundations and remnants of past settlements scattered along the path.
Reaching the island requires a ferry or seaplane from departure points in Houghton, Copper Harbor, or Grand Portage, so planning ahead is important. Once on the trail, shelter options are few and far between, so coming well prepared with gear and supplies makes a real difference.
Old foundations and remnants of past settlements still appear along the route, almost entirely reclaimed by the forest. Walkers who look carefully can spot these traces of former human presence right beside the path, often hidden under moss and roots.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
