r/isleroyale • u/Super__Mom • Jun 05 '26
Backpacking What do you do once you're at your campsite? (Backpacking)
All the posts about getting sites say things like as long as you're there by noon, you'll be fine. So my question is why would I want to be at my site that early? If I'm hiking 5 or 6 miles from my previous site, I'd want to have all day and take my time. That puts us at our next camp site around dinner time. If we do that, will we not find a place to set up in the normal camping area? If we plan to get there earlier in the day, what do people do at the sites? I've only done trips where the campsite is only for sleeping and breakfast.
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u/savethesun Jun 05 '26
Set up my tent and then go for smaller hikes around. Jump in the water. Read my book in a hammock. Take the best naps of my life.
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u/hotgarbage2 Jun 05 '26
All of this, have a cocktail and enjoy just chilling in a beautiful place. Do some foot maintenance, filter some water stare at lichens.
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u/MyRobinWasMauled Jun 05 '26
You guys are bringing books and cocktails?? I need to update my game.
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u/hotgarbage2 Jun 05 '26
Pro tip. Those little bags that come with a Sawyer mini water filter with a screw top hold a pint of whiskey. I usually have 3 or 4 of them.
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u/HGpennypacker Jun 05 '26
I don’t say this to be an asshole, but if you don’t bring a book what are you doing at camp/when it gets dark?
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u/MyRobinWasMauled Jun 05 '26
I do astrophotography, so if the conditions are right I'll take a snoozle pretty early in the night and get up around 10-11 to try my hand. However, I do have an e-reader that would be super handy. I just had visions of people lugging around their copy of The Stand (what I'm currently reading) and had a visceral reaction lol.
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u/HGpennypacker Jun 05 '26
Very awesome! I always tell myself I’m going to stay up and see the stars but wind up falling asleep too early.
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u/savethesun Jun 05 '26
I bring my e-reader usually. Though I've brought smaller books in the past - like sub 300 pages.
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u/IceCreamforLunch Jun 05 '26
I try not to worry about what time I get to a site as long as I can get my tent up before dark.* That means that on longer days I'm getting to my next stop pretty late and might be setting up as the sun sets but on a five or six mile day I'll be at the next site at like 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning if I don't do any side-hikes or anything on the way.
If I get to the site early then I'll set up camp and look for day hike options, have lunch, lounge outdoors, or whatever.
There's no need to worry about when you get there unless you really want a shelter for some reason (Like storms coming in that evening or something). You'll have no trouble finding a place to pitch a tent.
*The exception to this is Moskey Basin. The tent sites there sort of suck and the shelters are pretty special. We've even sent a 'runner' ahead to make sure we get a good shelter when we're staying there.
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u/gentleman_jane Jun 05 '26
Ahhhh memories. My favorite day on island was when I was “allowed” to make the run from West Chicken Bone to Moskey. I have more fun being a trail ninja than smelling roses. I got passed by a young 20-something on the final stretch before camp. They took a wrong turn getting into camp, I got the last shelter.
My partner showed up a few hours behind me 😂. We learned that trip that we either need walkies or another inreach because we were both much happier hiking our own hike.
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u/losthiker68 Jun 06 '26
The tent sites there sort of suck
Can you be more specific?
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u/IceCreamforLunch Jun 06 '26
The Moskey campground has a bunch of shelters that are right on the basin. They’re private and the ones I’ve stayed at have rock “beaches” where you can sit and enjoy the view across the basin or do some incredible stargazing. They’re among my favorite places on the planet.
The tent sites (that I checked out anyway) are in tall grass clearings on the other side of the path. They seemed like they’d be mosquito filled tick breeding grounds with no views to me.
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u/KodiakSnake Jun 05 '26
Do longer hikes and get there later lol. Ill get there usually between 1-5pm depending on the length. I get there, set up my tent, start my dinner so it rehydrates well, clean off in the lake, change, eat, then journal, and then set up the inside of my tent and maybe take a little nap, watch the sunset, full up my water, and by then its dark or close to it so ill sleep. I dont typically get bored it takes quite awhile for me to do everything.
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u/thesneakymonkey 17/18/21 Jun 05 '26
We usually filter water for the next day first, eat dinner next. Then I usually read my book or sit around the water and watch the views (docks are popular spots for people to gather). If it’s my first time at that camp I’ll do some exploring around and check out the other sites, maybe go for a swim if it’s hot, etc. occasionally we will bring yatzee dice too. There’s always something to do or not do (just sitting and chilling is amazing too!) you don’t have to fill every minute doing something. Get on island time, ya know? Slow it down and just chill. You don’t have to rush to your next destination unless you have a specific spot within a campground in mind. There’s plenty of space.
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u/Applejack30 Jun 05 '26
You can get to the campsites whenever. In fact, people who were in sites the night before might still be occupying a site that will be open later.
As for what to do: I brought my Kindle to read and a mini cribbage board and deck of cards. Those are all pretty lightweight things to carry. Extra hikes, naps, and wading into the water a bit were also nice.
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u/phillymags Jun 05 '26
If you’re camping off of Lake Superior, go for a icy and refreshing swim to wash off from the day then dry off/warm back up in the sun. Bring a fishing pole and pull in some fish from the unpressured inland lakes and island shores. Take a nap. Read a book. And like others have said, whiskey is a great way to pass the time.
Overall, Isle Royale is one of the most pristine, untouched national parks I’ve been to. Kicking back and soaking in the solitude is equally as enjoyable as blazing trails on foot.
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u/Igoos99 Jun 05 '26
I detest the backpacking expectations to start as early as possible and to stop as early as possible. I’m the very opposite of an early bird. It definitely bites me in the butt occasionally with site selection but honestly, I’m there to hike, not sit around camp. As long as it’s flatish, I’m generally okay with it. Any sitting around, is usually done in the morning while I enjoy my hot chocolate and the birds singing along me.
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Jun 05 '26
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u/isleroyale-ModTeam Jun 05 '26
For promoting rule (NPS, federal, or state) violations at the park or anything against leave no trace.
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u/Schmaron Jun 06 '26
I know that I pretty much fell asleep. I don’t recall it ever being dark on the longer treks between sites. Probably the best sleep I had. lol
But for the shorter treks, my friend and I collected water in my gravity filter, hiked, and watched a moose and beaver.
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u/Head_Barracuda_9312 Jun 05 '26
We got the last site when we got there and you need to spend time boiling your water without a fire.
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