Why Backpack Grand Island?
Grand Island, a piece of the northwoods surrounded by water, is perched on Lake Superior’s south shore just north of Munising, Michigan. One of the best backpacking trips in the Midwest lies just a ferry ride away from the mainland! What makes this island backpacking trip so special?
First of all, the concept of backpacking around an island in the wild and frigid Lake Superior is just a dream come true for the kid who grew up reading survival and adventure books. Sleeping on an island and spending the evenings looking for beach agates?! Say less.
Grand Island has the feel of a remote wilderness trip without all the logistics. There are beaches, Lake Superior cliffs, wildlife and inland lakes. This is a great Upper Peninsula trip for beginner backpackers and families.
Lake Superior’s Grand Island
Ferry Ride to Grand Island
Grand Island is managed by the Hiawatha National Forest, which encompasses federal forests in the eastern part of the UP. It can be accessed by private boats in the summertime, including kayaks. Backpackers can access the island using the Grand Island Ferry Service in Munising, Michigan.
To take the ferry over, buy a ticket at the little ferry service building at N8016 Grand Island Landing Rd. in Munising, 2.5 miles west of town on M-28. The ferry schedule can be found here.
The Grand Island ferry runs from the Friday before Memorial Day until October 13. It runs on the hour daily starting at 9 AM. However, check the schedule online since it does change throughout the summer.
The ferry costs $25 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, free for kids under 6, and $10 to bring a bicycle.
Permits and Regulations
Forest Fee: There is a $5 Hiawatha National Forest fee that is included in the cost of the ferry.
Campsite Reservations: If you plan to camp on the island between Memorial Day and Columbus Day, reservations are required for all campsites except for Cobble Cove, Muskrat Point and Flat Rock. You can reserve campsites at recreation.gov.
Dogs on Grand Island: Dogs are allowed on Grand Island, but must be kept on a leash for their own safety. The sandstone cliffs along the trails are over 300 feet high.
Leave No Trace: Follow leave no trace principles when camping or visiting the island. Catholes must be dug 100 feet from the nearest water.
Campfires: When there are no fire restrictions, campfires can be made in the fire rings provided at some of the campsites. If you are dispersed camping, campfires are not allowed.
Best Time to Visit
Believe me when I say the bugs on Grand Island can be so incessantly annoying in the summer. Mid-May to the end of July is the worst time of year for bugs. August and early September would be a great time to visit for fewer bugs but water temperatures still warm enough to enjoy. And late September and October in the UP is just a gorgeous time of year.
Grand Island Loop Trail
Distance and Vert
Grand Island is comprised of the main island, and then a tombolo on the east side. The Grand Island Loop Trail is a 20.6-mile trail that follows the shoreline of the entire main island. It can certainly be completed as a day hike, but spending one or two nights on the island allows you time to enjoy the beaches and stars.
There is a little over 1,000 feet of total elevation gain on the loop hike. The trail can get pretty muddy in some areas after rain. You get a little of everything on this trail, from beach access to cliffside vantage points overlooking the lake.
Clockwise vs. Counterclockwise
Most of the tall cliffs are on the west side of the island, and beach access is on the more eastern side of the island. When we backpacked Grand Island, we went clockwise from the ferry dock and it worked out great. Clockwise gave us cliff views on the first day, then beach days on Day 2 and 3 of the trip.
3-Day Grand Island Backpacking Itinerary
This itinerary is based off of the backpacking trip we took to Grand Island. Feel free to be flexible and modify this based on your own preferences.
Day 1
Arrive at the ferry dock in Munising after 9 am. Pick a ferry departure time that gives you ample time to hike to the first campsite, but the ferry doesn’t start running until 9.
When you arrive at the island, take the clockwise (left) section of the Grand Island Loop Trail. You’ll be hiking up the west side of the island, which has awesome views of Lake Superior from the tops of the sandstone cliffs. Hike to the north point of the island to camp.
My favorite options are the Preservation Point campsite and the Gull Point campsite. Gull Point campsite has a fire ring, benches, a primitive toilet and can accommodate 6 campers. The best part about these campsites is the cliff vantage points that are easily accessed from camp. Sunset views from the cliffs right by camp!
Day 1 mileage: 9
Total mileage: 9
Day 2
From camp on the north point of Grand Island, continue on the loop trail clockwise. At mile 10.3, there is beach access near the North Light Creek Bridge. The beach here is sandy and great for swimming. If you get a little bit of a later start from camp, you’ll hit the beach during a warmer part of the day. Flies on the beach during the summer are relentless with their biting.
From the beach, continue south down the east side of the island for more cliff views! This part of the trail goes through hardwood forest and can get buggy and muddy. When we hiked this in July, headnets and mosquito jackets were on for this entire portion of the trail. There are no established campsites on this section of trail.
Camp for Night 2 is one of my favorite campsites in the Midwest. Instead of continuing on the loop trail, head along the beach after Little Duck campsite to get to Little Dune 1 or 2. Little Dune is situated on the tombolo of Grand Island, at the south end of a bay where the lake is a little calmer.
The beach here has great rock-picking; look for Yooperlites with a blacklight and agates. There is a primitive toilet at Little Dune, which are some of the best beach campsites in Michigan.
Day 2 mileage: 9.7
Total mileage: 18.7
Day 3
Day 3 is hike-out day. Enjoy the morning at the beach campsite, pack up and head 3.8 miles back to Williams Landing and the ferry dock. Along the way, you’ll pass Duck Lake and the Stone Quarry, with views of the mainland UP across the water.
Day 3 mileage: 3.8
Total mileage: 22.5
Camping on Grand Island, Michigan
Established Campsites
There are 21 established campsites on Grand Island. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov. Check out this map for locations and names of campsites for route-planning. If you prefer a one-night backpacking trip, there are a ton of options for an out-and-back trip, or a loop with one night instead of the two suggested above.
Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping on Grand Island is allowed. No permit or reservations are required for dispersed camping, but there are some rules to follow when selecting a campsite. It must be 100 feet from roads, other campsites, creeks, cliffs, research natural areas, private property or inland lakes.
Drinking Water on Grand Island
Williams Landing, Juniper Flats and Murray Bay have drinking water available. For backpackers, bring a water filtration system for drinking water. There are ample opportunities to get drinking water from creeks and Lake Superior at beach access sites.
Bears on Grand Island
There are black bears on Grand Island that move between the island and mainland Michigan. Avoid habituating bears to food by keeping a clean camp.
- Hang food at night or otherwise secure it.
- Do not leave food and coolers unsecured during the day.
- Pack out all trash; do not leave it in fire rings or burn it. This attracts bears to campsites.
- Do not leave food residue on picnic tables.
Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear. Respect wildlife by keeping a clean camp and helping them maintain a diet of WILD food sources.
Gear Considerations
In addition to basic camping gear (tent, sleep system, etc.), here are some other gear considerations specific to camping on Grand Island.
- Bug suit and headnet if hiking in the summer.
- Benadryl just in case you have an adverse reaction to excessive bug bites.
- Water filtration system for clean drinking water.
- Food security system such as a bear canister and a way to hang food and toiletries. Bring a rope and dry bag to hang food at night.
- Swimsuit if taking a dip in Lake Superior sounds good to you! If you’re one of “those cold plunge people” you’ll love it.
- Boots or trail shoes. The trail is not too rocky or rugged in most places but good shoes will help.
- A way to get help in an emergency. You’re on an island in Lake Superior; consider the challenges this brings in case of an emergency and have a plan.
One of the Best U.P. Backpacking Trips in Michigan
Backpacking Grand Island is an awesome choose-your-own-adventure style trip. With its easy vert and the opportunity to break up mileage into multiple days, it’s a good trip for kids and beginner backpackers. With young kids, be aware of the dangers of hiking near cliffs and the volatile nature of Lake Superior. Older kids will love the beaches for swimming and rock-hunting, as well as the lake views.
You don’t often get the chance to camp on a northwoods island in the biggest freshwater lake in the US. Grand Island is a little more accessible, less wild and requires less planning than Isle Royale. It would be a good starter trip before planning a bigger wilderness adventure like Isle Royale or the Boundary Waters.
Nearby Great Lakes Backpacking
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Porcupine Mountains
- Apostle Islands National Seashore
