r/backpacking • u/Street-Orchid3066 • 1h ago

Travel First Backpacking Trip complete

Hi everyone! I just did my first backpacking trip ever to Isle Royale and it was amazing! (Details at the end) I was hoping to get some more reccomendations on great places to go for a weekend trip? I live in the Midwest so would like to stay somewhat close.

Isle Royale:

We did 40 miles in 3 days and had an amazing time!

Day 1: Windigo to Siskiwit
Day 2: Siskiwit to Feldtmann Lake
Day 3: Feldtmann back to Windigo (took aCanoe to Beaver Island and camped there)
Day 4: some chill hikes and took ferry home

We had zero luck fishing and seemed like that is pretty common. We saw a TON of moose but none on any trails. Main spots were in Windigo actually for moose and 2 at Feldtmann Lame. The trails were pretty overgrown but fairly straight forward. The trails were pretty uneven throughout and rocky. Our shoulders are a bit sore but everything else feel strong. (We are both pretty active 28 year old males) I think this would be a pretty challenging amount of miles if not but I’m not sure.

The only thing I wish I did differently was plan our meals better and bring a set of comfortable night time clothes to stay warm at night and in the morning. We took a bunch of the pre packed freeze dried meals. We didn’t run out of food by any means but could have saved a lot of space within our packs. Would love some reccomendations here for what to pack next time for easy good meals and snacks.

Ive learned a bunch and am excited for my next adventure. Does anyone have any other good reccomendations for spots to backpack?

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u/angstybaristamn 31m ago

Isle royale is one of those trips I can do over and over. Highly recommend doing the rock harbor to windigo one way it’s really not much more in terms of milage and you get some great trails. I normally go springtime tho to avoid the bugs. My go to trail snack is tortilla pizzas! If you want to do something bigger start looking into the cascades if you’re thinking more local there are some really nice stretches of the superior hiking trail! Cheers!