The Greenstone Ridge Trail is a

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

trail on

Isle Royale Isle Royale National Park is an American national park consisting of Isle Royale – known as Minong to the native Ojibwe – along with more than 400 small adjacent islands and the surrounding waters of Lake Superior, in the state of Michigan. ...

, in

Lake Superior Lake Superior in central North America is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. and the third-largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh wa ...

, northern

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

. The island is within

Isle Royale National Park Isle Royale National Park is an American national park consisting of Isle Royale – known as Minong to the native Ojibwe – along with more than 400 small adjacent islands and the surrounding waters of Lake Superior, in the state of Michigan ...

. There are no roads on the island, a

wilderness area Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural), are natural environments on Earth that have not been significantly modified by human activity or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally re ...

and national park, so the trail doubles as the primary means of land transportation across the island.

Route

The trail extends from Windigo Harbor and the Windigo Ranger Station on the island's western end, east across Isle Royale, to Rock Harbor and the Rock Harbor Lodge. The Greenstone Ridge Trail generally follows the top of ''Greenstone Ridge'', a low ridge that forms the east/west spine of the island and surmounts

Mount Desor Mount Desor is the tallest mountain within Isle Royale National Park. Located on Isle Royale in Lake Superior and with an elevation of , it is the third highest peak on the lake. The Greenstone Ridge Trail crosses the summit of Mount Desor as ...

, the highest point of Isle Royale. Hikers may appreciate the higher elevations as they can reduce biting

mosquito Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning " gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "li ...

es, which are found in great numbers in the lower elevation

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The p ...

Natural history

Hikers may see signs of the

wolves and moose on Isle Royale The single predator-single prey relationship between wolves and moose on Isle Royale in Lake Superior is unique, and has been the subject of detailed study for over 50 years. Isle Royale, the principal island of Isle Royale National Park in Mic ...

; although scarce and shy, the woodlands that adjoin the trail are their habitat. The Greenstone Ridge and its Trail are both named after

Chlorastrolite Chlorastrolite, also known as Isle Royale Greenstone, is a green or bluish green stone.Arguably the rarest gemstone in the world and one of the most valuable American gemstones. The gem quality specimens are typically found on Isle Royale, a large ...

(Greenstone), a local semiprecious stone that is the

state gem Leaders of states in the U.S. which have significant mineral deposits often create a state mineral, rock, stone or gemstone to promote interest in their natural resources, history, tourism, etc. Not every state has an official state mineral, rock, ...

of the U.S. state of

. Greenstone can be seen in various locations on Isle Royale, including shoreline pebbles.

References

{{MichiganTrails Hiking trails in Michigan Isle Royale

Route

Natural history

See also

References