While my job has afforded me the opportunity to travel to many unique, exotic and interesting places around the country, none have been as cool and adventurous as my recent trip to the Rock Harbor Lodge (One Diamond). The lodge is located in the Isle Royale National Park off the coast of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The fun started  with a 65mile flight over Lake Superior on a small single engine seaplane that seats six, including the pilot. Before boarding the tiny plane, the pilot boldly asked each of the passengers their weight.

After hearing mine, he immediately commented that I would be seated up front next to him in the co-pilot’s seat. I quickly realized that I received that honor not because I was special but because I was the largest person in the group.

Flying over to the island is pricey ($294 round trip) but also takes about 30 minutes.. Those opting for the boat or ferry trip can save money, but the trip can take anywhere from three to seven hours each way. 

Just before landing on the island, my bird’s-eyeview from the sky revealed a land formation almost totally covered by forest. Impressive rocky crags lined sections of the island’s coast.

The many bays and water inlets surrounded by grand spruce and pine trees present a lush and pristine setting.  After gliding in and skimming along the water to a stop at the lodge’s dock area, I realized I was in a different world.  I looked at my phone and saw that it had zero signal strength. 

While stepping off the small plane, I made sure my step was onto the dock and not into the lake, which was a bit nerve-racking. After successfully exiting the plane, I began the long trek up to the lodge. 

Not only was there no cell phone coverage, but there was just a dirt path over tree roots and stones—no concrete sidewalks or street lights. The island is covered by over 150 miles of these hiking trails and paths, and all of them were lined with a thick forest on each side with the occasional small, open meadow. 

Moose are prominent on the island and are often seen along the trails, near the lodgings and along the rocky shores of the island. While I was not fortunate enough to see any, I spoke with several hikers who told me tales of their experiences seeing the moose. 

Others  who did not see any moose said they were still aware of their close proximity to the animal, as they had to often step over the moose “deposits” on the trails. After reaching the lodge and meeting with the manager, we began our tour of the grounds and accommodations. 

The lodge features very clean but simple motel-style rooms, without TV sets or telephones. They do have comfortable beds and seating with great views of Lake Superior.  After seeing the standard motel rooms, we took a golf cart around to see some of the cabins that are scattered through a heavily forested area not far from the main lodge. The cabins are more spacious with several rooms and are meant for guests who want to stay a longer period of time on the island. 

There’s a restaurant with fantastic water views and a menu offering a variety of fish including—some selections taken right from Lake Superior. 

Hiking, camping and fishing are the most popular activities on the island. Visiting the island reminded me of my childhood in western Pennsylvania where my dad, my brothers and I would hike over mountains to a small stream where we would catch our dinner and camp out all night. 

Traveling to the Island Royale is not for the faint of heart and is reserved for those who want to see and experience a rustic camping adventure.  Ladies, leave your high heels at home and pack your hiking shoes, back packs, blue jeans and a fishing pole. If you want a wilderness wonderland, this is a really cool place to visit!