Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hermit Island
Hermit Island, if for no other reason than its name, is a perennial favorite of visitors plying
the waters on boat cruises. The island is named for a cooper who arrived from the up-
per peninsula of Michigan. Wilson (just Wilson) had been jilted severely there, and many
took that to be the source of a certain pernicious misanthropic nature. During his spell of
solitude, only one man, an Indian from Red Cliff, was allowed to visit him. All others
were driven off by gunfire, including tax collectors, who had come nosing around after
apocryphal-or-not stories surfaced that “Wilson” had squirreled away a fortune on the is-
land. Upon his death the island was swarmed with booty-hunters who dug it up en masse,
but to no avail. Later, a brownstone quarry was established, and a few gargantuan blocks of
stone lie tumbled about on shore. On the southern side on calmer days the old ribs from a
loading pier can be seen in the shallow brownish water.
The Untouchables
Eagle Island
is an off-limits protected Critical Species Natural Area, with large numbers
of sensitive nesting herring gull and double-breasted cormorant colonies. The three acres
that comprise
Gull Island
are also part of this unit, and a 500-foot buffer zone is strictly
enforced for boaters May 15-September 1 during prime nesting season. Warmly rufescent
North Twin,
an almost perfect example of northern boreal biome (inhospitable to logging
and thus untouched), is also hands-off.
Remaining Islands
The largest remaining island,
Michigan Island,
at almost 1,600 acres, has a mile or so of
trails and a lighthouse to snoop around, along with one sand spit campsite (no water) on a
small lagoon. Relatively undisturbed, this island is good for those with a Robinson Crusoe
bent, hoping to camp on an isolated sand spit and hack through unmarked trails.
Ironwood Island
really did once have ironwood, but once the local timber industry got
going, it didn't last long.
Otter Island
contains historically significant Native American encampments, along
with the usual logging and fishing camps.
Cat Island
usedtohouseamodesthotelandresort,alongwithaquarry.There'snothing
much now except for a few beaches in the south, some roads, and more weather-beaten old
dwellings. The dispersed camping here is quite good.
Sometimes one island, sometimes two over time—water levels fluctuate—
York Island
is essentially a long, narrow spit popular with kayakers.
