East Chickenbone Campground — Isle Royale National Park

East Chickenbone Campground sits on the shores of Chickenbone Lake within Isle Royale National Park, accessible only by hiking trail. The National Park Service manages this backcountry site with multiple tent spots positioned directly along the lakeshore. Campers should note the no-pets policy that applies throughout the park. During late summer months, algae blooms can affect the lake water quality, requiring hikers to source drinking water from alternative locations like nearby streams. The campground connects to other Isle Royale destinations including McCargoe Cove Campground — Isle Royale National Park to the northwest and West Chickenbone Campground — Isle Royale National Park to the southwest, making it part of the island's interconnected trail system for multi-day backpacking trips.

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Location

Public Campground

East Chickenbone Campground — Isle Royale National Park is located in Michigan

Detail location of campground

Directions

The East Chickenbone Campground is located on the east end of Chickenbone Lake, off of the East Chickenbone Lake Campground.

Address

800 E. Lakeshore Drive
Houghton, MI 49931

Coordinates

48.073438 N
88.694259 W

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T
    No Coverage

Access

  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Alcohol

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Reviews

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4.0

out of 5

1 Review

Reviewed Jul. 3, 2018

Algae Bloom

4.5 stars. We had started out from Daisy Farm that morning, heading to Chickenbone lake due to the fact that Lake Ritchie had an algae bloom warning. By the time we got to Chickenbone (tired, cranky) another hiker told us they spotted algae flakes in the water. We set up anyway, hopeful that maybe they were full of beans, but our resident marine biologist confirmed everyone's fears. Algae. So we hiked a mile back to a stream we had crossed early, got our water, and returned. We also didn't realize until the next morning that someone from the previous night (who probably drank some of the bloom water) had taken a giant sloppy crap under the trees right near our site. Neat. So, I suppose fair warning if you are thinking of camping here during bloom season. (late summer.) BUT, I suppose if we had camped here minus the bloom, we would have had a great experience. The lake is beautiful, and there are plenty of tent sites right on the lake. I would try and go here again if during a different season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there cell phone reception at East Chickenbone Campground — Isle Royale National Park?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and no coverage for Verizon.