McCargoe Cove Campground, near Houghton, Michigan, is a beautiful spot tucked away in [Isle Royale National Park](https://thedyrt.com/camping/michigan/near/isle-royale-national-park). This campground is known for its serene atmosphere and stunning natural surroundings, making it a favorite among visitors looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The campground offers a mix of tent sites and unique shelters, providing options for those who prefer a little more comfort. Reviewers have praised the well-spaced shelters, which come equipped with screened-in areas to keep the bugs at bay. As one camper noted, “Each shelter had a picnic table and was a very short walk to water and a toilet.” 

For those who enjoy a good campfire, McCargoe Cove features a shared fire ring with a lovely view of the water. Just remember to collect only downed wood for your fire. The campground also has a dock, making it a popular stop for boaters and fishermen alike. Visitors have spotted wildlife, including a friendly camp fox and even a moose nearby, adding to the charm of the area.

If you're up for some adventure, the trails around the campground offer great opportunities for hiking and exploring the island's natural beauty. Just be mindful of the local wildlife and remember to treat your drinking water properly. McCargoe Cove is a fantastic choice for those looking to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying a peaceful camping experience.

McCargoe Cove Campground is located in McCargoe Cove, on the north shore of Isle Royale National Park, off of the Indian Portage and East Chickenbone Trails. Boats can overnight at dock. Canoe/kayak access from Lake Superior or 1.2 mile portage from Chickenbone Lake. Stay Limit: 3 nights effective from June 1 Labor Day annually. Shelters: 6 Depth at dock (normal conditions): 7 . Access: Foot/canoe/kayak/private boat

McCargoe Cove Campground — Isle Royale National Park

Are you in need of a campground near Grand Portage, MN? Grand Portage is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Grand Portage camping trip.

Grand Portage

The Best Camping Near Grand Portage, Minnesota

We stayed at McCargoe Cove two of our four nights at ISRO and absolutely loved it. The shelters are very secluded from one another so you won't be on top of the group next to you at all. Nice fire ring down by the water - though not much downed wood very close nearby to get a fire going. 

This was my favorite spot that we saw on the island, would recommend to anybody. Absolutely gorgeous and peaceful in the morning. Best spot I've had had a cup of coffee. 

We had a fox come through our site right outside the door of our shelter too - way cool. 

Gorgeous and Serene 

A small group of family and friends left the luxuries of home to backpack thirty miles in Isle Royale National Park. It was an amazing experience and I look forward to taking the rest of my children here as they grow up.

The first leg of our journey was a boat ride from Grand Portage, Minnesota to McCargoe Cove. We did not do much backpacking the first day. We did hike around the area and set up camp to take it easy our first night. We elected to stay in our own tents, but those who wanted more amenities could take advantage of several small shelters built in each camp.

Other than Windigo and Rock Harbor, there are no amenities other than some shelters and latrines.

McCargoe Cove is set in a cove right off Lake superior, so this spot is especially popular with the fishermen since there is a nice dock and ease of access for their boats. This was a nice place to stay but it wasn't my favorite.

I tried some new food at McCargoe Cove that I highly recommend: NOKA - Mango/Coconut was fantastic.

Our First stop on the Island

Given that there is a relatively large dock here and a concessionaire ferry comes through here several times a week, there can be a lot of traffic. That being said, there are nice tent sites and some really cool tent/cabin structures. It wasn't super buggy while we were here so being in a tent was just fine. There are some nice open, rocky, sunny spots that are nice for sitting and enjoying the view. Be advised, there are quite a number of waterfowl that frequent the area so treat your water well, in fact the Park Service recommends treating your drinking water in two ways (ie. filter AND boil, chemically treat AND filter, some combination of two). The water is refreshing but there are leaches in addition to abundant bird poop. All part of the experience I suppose!

Nice but busy

McCargoe is one of the most beautiful campgrounds on the island. I have heard that it can get busy due to the dock, but when I stayed there it was quite peaceful and solitary. A loon was swimming in the cove and we came across a cow moose just south on the trail.

McCargoe Cove is Beautiful

This is a lovely campground on Isle Royale - none of them are terrible (let's face it - you are on a gorgeous island that's basically untouched!), but this one is a little larger than some with more shelters than others.

Shelters - they are first come first served.  If the campground is uber full, the policy and expectation is that you consider sharing with others, especially if you are a party of one or two.   Not a bad policy and courteous, for sure. But this didn't happen when we were here. Each shelter is four sided with the front side "screened in" for bugs. This is lovely in buggy weather! There are also boards all over the inside (parallel to the floor around the walls) that are great for hanging and airing out wet items. Each one had a picnic table and trees and was a very short walk to water and a toilet.

Tent pads - there are separate tent areas that are away from shelters, for the most part. Nothing is "close" here so there is quite a bit of room.

Group - there are three group areas. If using group areas on a normal basis, you must have a group reservation and groups of more than 6 require this in advance. Three group areas all near to each other but with nice green buffers in between and a toilet to share between them.

Toilets - not fancy but offer privacy.  Small wooden shelters with a metal toilet and a pit. \*\*NOTE:  they do not provide TP - you must take your own\*\*  They don't smell like roses (what pit toilet does?) but they allow privacy and no need to dig a cat hole. Bonus win win.

This is one of only a handful of camps on the island that has a fire pit! It's a shared fire (not one for each site) with picnic tables nearby and a lovely view of the water. Only collect downed wood (no bigger than your wrist) to burn. 

As others have mentioned - there is a very nice dock here since a boat comes a few times a week with passengers. This is a "stop" for drop offs from the mainland (you must book this boat in advance to get here). So it's a great place to chill in the breeze, do a bit of yoga stretching, dry your socks, enjoy an evening coffee or fall over after hiking - lol. 

\*\*\*Be aware - there are leeches in the lake. We attempted to splash off a bit and noticed them.\*\*\*  

Oh yes - the camp fox. He/she is a regular here. We saw the fox many times. Not afraid of people, will steal your stuff (including shoes) so be careful, tie your drying shoes to the picnic table, and do not feed the wildlife. But it it a beautiful specimen of an animal!

Photos of McCargoe Cove Campground — Isle Royale National Park

Real photos from real campers