Keweenaw County Run
The boat that took us to the Island was The Isle Royale Queen IV
Our first glimpse of the island!
This was my final Michigan 5K. I did complete the full 5K distance—possibly even more—but unfortunately, my phone died during the run. Poor cell service on the island drained the battery quickly, which meant I wasn’t able to record the entire route.
The run took place on Isle Royale, located in the northernmost part of Michigan. (all the way across lake SuperiorGetting there was a journey in itself. I started with an eight-hour drive to Copper Harbor, where I met my parents at a campground for the night. The next morning, we boarded the Isle Queen VI, a ferry that took 3 hours and 45 minutes to reach the island—the remote and rugged setting for my final run.
My parents offered to watch my bag while I ran my final 5K. As you’ll see in the following photos, this was an extremely rocky and uneven trail, making the run physically challenging from the start. What made it even more stressful was the announcement from the welcoming guide on the island. She told us we needed to be back at the boat by 2:15 PM, and at that moment, it was already 1:00 PM.
To make matters worse, she mentioned she was the only EMT on the island, and if anyone got injured, it would take a very long time to get to a hospital. I’m certain this heightened my parents’ anxiety about me heading out alone on such a dangerous and remote trail.
The trail started out smooth and peaceful—a perfect beginning for my final Michigan 5K.
But the terrain quickly changed. Sharp rocks and narrow, raised wooden boardwalks made every step a careful calculation. Twisting an ankle felt like a real risk.
The views along the trail were absolutely breathtaking—some of the most scenic I’ve ever seen in Michigan. But in the back of my mind, I was constantly worried about getting back to the boat on time.
The trail was well-marked, but it never seemed to level out—always climbing, always rocky.
Every now and then, the dense forest would open up, revealing stunning views of Lake Superior. This photo is facing east, toward the endless blue.
If I wasn’t climbing, I was descending—always over rocks, making every stride a challenge.
This point in the trail was about a mile into the run, spirits high.
Knowing the time crunch and the island’s remoteness, I began to think about my parents. I’m sure they were anxious about me running off alone, so I decided to turn back early.
Thankfully, the trail was easy to retrace. Even deep in Isle Royale’s backcountry, the path home was clear.
I’m sure my parent were worried about me getting lost or hurt so I decided to turn around.
The trail was super simple to find my way back.
As I got closer to the boat, the trail finally began to even out, allowing me to pick up the pace again.
Getting closer to the dock now—probably a quarter mile away from the boat. My final Michigan 5K was almost complete.
Once I returned to where my parents were waiting, I told them I still had about a mile to go. I chose to finish the run on flatter ground, looping back to the boat launch, then climbing a ridge toward the center of the island.
At the top, I found a few rustic homes—some already built, some under construction. Looking west, I thought I was seeing a lake with an island… but it turned out to be a beautiful bay of Lake Superior. Likely a rental, and what a view.
A better look at the “island” in the bay. After reaching this ridge, my phone finally died. I followed a path southwest that wasn’t even recorded on Strava. After exploring a while, I made my way back, took a quick swim in Lake Superior, and caught the boat just in time for the 3 hour and 45 minute ride back to Copper Harbor. My final Michigan 5K? Officially complete.
Spotted this sign in Copper Harbor and couldn’t help but laugh—from MI to FL? Quite the detour!
Leaving Copper Harbor behind—but still deep in the Keweenaw Peninsula, surrounded by brilliant fall colors. A scenic end to a beautiful trip.
With 6 hours off the clock, I finally saw the bridge again. Only two more hours and I’d be home.
If you ever make it out to Isle Royale, please say hello to this otter for me. Tell him McCatty says hi, and he hopes to return someday. If you’re looking for an unforgettable place for a visit, this is it. I’m so glad I chose Isle Royale to close out this chapter.
I’m planning my final county run for the summer of 2025, with hopes of completing it on Isle Royale National Park. I haven’t finalized details about the boat ride yet, but I’ve heard from many that the journey is well worth it.
If you’re a business located in Keweenaw County, I’d love to connect—please reach out!
Update: I’ve already worked with two people from the area—one on websites, and another on posters, maps, and videos. I’ll be sharing more about those projects soon. My ongoing goal is to collaborate with people from every county across Michigan.
Keweenaw County
Any place in Bold and Red are townships / towns / cities I’ve run a 5k for the county run (or the closest city to my county run)
Any place in Bold and Blue are townships / towns / cities I’ve run anytime in the past.
Any place in Bold and Green are townships / towns / cities I’ve done website / hosting / design work – best website builder for small business – WordPress design hosting and search engine optimization. I’m a small business website builder – contact me to get a website that works! If no Green color is on this page, please talk with me (Click Here). I’ll be encouraged to change one to Green!
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