[Rescued Hiker Found Injured on Remote Michigan Island After Intensive Search]
Craig Berg was located on Isle Royale with the assistance of backpackers, Michigan state police troopers, and local officials. Although Berg was recovered injured and hypothermic, authorities confirmed he remains alive and alert via a Facebook post from the Isle Royale National Park.
Following his location, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from the US Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City lifted Berg from the island and transported him to Marquette Regional Airport in Gwinn, Michigan, approximately 140 miles (230 km) away.
The Isle Royale National Park statement indicated that Berg had been missing since September 5.
The hiker was undertaking a planned nine‑day solo backpacking trek on the expansive Lake Superior island. His itinerary called for returning to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula by ferry on September 5, but family members learned he failed to arrive home.
According to Local 4, a Detroit‑based station, Berg’s family reported him missing once his absence became apparent. Search and rescue efforts commenced on September 6.
Investigators initially targeted Rock Harbor, the intended endpoint of his hike, before broadening the scope to additional terrain—including the Greenstone Ridge trail, where a trail camera caught Berg on August 30, per the report.
In a television interview with TV6, Berg’s son, Evan, expressed relief and gratitude; he stated, “He was in rough shape, but he’s okay. He can speak. He asked for food and water. We’re incredibly grateful, and we cannot be more happy, relieved, or accepting of all the community support we received on social media.”
The National Park Service extended thanks to the personnel and partners who collaborated during the search.
Isle Royale is a remote National Park with no roads or motorized access permitted. Ground search teams traverse its 200 square miles of solid land solely on foot, navigating dense boreal forests and rugged ridge terrain.
Berg’s recovery marks the successful close of an intensive, week‑long multi‑aggency operation across the isolated, roadless landscape.