Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Just a short distance north of Lake Gogebic is Michigan’s largest State Park, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Dedicated in 1945 to preserve the biggest and best remaining old-growth hardwood-hemlock forest remaining in the Midwest, this 60,000 acre park is well known for its hiking trails, scenic vistas, wildlife, striking geologic formations and majestic woodlands.

The native Ojibwa people named the Porcupine Mountains long ago. Looking west from their village at the mouth of the Ontonagon River, the Ojibwa saw a well-worn chain of mountains rising from the waters of Lake Superior. The outline of these old hills against the setting sun reminded them of kag, the woodland Porcupine. The mountain range they called Kag-wadjiw, the Porcupine Mountains.

Visitors of the Porcupine Mountains should plan on stopping by the park’s Wilderness Visitor Center near the junction of South Boundary and Highway M-107. Inside the center you will find displays, maps, a multimedia informational program and park staff to help acquaint you with the area. Folks visiting the park for an afternoon will want to include a visit to the park’s main scenic areas – the Lake of the Clouds Overlook, Summit Peak and the Presque Isle waterfalls.

The Lake of the Clouds Overlook is perched atop the towering cliffs of the escarpment. Here, visitors are treated to a spectacular view of Lake of the Clouds in the Big Carp River valley hundreds of feet below. The overlook is easily reached from the end of highway M-107, eight miles west of the Visitor Center.
 Hiking trails traverse much of the park, leading hikers through big tree forests and to scenic lakes and vistas. Overnight packers and day hikers alike will find trails to suit their interest at the Porcupine Mountains. The popular Escarpment Trail, which begins at the Lake of the Clouds Overlook, guides hikers along the summit of the escarpment ridge. Here visitors can experience trail side scenery reminiscent of the American west. Fragrant pines, tiny wildflowers and twisted juniper shrubs line the rocky path.

Porcupine Mountains is home to many wildlife species including the barred owl, fisher, goshawk, pine marten, gray wolf, whitetail deer, bald eagle and pleated woodpecker. Black bears frequent the park providing visitors a rare glimpse of this remarkable north woods creature. Shy by nature, black bears generally prefer to forage for wild foods away from people. Birders will enjoy the opportunity to see and hear many native songbirds, including the black-throated green warbler, cedar waxwing, winter wren, blackburnian warbler and Swanson’s thrush. Early season you can observe ravens, broad-winged hawks, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, osprey and numerous migrating hawks along the escarpment.

Within the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park are five campgrounds and 19 rustic trailside cabins, only 3 of which are open year round. A modern campground at Union Bay on the east end of the park has hot showers, flush toilets, electricity and a sanitation station. Near the mouth of the Presque Isle River, on the west end of the park, are 50 rustic campsites with pit toilets and water pumps. Backcountry camping is permitted in the mountains along the trail or at designated backcountry campsites. To obtain the required backcountry permit, hikers should stop by the Wilderness Visitor Center.

DNR Website

Friends of the Porkies