porcupine mountains wilderness state park

I visited the Porcupine Mountains most recently to cross-country ski, and was reminded of what a wonderful place it is. Their cross-country trails go through diverse forest, including a spectacular old-growth hemlock forest, plus offer stunning views of Lake Superior. If you are visiting in summer, or riding a snowmobile in winter, don't miss Lake of the Clouds.

Once on the closed road for the winter, it was a big open shot to the top! Great views of Lake Superior!

We spent two nights over New Years in the Whitetail cabin. What an awesome trip! Even got engaged on New Years eve at midnight standing in the hemlocks on the Dear Yard Trail with snow falling down on us and the winds howling above the trees! It was a trip we will never forget and can't wait to come back!

my husband and i camped in presque isle section of the porcupine mountains and loved every minute of it. we pitched our tent and found some awesome trails that led to lake superior only a few feet away. the sunsets here were amazing. the trails, some harder than others were beautifully lined by either woods or waterfalls or lake superior. the campsites are fairly close to one another and you can pretty much see your neighbor and all their business but it was so quite. i would go back again but this place is HUGE and we want to explore more rustic areas next time. i do advise to bring EVERYTHING you need unless you want to run a 25 mile or longer trip both ways back to the nearest town. we love it here.

We went to the park in December so the temps were cold and it was snowing like crazy - exactly what we wanted. It is so beautiful in the winter and quiet. My only complaint and the only reason for the 4 rating is that the website did not say the access to the major scenic points of the park were not accessible. We ended up having to walk 14 miles to see the sites. I don't mind walking but it would have been nice if the website would have indicated this. Lake of the Clouds is stunning!

Love this park! Many hikes to choose from, waterfalls, climbs. Nice visitor's center. Love the trails at Presque Isle and the Escarpment Trail!

I had the opportunity to visit the Porcupine Mountains over a weekend in late July, and loved every moment of this trip. You can expect several hiking trails with beautiful scenery, waterfalls, and off-trail rugged campsites. We stayed at Union Bay campsite while visiting (site #29); although it wasn’t backcountry, I loved our location right on Lake Superior. My favorite spot was the serene, painting-like Lake of the Clouds. (It was very easy to access via car & a short hike uphill from the parking lot.) My favorite hike was the Presque Isle river hike that is moderately strenuous with rewarding views of Porcupine Mountain’s 3 most spectacular waterfalls (Manabezho, Manido, and Nawadaha falls). The 17-mile Lake Superior Trail was a beautiful hike with abundant plant life including wild raspberries along the trail, several footbridges, small camping lodges, and a couple look out points of Lake Superior. Next time I visit, would like to stay at one of the lodges along the Superior trail. We drove 6-hours to visit for only the weekend, and would gladly do it again!

Been coming here since I was 16. Love this place! Plenty to see and do! Walk the beach, agate hunt, hike and watch the sun rise and sets!

Lake of the Clouds is a must see! You won't regret it. Beautiful scenery. Several trails to hike if interested.

We really enjoyed Lake of the Clouds, Summit Peak, and Presque Isle falls area. It was so beautiful with all of the fall colors. It was well worth the trip to see them.

We were on a tight schedule but wanted to see some of Porcupine Mountains. We headed right to the Lake in the Clouds and what a great stop to make. The views were amazing. There was a $9/ day pass charge. Wish we had more time to explore more of the area.

The Porcupine Wilderness area in upper Michigan is a wonderful place to visit probably anytime of year. I highly recommend the last week of September. The Autumn colors were so rich and stimulating. There are three sites I would not miss.1) Lake of the Clouds overlook.2) Presque Isle River area and falls.3) Summit Peak All three are gems. A little more hiking is necessary to Summit Peak, but worth it. I like how untouched and clean things are in the park. You really feel like you are in the boonies.

The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park was established in 1945 by Michigan's Legislature. The park's 60,000 acres are one of the few remaining large wilderness areas in the Midwest and are essentially unchanged since 1945. It is Michigan's largest state park and is the only state - designated wilderness area. The views from Lake of the Clouds are outstanding and we were lucky enough to have good weather and see it in its full autumn glory. It is a photographer's paradise. The Presque Isle waterfalls are nearby and are another excellent attraction.

This park showcases Michigan's upper peninsula's beauty! From the Lake of the Clouds to spectacular views of Lake Superior it's a photographer's paradise. Among the activities we enjoyed was a hike along the Escarpment Trail which provided wonderful views of the park, but this is a fairly rugged hike. We also drove over to the waterfalls on the Presque Isle River which should not be missed and climbed the Summit Tower. Staff in the Visitor's Center were helpful, and there is even a small museum of native animals in the center. This is one of my favorite Michigan state parks.

We came to the Porcupine Mountains because we had heard about the backcountry cabins. Ours--Speakers Cabin--did not disappoint. In a word, it was perfect. The mile-long hike was manageable for our six-year-old while still giving us the total isolation we craved. One of my favorite travel memories ever, and I have traveled a lot. Read more and see pictures on my blog: http://meetthespooners.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-night-to-build-trip-around.html