Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
4.8(365)google
4.6(32)yelp
MountainForestWaterfallLakeHiking TrailFall FoliagePhotography SpotMust-See
Overview
Spanning a massive sixty,000 acres in the remote western Upper Peninsula, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan's largest state park and a premier bastion of old-growth northern hardwood forests. Affectionately nicknamed 'the Porkies,' this rugged paradise offers over ninety miles of backcountry hiking trails, rushing waterfalls, and secluded wild rivers. The park's legendary crown jewel is the Lake of the Clouds Overlook, where visitors can stand high atop an ancient volcanic ridge to gaze down upon a spectacular, pristine lake cradled perfectly within an endless carpet of dense forest wilderness.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1-3 days
Best TimeEarly October transforms this sprawling 60,000-acre wilderness preserve into an autumn masterpiece, repeatedly voted the premier fall tree colors destination in the Midwest. Hiking the vertigo-inducing cliff trails between 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM on a crisp morning is essential; sunrise rays pierce the massive changing hardwood canopy flawlessly over rolling valley mist.
Getting ThereTucked inside the rugged western Upper Peninsula wilderness at the terminal end of State Highway M-107, Ontonagon. Personal vehicle travel via road trip is mandatory given its highly isolated location. Take M-28 West to Bergland, hook north on M-64 N, and cut west onto M-107 straight into the state park gatehouse; features large paved lots.
Travel Tips
- Michigan's largest state park enforces the Recreation Passport at all entries; the dense wilderness is a total cellular dead zone, making paper map printouts from the visitor center vital.
- High densities of wild black bears inhabit the interior ridges; hikers must wear bear spray externally for instant access, and leaving scented cosmetics or food scraps inside tents is heavily penalized.
- County Road 107 encounters comprehensive seasonal gate closures from mid-October to late May due to extreme U.P. snowpack, cutting off all standard motorized vehicle access to Lake of the Clouds.
Reviews
Positive
- One of America's premier wild wilderness parks! Looking down at Lake of the Clouds enveloped by endless fiery maple forests delivers world-class visual awe.
- The main overlook area features perfectly connected, sturdy accessible boardwalks with vivid signs; trailhead restrooms are kept spotless.
- State park rangers exhibit high professionalism, providing detailed black bear safety orientations while enforcing strict night quiet hours orderly.
- A budget-friendly vehicle Passport unlocks days of exploring massive pristine mountains, rivers, and aerial lake vistas, ensuring unmatched value.
Heads up
- Beyond the main overlook deck, deep backcountry loops are rugged paths tangled with loose stones and wet roots, offering zero handicap access.
- Set in the highly remote western edge of the Upper Peninsula, the drive is incredibly long, and major grocery chains are absent for dozens of miles around.
- During peak October foliage weekends, the sole mountain access road gridlocks, and the summit lot overflows, causing risky backtracking and minor fender benders.
- To protect the wilderness ecosystem, cell service drops out completely inside the mountains, making it tough to call for help if you twist an ankle.