Michigan Bucket List: Porcupine Mountains State Park
Isabella Cannon
| 3 min read
Porcupine Mountains State Park is Michigan’s largest state park and a popular fall-weather destination for camping, hiking and fishing. Covering more than 60,000 acres along the Lake Superior shoreline, this vast wilderness area is a haven for nature lovers.
The “Porkies” are home to a 35,000-acre old-growth forest, roaring waterfalls, rivers and streams, 90 miles of hiking trails and various campgrounds.
Campgrounds
Porcupine Mountains State Park offers modern, rustic and backcountry campgrounds to suite the individual preferences of any camper, including:
- Backcountry Rustic Cabins
- Backcountry Wilderness Yurts
- Union Bay Tiny Quill House
- Group Sites
- Kaug Wudjoo Modern Lodge
- Lost Creek Rustic Outpost Camp
- Presque Isle Rustic Campground
- Union Bay Modern Campground
- White Pine Rustic Outpost Camp
- Union River Rustic Outpost Camp
Picnic areas located along M-107 include picnic tables and charcoal grills are available on a first come, first served basis.
Hiking trails
The park’s extensive network of trails, ranging from easy walks to challenging hikes, provides endless opportunities to immerse yourself in nature. Here are a few trails to consider:
- Beaver Creek Trail: 1.2 miles
- Whitetail Path: 0.8 miles
- Big Carp River Trail: 9.6 miles
- Correction Line Trail: 7.3 miles
- Deer Yard Trail: 5miles
- Double Trail: 3 miles
- East and West River Trails: 2.3miles
- Lake Superior Trail: 17.1 miles
- Lily Pond Trail: 2.5 miles
- Log Camp Trail: 5 miles
- South Mirror Lake Trail: 3miles
- Summit Peak Tower Trail: 0.5 miles
- Superior Loop: 1.5 miles
Fall colors chair lift
Get a bird's-eye view of Michigan's fall foliage on a chairlift ride to the top of the Porkies Winter Sports Complex’s ski hill. The chairlift ride is $10 a ticket and will tentatively run from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 21 through Oct. 12.
Attractions
The park is also known for popular natural attractions, including Lake of the Clouds and the beautiful Presque Isle River corridor. Other attractions include the Summit Peak observation tower and 18-hole disc golf course.
Visitor Center
The Porcupine Mountains Visitor Center offers interpretive programs, an exhibit hall displaying the history of the Porcupine Mountains, information on trail conditions, Wi-Fi, a gift shop and more. The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. daily, May 15 to Oct. 14. The exhibit hall features educational displays on native wildlife like:
- Fish
- Goshawk
- Gray wolf
- Porcupine
- Peregrine falcon
- Bear
- Beaver
Michigan Recreational passports are required for entry into state parks. Passports are available for purchase at the visitor center or through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Related:
- Folklore in Michigan: Add These Places to Your Bucket List (ahealthiermichigan.org)
- When and How to Watch Perseid Meteor Showers in Michigan (ahealthiermichigan.org)
- Michigan Bucket List: The Dow Gardens (ahealthiermichigan.org)
Image: Getty Images
