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Porcupine Mountain State Park,
Upper Peninsula Michigan
Hiking, Waterfalls, Camping, Scenic Overlooks along the South Shore of the Lake Superior Circle Tour

view of porcupine mountains from the Summit Peak lookout tower
View from Summit Peak, Porcupine Mountain State Park


Piorcupine Mountains Lake of the Clouds
A breathtaking view from the
Lake of the Clouds Scenic Overlook

Voted by Readers of USA Today-10Best as the 2nd best State Park in the United States, the "Porkies" offers superb scenic views, top-notch hiking and backpacking, mountain biking, and other pursuits in a 60,000 acre wilderness preserve. To get to Porcupine Mountains State Park from the west, we recommend traveling via US 2 to Wakefield, Michigan, then take Michigan 28 and Michigan 519 to the Presque Isle Unit of the porkies. For the casual visitor, There's camping, a picnic area and a nice day hiking trail network around its fantastic waterfalls. And of course, for the serious backpacker, Presque Isle connects with the extensive backpacking trails that run through the porkies.

Getting to the Porkies

If you are coming from the east, we recommend going through Ontonagon via Highway 64 to Silver City. Visitor attractions at the east end are the Wilderness Visitor Center, picnic areas along the lake, Union Bay campground, and Lake of the Clouds scenic lookout. If you are coming from the west, take Michigan 519 out of wakefield. The Presque Isle Camping unit is at this end of the park plus their most magnificient waterfalls. After leaving the Preque Isle unit, you take the south boundary road which runs between the west and east ends. Several trailheads for short or multi-day hikes are along this road. But the most "don't miss" attraction is the road and a trail to Summit Peak (pictured below).

yellow birch in ottawa national forest

The Porkies cover 60,000 acres and is Michigan's largest state park. Within the park is a block of old-growth forest comprising almost 35,000 acres and considered by some to be the biggest and best stand of virgin Northern Hardwoods and Hemlock in North America.

In the picture to the right, Jo and Hans stand by a huge old-growth Yellow Birch tree that is representative of what is in abundance in the Porkies.


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view from summit peak tower - porkiessummit peak -fall color

Summit Peak Hiking Trail

The half mile hike to Summit Peak is reached from the trail head off the South Boundary Road. At 1958 feet elevation, it offers quite a panoramic view of the area.

summit peak boardwalksummit peak

A boardwalk covers the last few hundred yards of the Summit Peak trail.

Far Right. Jo and Hans take a rest at the bottom of the Observation Tower.

summit peakThere is also an observation deck before you get to the tower which offers some great views for those not willing to climb the steps to the top of the tower.

red triangle Fall Color Pictures from the top of Summit Peak.

trail map around summit peak

 

Several of the Park's hiking trails intersect with Summit Peak. See Map of Summit Peak Hiking Trails > > >

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Camping and Picnic Areas

backcountry cabin porkies

The Porkies offer a wide variety of camping experiences from isolated backcountry backpacking campsites along the hiking trails, to backcountry cabins, a semi-modern campground, and a full service modern campground with electricity and showers.

beach along Union Baybeach along Union Bay

As you approach the Porkies from Silver City, there are several picnic waysides along this sand beach. (near right)

But at Union Bay Campground further west, the beach topography changes dramatically to Copper Harbor Sandstone. (far right)

greenstone falls hiking trail

red triangle Get more information on Porcupine Mountains Hiking Trails

 

 

 


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Porcupine Mountain Links

red trianglePorcupine Mountains - Summit Peak, Union Bay Campground (this page)

red triangleCamping and Campgrounds - Porcupine Mountains State Park

red triangleHiking and Back-Packing in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Park

red triangleLake of the Clouds Scenic Overlook

red trianglePorcupine Mountains - See the colorful Fall Foliage

red triangleWaterfalls, Presque Isle River & Campground

red triangleMore Scenic Porcupine Mountains Pictures

red trianglePorcupine Mountains - Winter Attractions

red triangleHiking Trail Map & Facility Info on the Porkies

More Porcupine Mountains State Park Resources

  Michigan DNR Porcupine Mountain State Park Website
  Porcupine Mountains Visitors Bureau
  Friends of the Porkies Website
  Porcupine Mountain Ski Area Website
  Porcupine Mountain Music Festival Website

porcupine mountains map

red triangle Here's a full map you can print out showing the campsites, back-country rustic cabins, hiking trails, waterfalls, and other points of interest within Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

red triangle Here's a link to a publication with more info on visiting the Porcupine Mountains - Porcupine Mountains Visitor.

More Links Michigan Upper Peninsula
Lake Superior Circle Drive Attractions

arrrowGoing east towards Marquette, Munising and Pictured Rocks . . . More waterfalls, hiking pages, and scenic attractions from Munising through Tahquemenon Falls to Sault Ste. Marie.

  Going west towards Black River Scenic Area . . . waterfalls, hiking, camping, rock picking.

  Marquette Michigan

triSault Ste. Marie, Michigan

triCopper Harbor & Keweenaw Peninsula

triDirectory Upper Peninsula Travel Pages . . . on SuperiorTrails

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SuperiorTrails.com Mobile-Friendly Lake Superior Circle Tour Travel Planner

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Winter - Michigan UP
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Best Upper Peninsula Campgrounds

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Lake Superior Camping
& Campground Directory

Best Camping along Lake Superior.

Upper Tahquamenon FallsTahquamenon Falls State Park and Waterfalls.

summit peak fall color
Fall Color at Porcupine Mountains State Park

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Upper Peninsula Fall Color Tour Map

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Munising and Pictured Rocks

porcupine mountains backpacking

Porcupine Mountains Guide for Hikers, Backpackers, Campers and Winter Visitors
The third edition of the most comprehensive guide to the hiking trails and backcountry camping of Porcupine Mountains State Park. Great for planning your trip or tuck the book in your backpack during your hike.

Go here for Upper Peninsula camping, hiking, and backpacking guides

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Pictured Rocks Cruises

Upper Tahquamenon Falls
Michigan Upper Peninsula Waterfalls

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