The Porcupine Mountains, Michigan's biggest wild park

West of the village of Ontonagon, the land rises into a low, ancient range of forested hills above Lake Superior. These are the Porcupine Mountains — the Porkies to nearly everyone who knows them. The wilderness state park that protects them is Michigan’s largest, at roughly 60,000 acres. About 35,000 acres are primary northern hardwood and hemlock forest. The DNR describes it as one of the largest relatively undisturbed forests of its kind west of the Adirondacks. Protecting those trees was central to the park’s creation in 1945.

The signature view is Lake of the Clouds, a long lake cradled below a forested escarpment. The overlook at the end of M-107 has an accessible walkway and platform, so this grand view does not require a backcountry hike. Beyond it, the park rolls on. There are about 90 miles of hiking trails, the Summit Peak observation tower, and waterfalls along the Presque Isle River. Backcountry campsites and cabins reach deeper into the park, while winter brings skiing and snowshoeing.

This is a big, remote park, so come prepared. Bring a map, water, and the gear your route calls for. A Recreation Passport is required for vehicle entry. The visitor center near the east entrance has current trail information, and winter road closures can change how you reach different parts of the park.