If there is availability after you arrive, you can get a permit for an open backcountry campsite that day. Big Hemlock Trail 4.5 miles Ski Cozy White Pine Home - 10 Mi to Porcupine Mtn. Lily Pond Trail2.3milesBackpack/dayhike The Program. We wondered if it would be much different than the Lake of the Clouds because it follows the ridgeline as well. Cross Trail swings away from the water At this pointand makes its steepest climb of the day. South Mirror Lake Trail3.0 miles Backpack/day hike ONTONAGON, MICH. -- Backcountry explorers at Michigans Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park have a beautiful new spot to consider when booking their next trip. Backpacking sites can (and should) be reserved 6 months in advance. Rustic Cabins & Yurts. The first stop for visitors just arriving at the Porcupine Mountains should be the park\'s impressive Wilderness Visitor Center, located a half mile south of M-107 on South Boundary Road. Near me Near Me Best camping near me Tent camping near me and reservations. Crosscut is not even on older park maps, but it is off of the Union Spring Trail on the opposite side of the Union Spring pond (although you cannot see any part of the pond from the cabin, even though it looks like you can from the map). The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is most popular between May and October when temperatures are comfortable and theres no snow on the ground. The Porcupine Mountains were named by the native Ojibwa people, supposedly because their silhouette had the shape of a crouching porcupine. The park boasts many popular natural attractions, including Lake of the Clouds (with an accessible viewing area), the scenic Presque Isle River corridor. Parts of the trail were ludicrously muddy (soupy!). Do not feed them and keep a safe distance if you run into one. Took a break at one of the many beautiful pools downstream of Shining Cloud Falls to filter some water and ice my aching feet in the wonderfully chilly river. Despite being referred to by its abbreviated name, the park is actually the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigans largest state park, and only designated wilderness area. Take a trek to the Union Spring, the second-largest natural spring in Michigan. Passed a YMCA youth-group hiking the opposite direction at Mirror Lake and began the climb up North Mirror Lake Trail to the junction with the Government Peak Trail. 1. Of those acres, 35,000 are an uncut virgin forest. Guests can access the nearby trailhead for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use, heading east into the Crazy Mountains. Started to sprinkle about halfway to the car. (There's not much in the way of info on any of the cabins, especially about the nature of the hikes needed to get to them.) Guests should be aware that there is a risk of exposure to Hantavirus when visiting remote cabins; Please call the Livingston office of the Yellowstone Ranger District at (406) 222-1892, during business hours: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST, Monday through Friday, for current weather conditions/alerts, information and questions about the cabin. For more information about downhill skiing at the Porcupine Mountains go towww.porkiesfun.com. The Wisconsin State Park System provides places for outdoor recreation and for learning about nature and conservation. The park also has two large campgrounds, Union Bay, a modern facility with a 100 sites, and rustic Presque Isle with 50 sites, as well as three small outpost camping areas along South Boundary Road. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In all, I ended up trapping 13. If you are a social sort of person, you could do worse than renting this cabin and sitting on its front steps and chatting with the passersby all day. Click here to read more about Porcupine Mountains Backpacking. Previous entries warned of the cabin mouse. I always hang my food bag to mouse-proof it so I wasnt too concerned. There are 20 sites along the Lake Superior Trail, with seven more on the shores of Mirror Lake, five on Lake of the Clouds and 12 stretched along the Little Carp River Trail. On my way up Cuyahoga Peak, I startled a wild turkey hen and her chicks. Soon the mouse made an appearance and stared at me from behind the woodstove. Lovely cabin with a fully functional kitchen; Silver City (from USD 150) Show all photos. It's tight quarters for two, so I wouldn't recommend staying there with more people, although the log book had an entry from a couple who had stayed there with two kids. They iced down in the frigid Union river as I too iced my aching body in a deeper pool in the river. Annual visitation to the park is estimated to have grown to more than 300,000 people. TIP: If you are trying to avoid people, head straight over to East River Trail and make it an out and back instead. Backcountry campsites are $15a night for up to four people. They have no plumbing or electricity. Finally made it to Mirror Lake and took the trail back to the cabin. Surface is gravelly/dirt with the occasional large rock. You can Snowmobile and ATV right from the rental house. Thankfully, very few mosquitoes at the cabin and no gnats! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, the beloved Porkies to many backpackers, is not only Michigans largest state park at 59,020 acres but its also the most rugged and the wildest. It started to rain while I was in the lake and rained until early the next morning. Porcupine Mountains State Park Cabins & Yurts There are 18 rustic cabins and a few yurts located inside the park. For information in advance contact the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Parkheadquarters (906-885-5275) or the park\'s Wilderness Visitor Center online at www.michigan.gov/porkiesvc. Fees And Reservations: Loops A, B and C as well as Loop D sites 15, 16, 17 and 18 are reserveable at recreation.gov. Backpackers on the Escarpment Trail. 14 mi from Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Continue walking a little further on the path that brought you to the cabin. During the winter time, cross-country skis, snowmobiles, or snowshoes are required for the last 2 miles to the cabin. No pit toilets or water. Some Porkies miles definitely feel longer than others! The 59,020-acre park offers summer and winter recreational pursuits and interpretive programs. Heres the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Map: The most popular spot in the park, and rightfully so, is the trail and lookout at Lake of the Clouds Scenic Area. 10/10 Excellent. The half-pear prints of whitetail deer will be the most common tracks seen. Didnt sleep very well due to a combination of exhaustion/general hiking pain and visions of mice dancing on my face. Shortly after descending, the gnats came out. This was definitely the least relaxing vacation Ive ever taken but it was still totally rewarding and satisfying. The Presque Isle River trail is dog-friendly, but you must keep them on a leash. A state park Recreation Passportor daily vehicle permit is required to enter the park and leave a car at the trailhead. Cabin rental from 155 dollars per night for up to 4 guests with an excellent rating of 100% based on 466 reviews. I also have a goal of hiking all of the trials in the park. If you combine this loop with the Little Carp River Trail and the Beaver Creek trail, you will create an entire loop, but if you decide you only want to . Bear tracks look more like a human foot than they do dog tracks, but they have a larger, more rounded pad and often the claws are clearly visible. For more information call the park headquarters at (906) 885-5275. You'll find private cabins on farms, country estates and private land. Section 17 Cabin lies just across the river while Greenstone Falls Cabin is a quarter mile to the west. This trail goes by Buckshot Cabin. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Luckily, the car is now only a 10 minute walk away. Eventually made it to where the Crosscut Cabin has been moved to and the cross-country ski trails. Six structures; White Birch and Whitetail on Lake Superior, Union River, Crosscut, Log Camp and Gitche Gumee Cabin just off M-107 are rented year-round. Those more than four inches wide indicate a good size bruin has passed through. Took some time at the overlook parking lot to have some post-breakfast snacks and hit the Big Carp River Trail. Try Cornwall, Norfolk, France. There is also a room devoted to,the diverse wildlife in the park and a small theater where,multi-slide presentations are repeated through out the day. If you're more an appreciator of nature than a sports person, you will enjoy discovering the 90 waterfalls or gazing at the famous Lake of Clouds. Hiking is the most popular Porcupine Mountains things to do and theres a hiking opportunity for the novice or experienced hiker so lets talk best hiking trails. Brad P. Another must-do hike is the Summit Peak Observation Tower. This vantage point provides a majestic view of the Bridger Mountains and spectacular star gazing on a clear night. As you stand overlooking the untouched tree-covered land, itll amaze you that such an area still exists in the Midwest. PinkertonTrail 2.6miles Backpack/day hike Porcupine Mountains State Park is quite extensive and other attractions listed in TA including lake of the Clouds, Summit View tower, mirror lake etc are all part of this state park. 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Difficulty: Moderate on the way down, Strenuous on the way back up. 554 ft Elev Gain Overview This is a moderate one way trail in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Porcupine Mountains State Park reservations can be made six months in advance and are highly recommended. Some of the trails were pretty difficult, others were awesome. Five stars, two thumbs up and any other rating of excellence. There wasnt a mouse, there was a whole colony living behind the stove! Description. Firewood is available for indoor use during winter as long as supplies last. Winter access requires snowshoeing, skiing or snowmobiling up to 2 miles from the end of the maintained gravel road. The cabin opened up for reservations this week, with overnights starting May 15. The campground hosts had hot chocolate, coffee, donuts, and homemade cookies every morning under a tent which was MUCH appreciated on our rainy days! Ate and went to bed. All linens Included Cabin is great for a couple. Are dogs allowed in Porcupine Mountains State Park? Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park here. It includes a table and chairs and a wood burning stove for heating. It is open from open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET), from mid May through mid Octoberand during the summer months it has a list of vacant cabins available for last-minute rentals. Exhausted. This private Northwoods style home only has one neighbor and is located 10 minutes from the spectacular Porcupine Mountains. by travel and outdoor writer Jim DuFresne! Photo 5, Photo Courtesy @shelbydiamondstar Photo 7, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Youll take various boardwalks along the ridgeline where youll see Lake of the Clouds snuggled amid a valley of trees in one direction. 1 Bathroom. The easy stroll will take you to a pier that looks out over the crystal blue water. While eating dinner, I read the cabins logbook. It is strongly recommended that visitors reserve backcountry campsites well in advance for the peak season; June through August. The Porcupine Mountains is 10.8 mi (17.4 km) away from this property. Activities in the park Biking Boating Fishing Hiking Snow sports Swimming Wildlife watching 2 campgrounds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Porcupine Mountains Presque Isle Campground For more information on these waterfalls you can reach the park office at 906-885- 5275. Some have a wilderness latrine.. East-West Trails Loop2.7miles Day hike In 1972, Michigan passed the Wilderness and Natural Areas Act. This looks absolutely beautiful for fall foliage! [5] Learn how your comment data is processed. You ascend more than 80 feet to the top of a bluff and are rewarded with a fine view of the Big Carp flowing through a series of rapids far below. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash carried out. Great Lakes beach safety. Directions: Just outside of Wakefield on Hwy M28 take Cty Rd 519 North up a incline. It was built in 1914 after a previous structure burned down, and was remodeled by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park includes 60,000 acres of pine, hemlock and hardwood. The trail from the parking to the cabin is about a mile and a half. Theres also the Porcupine Mountains Presque Isle Campground. Winter spring summer or fall Porcupine Mountains Rustic Cabins provide a close-up view of the awesome Porkies the affectionate moniker Yoopers give to this small Michigan range. Here a few notable ones: If you love waterfall chasing like us, also take a look at this Michigan Waterfall Guide! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Parts of the Government Peak Trail were pretty very muddy, other parts were nice. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to the road condition. The Big Carp River Trail is also a pretty awesome trail with fantastic views. Tunnel of Trees The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently acquired the cabin and about six acres of land that had comprised one of the state parks last private property in-holdings. donate to earn trail karma! The park hosts a 35,000-acre old-growth forest amounts its waterfalls, rivers, trails, campgrounds, and Lake Superior shoreline. Got up to deal with it and another trap went off before I could get there. Make sure to check out another favorite of ours, Keweenaw Peninsula in the Fall, it is close by and can be combined with a Porcupine Mountains trip. There are numerous other waterfalls within the Porcupine Mountains State Parks interior. A wood stove is available to heat the cabin. 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