Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Reviews

If you are used to driving into a park and seeing the sights from the car, or a parking lot, the Porkies are not for you. Some sights are short hikes, such as the waterfalls in the Presque Isle area, but a lot of stairs. The park is best enjoyed hiking the many trails and getting into the "wilderness".

The colors are in prime now and, even tho there was rain last night, the forest and views were awesome! Good facilities and not many people. Friendly rangers, gift shop staff.

Hiked with the whole family. Started at Little Carp Rd parking - nice and big. Hiked down the Little Carp to Superior. Camped on the lake. Next day hiked up the Big Carp. Great trail. Stopped often to admire the cascades and falls. Camped at Mirror Lake. Nice site again - ML1, up above the lake with a nice view. Bear pole. Then back to parking lot. Lot's of thimbleberries to snack on. NOTE: Backcountry reservations are now REQUIRED.

Do not miss, be sure to go to the Welcome center in the park, or as we did due to off season, stopped at the Ranger station...got some good tips for our trek around the park. Falls, trails, the Summit Peak is a lovely walk. Only saw deer and a few chipmunks/squirrels....absolutely a must do!!

We enjoyed a perfect few days of fall color in the UP, hiking the East and West River Trails while camped at the Campground. It's truly remote, so bring what you'll need for the length of your stay. Campsites 2,4, and 6 offer spectacular views of Lake Superior. Be prepared for wind and bugs.

what can you say about the Porkies? incredible would be a start. this Michigan gem is a long drive to get to from davisburg but well worth it. if you havent been there and love nature, stop waiting. you wont regret it

Have been here before and had a great experience. Thus the reason for the return trip this year. However, the area we were in the trail was horrible. Between all the downed trees over the trail and the mud, it made it extrememly hard to enjoy.

We camped at two of their RV campsites and throughly enjoyed our entire visit. Their visitor center has an informative video, interesting displays and even a free educational video game. The trails were well maintained and let us access fablous views of creeks, waterfalls, lakes, a forest fauna. Most rangers were helpful abd welcoming.

Absolutely beautiful scenery! Lake of the Clouds was worth the hike. Great hiking trails...some easy, some a bit more difficult, but all worth every step!

We have gone to the Porkies for our 7th winter trip, luckily, this year we went and it was the Midwest telefest. Amazing snow and long xc gliding trails, awesome for skijoring, huge winter storm, truly best snow in Midwest. The down hill and tree skiing were pretty sick and the cabins are our little home away from home if you like backcountry camping I.e) no running water and wood burning stove action. We had a blast, always highly recommended!

I am so glad we visited Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (the Porkies)!! We stayed in Land O Lakes, WI for a week to escape COVID city life. Family of 4, incl 13 yo son and 9 yo daughter, and our mini golden doodle dog.

Took about 90 min drive to get there from our rental home. We started at the Visitors Center to get our recreation pass, maps and advice from the super helpful rangers. Glad we made the stop for information. We officially started our exploring around noon local time (we crossed from Central to Eastern time zone) and wanted to leave around 7 pm Eastern to avoid driving home in the dark.

Our first stop was Lake of the Clouds. Outstanding, jaw dropping scenic view for our first stop! We hiked a little of the Escarpment Trail (maybe 20 mins) looking for a nice spot to have our sack lunch and found a clearing with smooth logs already situated in a circle around an old fire pit. Perfect! The Escarpment is a 7-8 mile circle trail, with tons of exposed surface tree roots and rocks. Would be a difficult trail for us had we continued. But we knew we wanted to see 3 other things in the day and not wear out our little one so we headed back.

Hopped in the car and drove the only road in the park to stop at the Union Mine Trail. What a worthwhile stop for us! My daughter loves Minecraft so the thought to an actual old mine was exciting. The trail is a little over 1-mile loop, and crosses over the main road twice (felt a little like playing a game of chicken but there were very few cars that day so not a worry at all).
The trail is well marked. Along the way, historical markers tell the story of the mine through the daily journals of a miner. Just enough history to add context but not overwhelming detail to bore the kids. Trail mainly follows a small river/stream the kids were able to walk across on the stones. Also provided a number of little waterfalls to again keep adding interest for the kids. You can see 4 of the original shafts from the mine as you complete the trail. It was very cool and my daughters favorite part of the day.

Next, back in the car and off to Summit Peak Scenic Area. After a brief hike up we reached the wooden steps and boardwalk that take you to the Summit Peak tower. 207 steps in total plus lots of boardwalk portions. All well worth the amazing 360-degree view of the park and Lake Superior at the top! This was my 13 year olds favorite part. We spent about 45 minutes going up and down, taking our time to enjoy the views along the way and from the top.

Finally, off to the final stop at Presque Isle River and the middle waterfall. I had hoped we could do the 2-mile hike to/from all waterfalls but my children rebelled against more walking (at this point our step counter said we had already walked 5 miles) so we drove to the middle of the hike and easy access parking lot and walked to the waterfall. Through a little woods and down you cross a well-designed suspension bridge. To one side the stunning waterfall, which has cut amazing shapes into the shale. To the other side, the end of the river flowing into Lake Superior. We spent a lot of time soaking it in. On the other side of the short bridge, is more open forest. Taking our chances and not knowing what comes next, we walked toward Lake Superior to then be stunned into loud oooo’s, ahhhh’s and WOW’s as we saw the forest open to Lake Superior. Rocky shore strewn with driftwood trees, gnarly roots and all!

We played at the edge of the lake and soaked in the quiet lapping of waves while enjoying the lowering sun.

That was a wrap. We made our timing, and each of us had a favorite part of the park. I can see why people stay here for several days. There is enough different terrains and experiences to make everyone happy no matter how long you visit and no matter the age! This was also an easy place to bring a dog. Dogs were everywhere with their people. Super dog-friendly park!

We were also impressed with everyone’s respect of masks and social distancing.

We will remember the Porkies always.

The Porcupine Mountains are one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. I was a kid again. So exciting, the view gave me chills from head to toe. It is an absolute must see, especially if you're just a days drive away.

Great views and trails. Our MTU student and parents went for a drive and fall color tour. This made a great day trip from Houghton.

We have enjoyed autumn dayhiking at the Porkies as well as backpacking between the rental cabins. Great spot!

These are very primitive beautiful forests and since we don't mind going places in the off season or rainy weather....we pretty much had the trail to ourselves.
Just spectacular.

This was our favorite spot in the UP. Beautiful forest. Not too long of drives between sights. The waterfalls are really pretty. This was a peaceful and well kept park.

Our fourth or fifth time here. Gorgeous park. Easy or long hikes, lots of wildlife. Can't wait to see it in winter!

This is one of the most beautiful areas that I have ever visited. Lots of mountains, many Maple trees changing colors, lots of lakes, rivers, creeks. Lots of primitive campsites as well as state park campgrounds with hookups. Great hiking!

2nd trip here. What took me so long?! You'll never get tired of the 'Porkies"! Theres just so many wonders to behold.

We visited the park even though there was fog and light rain. We were able to visit the various waterfalls in the park and returned the next day when it was clear to see the Lake in the Clouds. The main attractions are accessible by car with some short hiking to see the attractions. There are also a number of hiking trails throughout the park for those who enjoy hiking. Beautiful State Park!

Lake of the Clouds is spectacular!!! Very short walk to this incredible viewing area. It is a fairly steep drive up and down and it does wind a bit on the road. It is handicap accessible for those that need wheelchairs.

Day 1: Lots of hiking, starting at Lake of the Clouds. Day 2: drove to Summit Peak and Presque Isle River falls. Glad to have checked this one off my bucket list, but could come back to hit some of the other spots or to backpack and overnight camp if I could convince family members to join me!

If you have time to visit only one place in Upper Peninsula, especially for famous fall color, this is the place to visit. 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. There are many trails too and just need to collect info from visitor center. (yes, it is open in Covid era).

We drove on 107th Engineers Memorial Highway, Silver City to Lake of the Clouds – 107 is part of highway M 26, M 64 from Houghton. This short drive follows the shore of Lake Superior, with strong waves hitting the highway and Lake of the Clouds is the most scenic spot in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Try to go early because this beautiful view points overseeing the lake is very popular and it is the only place where they assigned attendance to collect park entry fee. Summit view tower is also a must go.

There is so much to see and do in the area! So many beautiful waterfalls and great hiking. We loved the options of longer hikes or shorter hikes and being able to see more waterfalls in one trip.

We drove nearly 10 hours to spend the 2.5 days here. We started at Lake of the Clouds and hiked to BC 7. Being 2 older, out of shape individuals with 30-40lbs of gear on our backs the hike was hard. The views were breathtaking. Our site offered fresh water through the river for drinking and cooking - we boiled first. Further down we were able to swim and clean off. Shining Cloud Falls were amazing. Our second day we hiked to LS-16, a rough hike again, but the views were worth the shoulder aches (we wore the wrong style backbacks and tennis shoes not hiking shoes - don't make our mistake). LS 13&14 and LS 15 &16 are shared spots - important to note. The site was beautiful none the less, we hiked in with time to spare for the most beautiful sunset over the lake. Clean water again for cooking and drinking. Ticks, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes weren't bad - we left yesterday. Great time of year to visit. We got home around 3am this morning, after a 10 hour drive and 21.9 miles of hiking being overweight, out of shape people who wanted to die most of the hike and I'm trying to book sites for the fall. So worth it!! We will be taking children next summer - great place for a family. Pack light! Next time we will add an extra day - give yourself more time then you normally would expect if hauling gear.

I recommend stopping at the visitor center. The park guide at the center was amazing and she customized our viewing options for our abilities. We had the best time. There is limited parking at some attractions, so be prepared. Portable toilets at popular locations. Bring l tissues as many toilets are of toilet paper (speaking from experience). You just can't beat the serenity of the park and views. Definitely a bucket list item.

Excellent place to snowmobile to in the winter. Great views. And a great experience riding in along the lake. A must see.

We visited the 3 viewing points that were easily accessible from parking lots. This would also be a great spot if you like to get off the grid for a few days and do long hikes. Presque Isle Falls was probably our favorite of the three. We walked just under 2 miles to see the area but you could explore more or less depending on your ability. Lots of stairs. Summit peak was under a mile of walking and I can imagine would be incredible in fall colors. Many stairs here as well. Lake of the cloud was a short easy walk with beautiful scenery.

My wife and I have been to the Porcupine Mountains (The Porkies) on many occasions over the previous ten years (we go at least once a year for multiple days) and have never been disappointed. Many of the trails are for people that want to have an adventure into real wilderness and do require being in at least decent shape (we've walked about 70% of the trail miles in the park) but there are a number of trials that are for anyone of any fitness level that wants to walk them (Union Mine Interpretive Trail or the West River Trail at the Presque Isle Campground for example). Any trail will lead to beautiful wooded scenery, many have waterfalls (both easy access and requiring effort), and some take you along the Lake Superior shore. Literally cannot go wrong with picking a trail if you are looking for awesome scenery. Both campgrounds are fantastic. We've stayed at a couple of the cabins and one of the yurts too. Each of these experiences was perfect as they are secluded, well maintained, and comfortable. The price is affordable ($68 per night for any cabin or yurt) but they can book up quickly (often need to make reservations months ahead of time). Most require a good hike to get too. The staff at the visitor center is very friendly and helpful and I recommend speaking with them if you have questions about how tough a trail may be or any other questions about the park. The park has become very popular over the past few years and some restrictions have been put into place to preserve the wild (back country camping restrictions mostly) but there are still many places you can go and not be around alot of people and just be with nature. Please be respectful of the park, the animals, and others while visiting. Completely worth the visit but understand you are going to a place that is made for outdoor adventure and is still very rustic.

Traveled to view the fall colors. This was somewhat disappointing as there was a lack of vivid reds and orange. The trails are fantastic and there are far too many to view in a day. We walked over six miles and viewed the Union Mine Trail (nice rapids and small falls), the Presque Isle River trail and five nice falls and rapids, and the Summit Trail. Views were fantastic. Trails can be damp in spots and rocky in others.

Great place to visit! Be sure to stop in at the welcome center, the DNR people were very friendly and helpful- The gift shop wasn't as big a rip-off as most places we've visited. Enjoy the short movie about the area, very informative and starts every 20 mins. The walk to The Lake of the Clouds overlook wasn't to bad, well worth the trip! he Summit overlook was a little harder, but doable, I'm 68 and made it.

What a beautiful place to visit. We had so much fun and really enjoyed awesome views ! Great place to bring your family and get close to nature

My sister and I took three kids (ages 12, 14, 19) on a five-night backpacking trip and had an amazing time exploring Lake Superior's lakeshore, two waterfalls, the underwhelming Government Peak (1850 ft), and the gorgeous inland lake area of Mirror Lake. Day 1: We hiked in from the parking lot to a lovely private site on Lake Superior (2.5mi) after a 10 hour drive. Loved our site, was reeely happy to have walking sticks on the rocks. Day 2: We hiked the entire Lake Superior trail to the mouth of the Little Carp River (7.5 very rocky, very muddy, wooded trails with few Lake views, actually my least favorite day for hiking, though camping along this stretch would we fab) Day 3: Little Carp River Trail to LC 5 (6 lovely, way less rocky miles) Day 4: Little Carp River Trail to the Mirror Lake area, which is gorgeous @5.5 miles). Day 5: Government Peak Trail to GP1 (past the lovely and in our case private Trap Falls swimming hole, 7 miles) and finally the Escarpment Trail back to the parking lot, with beautiful views (6.5 miles if you don't take the offshoot trail to the parking lot as we did due to a thunder storm) The first two days were some very slow miles, due to ankle-turning rocks and shoe-sucking mudpits, at least during Covid, when the volunteers aren't out with their chainsaws maintaining the trails and boardwalks (we salute you, park volunteers!!!) Bring your walking sticks, or find some. We appreciated our two hammocks and everyone was glad for their butt pads! We had no bugs whatsoever, which is crazy weird, but I would never go there without spray. We forded rivers three or four times along the Little Carp, but I only took off my shoes once. Again, walking sticks helped for balancing on logs and stones, and the water was never more than calf-deep. We also forded several fallen logs (see above salute to volunteers:) The fire rings were well maintained (two of ours even had grates), and each site had a bear pole available (byo rope and waterproof food sack). Elevation change was really minimal, with maybe four moderately irritating uphill pushes the whole way, headed up Gov't Peak and again along the Escarpent. We swam in Mirror Lake, in the Little Carp, and at Trap Falls. Leech warning at SMLake, but only in the reeds for the first three feet. Lovely sand after that, and loons:) This was a 35 mile loop. We saw very few people on trail, and it's almost impossible to get lost. Love having this great place in my home state!!

This national park is truly a gift to us all -- it's beauty is limitless! to see the shoreline and the mountain scape all in one short trip -- allows you to reset your mind!

This is a must see/do. A lot of hiking and walking, but the views are amazing. Hike to the waterfalls in the area too.

Wanting to take in some fall color while staying relatively close to home my wife and I decided to spend a week kicking around in the Upper Peninsula (Michigan). We’ve spent a fair amount of time on the east side of the UP but not a lot over on the west. So this time we set out for The Porcupine Mountains, located in Ontonagon, Mi. Some 60 miles from Ironwood which sits on the MI/WI boarder. Never having spent anytime in the Porcupine Mtns. (Porky’s as I have heard some refer), and only having two days to do so, we wanted to take in as much as possible. First off we tent camped at Union Bay campground, which is modern with all the amenities. They have a variety of available sites that range from rustic to modern. I recommend checking with the ranger station to get a map. They will also help steer your visit. With limited time I suggest hitting Lake Of The Clouds, Summit Peak and Presque Isle River. These three spots give you a good sense of what the park has to offer, and from there you can branch off to focus on what really strikes your interest. While there are many trails to explore, there are trails for each skill level and ability. All the trails are well marked with trail markers. Most are a combination of foot trails, boardwalks and stairs. Lake of the Clouds offer breath taking views, Summit Peak also offers great views with the addition of a watchtower, and Presque Isle River takes you on a hike along either shore, (take a short suspension bridge to the footpath or use the boardwalk on the near side), to view some beautiful waterfalls all the way to the mouth of the river as it empties into Lake Superior. Our visit was in mid September so crowds were minimal, but families, couples and singles were present. Weather was unseasonably mild. Would advise coming prepared for anything , as the UP can be unpredictable. Good Hiking.

We hiked the escarpment trail. It was a nice trail with lots of sweeping views of the valley below. We were there during fall colors so it was particularly beautiful.

There are some really nice lookout views and some great waterfalls in the park. All of the hikes were really nice except maybe next time we would skip the trail down to the Lake of the Clouds because it was a pretty tough climb back up and the view from the bottom wasn't as good as from the top

A must go to! So many things to do and see in this State Park!! The drive is absolutely beautiful! The colors of the trees are breath-taking. The Presque Isle Falls is so peaceful. Lake of the Clouds is so beautiful! I will definitely be back to enjoy a lot more!!!

We hiked the escarpment trail, with great views of Lake of the Clouds. Great trails and beautiful views. LOTS of bugs!

So peaceful and gorgeous. Lots of trail options for all levels of experience. I was nervous of getting lost, so we didn't go too deep into the woods. I would've liked the trails to be marked better/more often along the way, but it won't detract me from going again.

Friends and I backpacked here in October for 5 days. It was a great and rugged experience. We had to do a few river crossings through water and over fallen trees, saw some wildlife and enjoyed spending nights cooking meals and talked. The views at mirror lake, lake in the clouds and summit peak are breath taking. Rustic camping was easy and there were plenty of sites along the trail to stop and set up camp with a fire ring. Pretty desolate outside of the tourist/scenic areas. Weather was bearable at night with temps in the low 40s, and hiking during the day was in the 50/60s, perfect and comfortable. Would highly recommend spending a few days here.

This is a beautiful state park in the UP. One of the most beautiful in the country IMO!
The mountains are not overly tall. Think more Ozarks than Rocky Mountains.

The prime visiting time is June - Sept. The bugs are really bad in June & July. We visited in early August & they weren't too bad.

The county roads are rough. They were paving South Boundary Rd while we were there. A previous reviewer complained about low branches damaging his RV. This isn't an RV friendly park. Drop your rig off at a campground.

There's a visitor center that should reopen at the end of September. We were disappointed we couldn't visit. The temporary VC is at the Ski Chalet.

There is a fee to enjoy the park & that's $10 per day out of state. There's booths at Lake of The Clouds & Presque Isle that are manned by a person.

There are 3 main areas that you can visit in one day.
Summit Peak Scenic Area : A VERY small parking lot. Do this early in the day. The port a pottis were overflowing while we were there. There's a .9 mile hike there & back to a nice observation area. Continue on to a tower for a marvelous view. The tower has many stairs & they are narrow. The observation area on top is small as well. This is a very crowded area.
Presque Isle Scenic area. 1.9 mile one way to see 3 waterfalls. There's 3 parking lots. The lot across from the fee booth is for the barrier free Nawadaha Falls. The other 2 require a boardwalk trail with many stairs. You can make a loop by taking the trail on the other side of the river - 2.3 mile loop. There's 2 other parking lots that are larger.
Lake of the Clouds Scenic Area. 100 yard accessible paved & boardwalk trail. Gorgeous view! This has a larger parking lot, but you can't bring a trailer up there.
Any other hiking may require more than one day.

There's 2 campground, one primitive, one with hookups in the park. There's many walk in cabins & back country campsites to be had.

Highly recommend more time to see this beautiful park & take some trails.

I stayed at the State Park just outside the park (7 miles from Lake of the Clouds and a mile or so from the road that forms the southern boundary of the park and is used to access more trails). First of all, the campground is very nice, a little open in spots. It also has brand new bathrooms, showers and a laundry room. So those are very nice features to have.
The Park is very accessible with a number of short and long trails depending on what you are looking for. Lake of the Clouds is beautiful. The Summit Peak is amazing. FYI these are not your typical mountain settings, but more forested (not rocky mountain type of scenery). What I really loved here is how amazingly quiet it is. Sometimes all you can hear are bugs flying by. I did some fly fishing on the little carp river trail as well which was very nice and good fishing as well for brook trout.

Porcupine Mountains SP is amazing. There is very little in terms of stores/hotels/gas station and all that stuff that comes with most tourist attractions and The Porkies is much better off because of it. The Lake of the Clouds and Presque Isle is were we spent the majority of our time. Lake of the Clouds is has stunning views and we even had the pleasure of seeing a Bald Eagle flying over. Presque Isle has a trail that follows Presque Isle River and you get to see many smaller waterfalls along the way.
Both areas that we spent most of our time in had boardwalks and steps, so be aware if there is a mobility issue.

I'd love to get back up there and actually spend some time on the hiking trails, but we only had a day, so we hit the major spots along with the Visitor Center. Definite recommend.

Plan a day to visit if you plan to go to all 3 - as it takes time to travel from site to site as well as the time to visit each. Well worth the trip. The young lady at the Visitor Center was very helpful.

Been to the State Park a few times We hiked the Escarpment Trail this time. 5 miles on top looking over both Lake Superior and Lake of the Clouds. Magnificent views. Trail can be rugged and in some parts you're close to edge. Watched an eagle as we at lunch on the ridge. Nothing else compares to this place.

Stayed nearby 2 nights which gave us 1 full day exploring the Park. We started at the Visitor Center to get oriented, got a map & visited with the Lady there. Small Gift shop at Visitor center also. Yes there are some Black Flies, the Gal at the Visitor Center said they blow in off the Lake with the South Winds. Her suggestion was to try wearing pants if doing hiking etc... and can also try bug spray. We had a nice breeze the day we were there so they weren't bad.

We drove the 25 miles to Presque River area 1st & spent quite a while there. Make sure you go over the bridge, go left and walk down to the see the Lake. A short distance from there is the area you can walk out on the Rocks & see the River. We stayed on the West River Trail which is the Boardwalk area - you can see all the waterfalls from the Boardwalk. Nice picnic area by the parking areas.

We made another stop at a waterfall on our way to Summit Peak, followed by the beautiful views at Summitt Peak, then Lake of the Clouds Overlook. We did it in 1 day & think we hit all the high points of the Park. If you are doing alot of hiking you'd want at least a couple days. Suggest stopping at Visitor Center 1st to get oriented to the Park.

I'm so glad that the Porcupine Mountain area is preserved. The wonderfully maintained trails (nothing fancy but are well marked & provide some stability) allows you to roam through the beautiful woods. Some areas have old growth forest. We saw so many wildflowers so the time of year was right. We hiked low and high trails, always with the beautiful Lake Superior nearby.

We stayed at Presque Isle campground within the State Park with a group of other Class B motor homes. This is a no hook-up campground. The sites are HUGE! While we were in a site farthest from the lakeshore with 3 sites between us and the lake, there was no obstruction to our panoramic view. Great hiking location.

There are miles and miles of trails if you like to backpack. There are also many scenic overlooks and waterfalls to see.

My wife and I spent 3 days in Ontonagon to visit the "porkies" and surrounding area. The trails were mapped out very well and the wilderness was just beautiful. From The Lake in the Clouds to Presque Isle, the entire region was teeming with waterfalls and wonderful scenery right along Lake Superior.

The trails....the views.....can not get enough of this beautiful place!!! May people continue to respect the land and allow this place to be such a natural wonder!!!

Very peaceful and relaxing. No cell service at all so do not expect that. So many trails and wonderful things to see. I would recommend stopping by the visitor's center and grabbing a map prior.

Visited this area last on our tour around the UP. The sites are very scenic and we enjoyed some hiking.

A MUST SEE - the Lake of the Clouds. We went in June, but we will be back this fall. What a great view. Handicap accessible board walk to the Lake of the Clouds. At the visitors center they have lots of suggestions for your hikes, or fishing, or camping. We drove through the Union Bay Campground, which had lots of large sites and a boat launch. We drove to the West side to see the 4 main falls from the visitors center which took about 45 min to drive.. The trails to the 4 falls were short, although there was lots of steps involved. Don;t forget that camera and tripod. The falls were, Presque Isle Falls; Nawadaha Falls; Manido Falls; and Manabezho Falls. If you can take the time to camp or stay at a cabin it would be worth a 3 or 4 days stay. Lots of hiking opportunities. Enjoy.

Many varied lengths of trails offered in this park. Easy hikes to beautiful falls. The drive up to Lake of the Clouds is a must do.

We camped 5 nights here and loved it. We had a campsite right on the water at Union Bay and we highly recommend getting one of these sites if you can. We did a 3 1/2 mile hike down the coast right from our campsite. The newly renovated bathrooms and showers are great! Firepits are super nice as well. Our favorite hike was the Escarpment Trail. We do not recommend the Lake Superior hike (wet, buggy, no views). overall this park is a nice place to camp, just bring your bug spray and some warm clothes. We will be back here!

There was still ice on the lake but not so cold that you had to wear a lot of clothes. The icebergs on the lake were very cool.

First time visiting and it didn't disappoint. We visited Lake of the clouds, Summit Peak, and Presque Isle

This State Park is HUGE and has so many trails to explore and things to see. We went to Lake of the Clouds first, then had a late lunch on the shore of Lake Superior. There are trails available that are handicap accessible and easy for all levels of hikers on up to difficult with some steep climbs, your adventure is totally up to you. On our drive back to Ironwood, we drove the beautiful scenic route through the park itself.

We visited a waterfall while at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and then drove across the park and stayed in one of the campgrounds. WORTH IT. We drove 6 hours to this destination and well worth it. My friend and I want to go back just to camp on the lake. Beautiful sunsets, great wilderness.

We had a great family vacation in Ontonagon. It's a great place to get away from it all. But there isn't a lot to do in town. So to ward off cabin fever we too the short drive to the wilderness area. Had a blast.

First, the area is simply gorgeous. You're not gonna find a lot of prettier natural areas. There are trails, trails and more trails all offering great views. Whatever your hiking ability I am going to guess you're gonna find a couple routes that work for you. I am not an expert on such things but it looked like they even had some trails that were wheelchair accessible.

The parks department did a solid job of serving up some education about the area's geology, history, plants and animal.

We met people from all over the country and everyone seemed to be having a good time. We didn't camp their but the camping areas looked nice.

Overall-good place to spend a few hours, day or a couple of days.

Great hike along the river rapids and waterfall. The Lake of the Clouds lookout is not to be missed. A highlight of our visit to the Upper Peninsula.

Summer is beautiful and the fall colors at the end of September is amazing. If you are in the area, its worth going to.

WE visited the "Porky's" to see the fall colors and were not disappointed. This is an absolutely beautiful part of not only the UP, but the entire Midwest. There is adequate parking and hikes varying from very short, to all overnight backpacking. If you are looking for a place that offers beautiful overviews to see the fall foliage, this is the place to go. All roads are well maintained. The trails are well marked, and there is a wide variety of activities to choose from. You do not have to be a rugged outdoors man to enjoy this park.

We love it here, second time at the park. The camp store is the best! Lots of souvenirs and a small amount of supplies. People are very helpful and friendly, even serve ice cream.
Campground showers were fine but very full. People were waiting in line, we went right around lunch and that seemed the best. They did close the bathroom every afternoon for an hour or so for maintenance. Not to many options if you needed to go. Booked site six months in advance twice and able to score lakefront sites! Amazing views, saw the Northern Lights in May of 18 on our first trip.

Ranger at HQ was very friendly, helped us identify hikes for our timeframe. The trails were fabulous! Very well labeled and maintained. For example, several boards were anchored over muddy sections of the trail. Beautiful scenery! We did Summit Loop, Presque Isle Trail, Lake of Clouds and Nonesuch Mine trail. The Nonesuch trail is a little hard to find but very worthwhile. It includes old, abandoned mine buildings and beautiful waterfalls.

I visited hiked the boardwalk side of the trail along the Presque Isle River. Although it was a rainy day, the hike (even with all the stairs) was well worth it. There are three beautiful waterfalls one after the other and they are stunning. We then drove to the other end of the park to see the Lake of the Clouds. It was socked in with fog so we missed it that afternoon, but we were happy we drove back the next morning, when it was visible from the boardwalk. An extraordinary sight as you see the lake from a commanding bluff.

We were a little challenged because I have a foot issue at the moment. I was a little apprehensive about walking around. It was a wonderful trip! At all the different stops I was able to do the steps and/or paths to be able to get to the destinations.
Everything was well-marked and smooth. The roads also were well-marked. There was never any question about where we were going. I would go maybe a week later for better fall colors.

If you like hiking, great place to visit. Lots of waterfalls. Beautiful views of Lake of the Clouds and challenging hike down to the lake. We will visit again!

This is a gem of a state wilderness area for Michigan! The Lake in the Clouds parking lot has a handicap accessible ramp and boardwalk to several overlook areas. If the person can stand up, he or she can get a full view of what everyone else sees. There are several other short walk areas throughout the park that have boardwalks to some view of waterfalls or rivers, however there are also some paths and trails for the hikers that go down to lakes or rivers as well. Definitely worth the $5 out of state daily fee and we arrived around 5PM one day and they issued the pass for the entire next day, so were also able to enjoy some views that evening.

Hiked about 25 miles over three days. East and West River trail along the Presque Isle River have very nice views of the three waterfalls and access to the shores of Lake Superior. The Escarpment trail going east from the Lake of the Clouds overlook is not to be missed.

STOP THE CAR. this is beauty at its best. Pure clean and breathtaking. The park is the gem of the UP. Lake of the clouds is a must see. You can spend day's enjoying all it has to offer!

We visited over our sons birthday in September. What a beautiful place. We went on several smaller hikes, and spent so much time outdoors. We camped in our RV in the campground by the lake. Spaces are pretty close together, and not much privacy. But we ended up visiting with several of our neighbors and enjoyed some shared smores.

Beautiful place to explore.

When I need to get away and desire nature's autumn grandeur I like to head to the porkies. There are two styles of camping from which to choose. Rustic or developed. Union bay is great if you like to be close to the water and don't mind the loss of privacy. After everybody's kiddos are in school for the season presque isle is usually empty. Union bay fills with RVs but everyone is super friendly no matter where you go. If you do hike in the fall make sure you have bear spray. Be aware that backpackers have trained bears that packs mean food and the hunters haven't culled them if you go before the hunt.

Love the UP and this is just another reason why! PMWSP is a fantastic destination for hiking , camping, and any outdoor activity you can think of. Camped at Presque Isle campground,for 6 days and it was comfortable, quiet and decent. This is a rustic site so prepare for that, Vault toilets, and available water onsite. No showers but we bathed i Superior daily. Bugs are thick so spray is required. Access to many, many great hiking trails. Buy local firewood nearby and groceries are available within an hours drive. Spotty cell service but you can get a signal on occasion. Much to see and do. Stopping into the Visitors center will really help plan your experience, Enjoy!

These were some of the best hiking trails we've ever hiked! They have trails in varying distances with different degrees of difficulty but there's something for everyone here. The area is beautiful, especially near the multiple falls on the river.

This is one of Michigan top 5 state parks. We stayed at the Union campground because you have water and electric hook-ups. The majority of the camp sites are awesome. But I will say that campsites located right next to the lake are small and may be difficult to park some campers. In fact some camper had their camper paralleled to the road making it difficult to use their slide outs. So research the campsites carefully before you book a site. Our site was a decent size for our trailer, had a nice fire pit but did lack shade. The shower house is very nice with very good showers. However, you might want to bring a second set of flip flops for the shower since the water does not drain fast and tends to back up a bit toward the door. There is a lot to do in the area such as seeing Lake in the Clouds, numerous water falls, hiking, and even an observation tower. Over-all, this is an awesome campground and I would encourage all campers to make this trip. This is a must do camp ground.

This is quite a drive if going to the trails very affordable for the day trips and lots of hiking options. Once in the park the drive to the summit peak is about thirty to forty minutes. The speed limit is quite slow so it takes some time to get to the trail.

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is great! There is so much to see and do there! Short hikes, long hikes, waterfalls, etc. We even saw a porcupine (dead in the road) while we were there.

We spent two days hiking this beautiful, well maintained park. There's a fee to get in. I believe $9 per day. I forgot to ask for senior rate so not sure if there was one. Rangers were friendly and helpful. Visitor's center is interesting and nice.

We loved our short stay at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and plan to return at some point for a longer visit! It's a large park with lots to offer, and it's such a nice drive within the park. We camped for one night at Presquile Isle (the rustic campground). There's a stairway in the campground to the Lake Superior waterfront; we took our lawn chairs and enjoyed sitting along the shore watching the sun go down. We also did the hike to Summit Peak and visited the Lake of the Clouds. There's an annual music festival in late August...maybe we'll time our next visit for that event!

Within the Porcupine Mountains, we enjoyed Presque Isle, Summit Peak and Lake of the Clouds. Begin your visit at the Visitor Center to help guide your visit.

Lots of waterfalls and amazing vistas to hike to. Beautiful fall color. Camping right on Lake Superior or deeper in the forests...backcountry campsites and remote cabins....something for everyone.

Oversized vehicle parking wasn't much of a problem except at Summit Peak.

We camped here for a few days and it was our fav camping trip ever!!! The park is huge! No way to see it all in one trip. We just hit the highlights: Lake of the Clouds, Presque Isle river, etc. The camping sites seemed to book up quickly and we only had two choices of sites, neither of which were ideal. I'd book well in advance to get a good camping spot. The forests are amazing! Like a rainforest almost. Everything is covered in moss and the trees are massive. Beautiful hidden waterfalls all over the place. Definitely the most wild part of Michigan.

Just saw lake of the clouds beautiful. We saw the lake of the clouds in 1984 I don’t remember the boardwalk when was the boardwalk built

A few falls are within the park and Nawadaha you can get right next to! The grounds are beautiful and I wish we could have stayed longer. Bring mosquito spray. You're in the thick of the forest.

Would recommend going in spring or in fall- the mosquitoes are absolutely atrocious as well as the flies! The lakes around the National forest were incredible to see, what a beautiful setting away from the busy city life! We didn’t make reservations to camp because it said it was a ‘first come first serve basis’ however when we got there on Sunday we were told they started making reservations as of March. So make a reservation! We will definitely be going back as there are different campsites based on your camping skills and abilities. A must see!

We've camped at the Porcupine Mountains State Park at the Union Bay campground on the northeast end of the park. I'm not thrilled with it, as it gets crowded and the campsites are all close to one another with no privacy. That said, we had a lakeside site once which was really nice. More primitive accommodations can be found in the Presque Isle campground on the other end of the park.

The state park, however, has much more to offer besides the two campgrounds. Lake of the Clouds is a short, easy drive (and it's handicap accessible). It's so beautiful that it has it's own page on Tripadvisor (read the reviews there). But make sure to also check out the waterfalls at the Presque Isle River on the other end of the park (about a 30 minute drive); there are also a couple short-hike lookouts along the way, which are worth checking out.

Of course, there is also backpacking for more of a "wilderness" experience (I did that once about 15 years ago, great views, but be prepared for flies along the trail), and cabins inside the park (you must reserve those months in advance).

And let's not forget the ski hill in the winter months.

So, whether you go to the Porkies simply for the drives to the beautiful views (if you bypass camping, there's a nice Americinn in Silver City a few miles away), popup camping in the two campgrounds, backpacking, or snow skiing, you will find, like we do, the Porcupine Mountains State Park to be a wonderful place in the western U.P. A true gem.

You could spend days here and still need to come back for more. Must see... Lake of the Clouds, Escarpment Trail, Union Spring, Presque Isle River waterfalls. Everyone we met there was really happy and nice, probably because they loved being there!

I was in awe of this place when we went. How beautiful! Besides the incline, easy to reach and view.

We decided to take a trip up to U.P. of Michigan and one of our stops was in Porcupine Mt. State Park what a beautiful beautiful place with 90 some miles of trails it has something for everyone to see and do. We had a great time and are looking forward to coming here again as we had part of our adventure interuppted by some bad weather.

Awesome day. We wished we had more time to spend. The hiking was very nice and there were many trails. Definitely stop at the Visitor Center before you head out to get your map and advice. The rangers there definitely know the park and can make good recommendations. Lake of the Clouds was a must see, possibly the most beautiful site in Michigan.

we used to take our kids to this area years ago so my huband and i wanted to go back and see it again. We went before the holiday crowd arrived and had the best time wandering the trails by ourselves, it was really peaceful. On the beach we picked and skipped rocks. There is not a lot of places to eat and if you are not camping in the park and don't have reservations you may be out of luck, area is popular on holiday weekends. we found a little food truck that had the best broaster chicken across from our hotel. i was surprised to see how mnay cabins and yurts available to rent so cool.

Earlier this summer we attended Paul Simon’s “Homeward Bound” concert in Clarkston, Michigan. In the opening number, “America”, there is the line “ Michigan seems like a dream to me now.” I was reminded of those words while visiting the Porcupine Mountains recently. This area can best be described in those words. This wilderness area is pristine, perfect, and a glorious “dream.” Happy trails.

What a beautiful lake to see, and so easy to get to. You can drive right up to it, and take a very short walk to overlook the lake. I would like to come back when the leaves are changing as I'm sure it is spectacular! We also walked/climbed to Summit Peak, another highlight of the park. Finally, the loop around the waterfalls, while long and more challenging, was worth the effort. Overall, a beautiful park and worth the drive.

This is a wonderful park! It's great to see how well preserved they are keeping it! Love, love, love that! A hikers paradise! Plan to spend days upon days finding waterfalls, and enjoying nature in its raw form! (you may want to bring lots of bug spray too!) This is a rare and amazing place!

What an absolute joy knowing such a spectacular natural wonder exists in my home state! We spent four days tent camping at Union campground and loved every minute! Don't miss the Presque Isle trail, and Lake of the Clouds overlook, especially in the evening! Union campground was a pleasant surprise - the camp was full almost every night we were there, but our fellow campers were respectful. The shower house was clean and modern. And it's all right on the shores of Lake Superior!

Gorgeous park! Visited during peak leaves in October, which was fantastic. Lake of the Clouds hike (Escarpment hike) was true highlight - gorgeous views throughout. Definitely very remote though - would recommend leaving plenty of daylight to reach hotel for the night - lots of wildlife / very dark if driving at night.

First time to the Porkies in the summer. I have snomobiled to this location in winter, but it is even nicer in the summer. Many trails, and waterfalls, and campgrounds to visit. Just a great place to relax. I will be back.

So glad we decided to take this trip. Waterfalls and amazing views of nature! Ontonagon area and Lake Superior truly have my heart. I'm ready to go back for more magical experiences!

Great place to visit and the views are breathtaking! I would highly recommend this on your tour up here!

We recently took a day trip from Manitowish Waters. Beautiful waterfalls on the western side
Trails are awesome - really need at least two full days to take it all in .
Make sure you bring food for a picnic and plenty of water for hiking.

My boyfriend and I went to see the Porcupine Mountains and were not disappointed in any way. Lake of the Clouds was just a short walk for any age to view and I recommend going at least once in your life. After the Lake of the Clouds we traveled to Summit Peak and was in ahhh again, this walk is not for just anyone you will be walking a bit and don’t recommend this for elderly or anyone with health problems. Last but not least was Presque Isle River, this you do not want to miss if you love waterfalls, rapids and a beautiful wooden suspension bridge and lots of awesome pictures. Presque Isle river flows into Lake Superior and at the end you have plenty of opportunity to do some rock hunting, but don’t take to many you have to carry them all the way back to your car. Once again lots of steps so just pace yourself or take a lite lunch and enjoy. Definitely want to go back again.

Returning after 15 years, many changes. All positive
Michigan state pass a plus for easy entrance. Many trails of varying levels, could use better trail markers to indicate trail paths
Bathrooms acceptable

We're just back from Porcupine Mountains...and "wilderness" is right. This park is very remote, but absolutely worth the drive. There are a few caveats, however. First, even before the state park land is entered, there is a long, sparsely inhabited stretch of road. Gas up while you can; we were getting a little nervous watching the fuel gauge inching down. The nearest towns, Wakefield and Ontagagon are 20+ miles away. Second, the park itself is huge. We stayed in the Presque Ile camping area and the Welcome Center was 24 miles away. Most of the trailheads can only be accessed by car. Finally, accommodations are very rustic. No running water (meaning vault toilets and no showers.) There are a few pumps. There are no restaurants or camp stores in the area we stayed so all food had to be brought with us. Finally, it can be a little stressful in that everything has to be securely stored in the car overnight to avoid attracting wildlife, including bears. This is not just food, but anything with a scent...sunscreen, bug spray, lotion, soap, all garbage.

That said, once we were set up, this was a giant playground for both adults and kids. Day one, we did the Summit Peak (again, had to drive to trailhead), which was lovely. Upon returning to the campsite, we explored the Presque Ile area. There was much to do and see within walking distance of our site. The Lake Superior shore can be accessed from the campground via stairs. There is no beach in this area, just a very narrow, stony shoreline abutting a steep bluff and awe-inspiring views of the vastness of Lake Superior. Just outside the campground is a day access area and the trailhead for the Presque Ile River Falls. Day two, we spent the first half-day hiking from Lake in the Clouds to Mirror Lake. Tough hike, but so worth it. We also found beach access outside of the park. My son and I jumped in just so we could say we'd been in Lake Superior...we live in Chicago and swim in Lake Michigan in June...we were still cold.

This trip was so worth the effort; in spite of the cold, the lack of amenities, the hard work, the concerns about wildlife I can't wait to go back. Highly, highly recommend.

We hit the big 3. Lake of the clouds, Summit peak, and Presque Isle Falls Loop. In that order. Lale of the clouds is an easy hike and beautiful. Summit peak is longer with good views. Maybe not as nice as the others. Presque Isle loop was pretty long but was fun and had cool sites the whole way. East side is harder than west. West has more boardwalk. Do the whole thing if you have time.

Great hiking and camping. Many of the lots in the campground are not even close to being level. Also I think 4 showers for over 100 campsites isn’t adequate. Staff friendly and helpful. Don’t bring firewood unless you buy it locally. Wood from Outside of the county will get you a possible fine and immediate confiscation of your wood due to migrating bugs from other counties. Stayed three nights. Not enough time to cover the many hiking trails!

On the far Western side of the Porcupine Mountains is the Presque Isle River. There is a series of waterfalls that you can hike to. Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls and Nawadaha Falls. You can park right by the ranger booth to see Manido and Nawadaha Falls with a short hike into the woods. Further down the road there is a larger parking area with the trail leading to Manabezho Falls. There is a suspension bridge over the river. It's a rustic area, there are campgrounds and many different hiking trails. We haven't visited the other parts of the park yet, just driven on the road through to Ontonagon. A state park pass is required.

Absolutely wonderful. We hiked the Summit Peak Loop to Mirror Lake Cabin 4. Wonderful cabin and great hike! There is a notebook and some reading material in the cabin. The entries were wonderful to read. Be weary of mice. There are traps provided. But still keep your food above the floor. Best to put it in the cupboards with the pans and utensils.

There is no well, so you’ll have to boil and filter water from the lake or streams. There is a cold composting toilet between cabin 4 and 8. And try to leave some firewood for the next visitors. Thanks to those that left us some on August 2nd!!

Sadly, fellow campers (many were teens) were hollering and we found a fire pit outside of a metal ring. Don’t be that idiot. Thankfully it was raining when we found it. But it was still smoldering. Seriously people. Is it that hard to follow advice and rules?!? The park is understaffed (probably budgetary reasons 😢) and WE ALL need to be good humans. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories!

We drove all through the park and loved the beautiful woods and waterfalls. Walking to see the Lake in the clouds was very doable and a HUGE must see! It is so beautiful it looks fake.
We also saw 3 waterfalls— lots of walking today.

We went in early October and the fall colors were unreal! We brought our dog along for his first backpacking trip ever, and it was the perfect first place to take him. We backpacked for three days and two nights. We started at the Lake of the Clouds parking area, and did a ~13 mile loop. We started off on the Big Carp River trail, and found our first backpacking site only about 3 miles in. The sites on the Big Carp River trail are awesome, most of them are off on a cliff with amazing views. We stayed in site 3, which was a little secluded site deeper into the woods. If you're needing water on the first and second day, there is not a water source until you get down to the Big Carp River.

On day two, we went from the Big Carp River trail to the Correction Line trail. NOTE - there is no bridge to get over the Big Carp River. Our big ol' husky is afraid of water, so we had to carry him over the river. The water was about knee deep, but only took about 10 seconds to get across.

All of the backpacking sites at Mirror Lake were taken up, so we found an awesome spot right on the lake, just past some of the other backpacking sites. On our last day, we did the North Mirror Lake trail, which was a cool hike through the woods. Deep into the woods, there was a TON of mud, so be prepared to get your feet dirty! I recommend bringing a few extra pairs of socks just in case.

The only downside I had with this park was that the backcountry office wasn't very helpful, so make sure you study up your route prior! Overall, we were so satisfied with this park! It was really well kept-up, and it was perfect for our Husky's first backpacking trip.

For everyone that is visiting this area, you have to go to this breathtaking view. It is a once in a lifetime experience!

This is a beautiful state park in southwestern UP. We visited in mid-September and already had some fall color. We were only in the area for an evening and the following morning and wished we had more time here. In our short time, we did Lake of the Clouds (stunning) and the Union Mine Trail hike the following morning. We stopped into the VC and the ranger was helpful in helping us pick a trail to do.

There are not many hotels nearby. We stayed at the AmercInn in Silver City and it was just a short drive to both of the activities we did. There are more places in Ontanagon, a little farther away. Be warned there is basically zero cell service here so be prepared with photos of maps or pre-downloaded trail maps ahead of time and don't plan to be able to look up directions or restaurants, etc on your phone.

Have been there twice now and would love to go back again,. Lake of the clouds is awesome. Check out a couple of waterfalls while there as well, Kayak Lake Supurior, that was a blast! Did a couple of the trails, need to be in better shape than we were for that one...lol

I've been camping over a hundred times. Through no fault of the rangers or the MI DNR, this was far and away the worst night I've ever spent outdoors. I've never seen so many vicious biting flies. The rangers assured me they weren't unusually bad after I killed a half dozen that were in the process of feasting on me indoors during check-in. The flies laughed off my 25% Deet, making setting up tents almost unbearable. I did my best to keep them out of the tent, but about twelve got in with me, so I shared my bunk with a half dozen fly corpses, while another fifty or so (no hyperbole) parked themselves on the outside of my tent and stared hungrily in. I promised heaven I would let the Hebrews go, but the plague wouldn't end. I packed up at lightspeed the next morning, and had to drive on the highway with the windows open for a solid hour to rid myself of (most of) my thirty or so bloodsucking hitchhikers. Again, the people were nice and not at fault, but if I ever end up at that particular state park again, I'll know I must have been a terrible person in a previous life to deserve the punishment.

We had an excellent time hiking around the park. The Presque Isle River trail was so great! As was the Lake of the Clouds overlook-great option for those that want to see the scenery but maybe not fully commit to a longer hike. We also hiked the Union Mine trail. I highly recommend!! It's right along the river, is pretty quiet and you can learn so much about the area! We also really enjoyed the Summit Peak overlook tower A LOT!!

We camped for two nights at the Presque Isle Campground. The sites were pretty open and not very private. We also had very loud neighbors for both nights. It was frustrating but we still tried to make the best of it. Gentle reminder to all to respect those around you.

You can visit the Lake of the Clouds Overlook in the winter if on a snowmobile or on cross country skis. Beautiful view and worth stopping to see.

We saw Lake of the Clouds and Presque Isle Falls. Many steps to get up from the Falls. Wonderful swinging bridge by the falls.

This by far is a must see and hike area. There is so much to do there. Lake Superior, Lake of the Clouds, Mirror Lake and then the water falls. The fall color time is by far the best time to go but summer has it's beauty as well

Looks like the best park in the state to do hiking and have views. You can either see the lake superior, or you can see the small pond-lake in the park.

This beautiful state park is alot bigger than I thought it would be and I didn't realize that it's Michigan's largest state park. Lake of the Clouds is inside the park plus there are many hiking trails, camp grounds and waterfalls along with the wonderful forests.

We traveled here while heading thru the Upper Peninsula for our Anniversary and really enjoyed some of the views in the Porcupine Mountains. We especially really liked Lake of the Clouds we traveled there early evening and could see alot of Fog coming off the mountians, The Park Ranger was very kind and offered us Porky Style Smores too which had Striped Cookies and Marshmallows and told us about a Meteor shower to check out that night ...Definently stop here if you have the time and am traveling thru Michigan is some phenomenol views

There are waterfalls and lakes and the great lake and creeks. Hiking in the park encounters hills and flats and woods and rustic boardwalks. The mosquitos and black flies are definitely present, but if you come prepared and expecting them, they are worth the views and experience. Swimming in the great lake is cold but refreshing. It feels like an entirely different place than most of Michigan.

We camped and hiked for four nights and five days. They have recently started requiring paid reservations for even backwoods camping. Ok fine, but the Lake Superior Trail is in awful condition and from the reviews I’ve read it’s been that way for several weeks. One day with a couple of guys and chain saw is all it would take to at least cut a hole through the trail. We had crawl over and under and around downed trees a number of times. If you are going to charge at least make an effort to keep up the trails. That said, the hike from mouth of the Big Carp to Lake of the Clouds was beautiful - with minimal downed trees. This park is worth checking out but be prepared for extreme mosquito issues (we had to constantly apply repellent). Also don’t do the Lake Superior Trail unless you are confident they’ve cleaned it up a bit.

Drove up to this state park for the day to check out Lake of the Clouds. We didn't come prepared for serious hiking so we just went up the trail from the parking lot to the overlooks. Awesome. We are planning on going back in the fall and hiking deeper into this wilderness. Stopped at the visitor center on the way out. Very nice displays on the park wildlife, geography, and history. Wish we had more time that day to explore.

The camp site at presque isle was amazing. There are numerous short trails to hike with beautiful small waterfalls and great views of the lake. Also the campsite has a hand pump for getting drinking water.

Arrived and set up our tent just before it started raining. Got very cold the first night, but the scenery out on Lake Superior was awesome. There was a beautiful sunset the second night, and even tho there were lots of flies and mosquitoes, a bit of bug spray took care of them. Stayed 15 days and reluctantly left. So much to see and do in the area.

What a beautiful camping spot - right on the lake. I was able to sit on the rocks, kayak and pop back to my camper easily. Gorgeous views! The inland sites were ok, but crowded and open.

One of the most beautiful places in the state. We spent a full day in the park and loved every minute of it. Great hiking trails for all levels. Lots of waterfalls and beautiful scenery. Highly recommended!

My trip was not awesome, but I think I can help make it better for you.
1) if you are directed to Headquarters, it is located along the same driveway to the visitor center. 33303 Headquarters Rd.
2) I wouldn’t bother trying to get the yurt access code from the reservation hotline. We called, were given a code, and told that we still must check in at HQ. Upon arriving at HQ, we were given a completely different code.
3) the hike in is short, but the boardwalk is nothing more than narrow planks that are tricky when wet and lugging a 40 lb pack.
4) crossing the creek and the final assent to the yurt was a mess and down right dangerous with a pack in snow.
5) the bear box is full of other peoples left overs. Thank you for trying to leave a treat for the next guest, but this is the wilderness, not Vrbo. You are asked to pack out, please do so and leave room for the next guest.
6) there was no shovel. The steps to the yurt were snow packed and icy.
7) Covid. Clearly this place is not getting cleaned between visitors. It is a yurt, I do not expect much, but it was not great.
8) if you cannot sleep on the floor, you are not going to sleep here. The mattresses on the bunk beds were brutal, flattened, rock hard, and had been gnawed on by mice. Strongly consider bringing your tent camping mat to add comfort.
9) many people complain about the stove. We did all right in this regard, but it was not without the help of dozens of homemade fire starters. PS. If it is before December 1st any firewood at the yurt is leftovers. You have to carry in your own wood or forage downed wood (axe and saw are provided).

Outside of that, this is a beautiful location with endless solitude. I believe that equipped with the above expectations, this could have been a 4, even a 5 star trip.

Fantastic and well kept state park. The welcome center has a really cool little museum. The roads are all well kept and the trails are great and labeled well. We visited during fall so got to see all the amazing leaves and their colors. A fantastic hidden gem in the state that doesn't get too popular. There was never any traffic or lines for anything. Lake of the clouds and the scenic viewpoint from the tower and highest peak of the park are the must do's.

Great place to visit and do some hiking with the family and enjoy the outdoors. This place is big and has plenty of trails to see some beautiful sites.

Nothing bad can be said about the porcupine mountains. Every part you go is beautiful. Several look out points and miles upon miles of trails.

We headed to the Park in search of fall colors and we got so much more! This is a beautiful park with great trails in various lengths and ability levels. We were there during the week and the weather was a bit damp, so it was not too crowded. Lake of the Clouds was magnificent as was Summit Peak. The trail along the Presque Isle River is impressive. We are hoping to return with more time to explore this gem further. There are not many services in or near the park entrances, so come prepared.

The view was amazing at the overlook! The views throughout the Porky's will continue to be amazing and awe inspiring to you. There is so much to see and do in the Porky's! There are many challenging trails surrounding the mountains. Most are moderate to strenuous. When hiking, keep in mind the milage chart. The chart may say 1.5 miles etc... When you read this, you may think 1.5 level. This is not so in these mountains. It can feel like 2 + miles. The trails are well groomed and somewhat well marked. This may sound funny, but the markers can be confusing. The trails are a gradual climb and very rooty. The Porky's are worth the time! Take a few days, if possible, to soak in God's Creation!

I don't think I can expound too much on all the other rave reviews of this park. My wife and I brought the pup and went up her for a relaxing day to experience the Porcupine River and lake superior and had a great time hiking on the trails along the river and enjoying a Bells Ale on the rocks near the Manido Falls. We were here in June and didn't have too many bug issues (spray applied of course) but we also didn't hike into the back-country so I can't really comment on anything involving that or Lake of the Clouds. You might be able to get a more isolated experience there, as we definitely ran into more people than we maybe expected but we loved the river and Lake Superior, how could you not?

Oh what do you say when you have seen a piece of heaven. This is it. Wear good walking shoes bring water and take pictures. It is breathtaking and memory making. This is a piece of geology you won’t get in a text book. Take your kids.

A very well kept park with all you need especially if you are a hiker. There are more hiking trails to all beautiful scenery everywhere.

After living in Michigan my entire life, I was happy to finally be able to cross this off my bucket list! We only spent one day here but I feel like that was all we really needed. We went to the Summit Peak Observation Tower, and Lake of the Clouds overlook, and did the Presque Isle River Waterfall Trail (which was our favorite). Gorgeous views everywhere we went, and I would love to return sometime in the Fall!

Great hiking for all levels of hikers. Summer some trails a little buggie in areas but not as bad as I thought it would be, exception near the lake where the storms blew in the Stable Flies at the beach which can be miserable if they are there. Since we stayed at Peterson's Cottages a mile from Ontonogan (13 miles from park entrance) we didn't have problems with the Stable Flies and enjoyed beautiful beach and sunsets. We love the fall colors here and backcountry camping is really great yet the Porkies in the summer is fun where you can get wet near the many rivers and streams. We hiked Miners Interpretive Trail, Escarpment trail, Presque Isle Trail, Little Carp River trail (saw copper veins in the river!) There's a little roadside fish and chicken place just outside of the state park exit. The best chicken ever!

Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park is one of the finest State Parks I have visited anywhere. The Lake Of The Clouds is its main attraction, but there is so much more of equal or higher interest. There trails for a wide variety of hiking challenges. Each trail will reward the hiker in a different fashion. There are beaches along the beautiful Lake Superior to be enjoyed. And there is the Presque Isle River area on the park's western boundary (the drive along Boundary Road to this area is long but most rewarding when you arrive). The Presque Isle River empties into Lake Superior at this point. There is a footbridge across the river that leads the visitor to a trail on the far side of the river. The trail takes the hiker along the river's bank past several waterfalls for about one mile until the bridge at Boundary Road is reached. After crossing the bridge, the visitor hikes back toward the parking lot until, after about 1/2 mile later, he reaches a boardwalk which takes him past the same waterfalls from a different perspective. Both sides of this river hike offer the visitor many opportunities to scramble down to the riverbed for a closer look . . . But be careful because this is one of the most dangerous rivers most of us will encounter and one slip could be deadly. Lastly, one of the best things about this park is that in most of the area we were off the grid. Hotel/motel accommodations are present but few. Camping is plentiful and outstanding.

We journeyed to the Porkies to see the Lake of the Clouds. I couldn't remember it from my childhood days over forty years ago.
It was nice, but not really that impressive if you've traveled to the Rockies, Smokies, or the Alps of Europe.
But, seeing how it's northern Michigan and right near Lake Superior, it is pretty nice.
I imagine hiking and camping in the area could be a nice experience.
We also visited the falls in the southwest corner of the park on the Presque Isle River.
These Falls were not very impressive. I hear the Black River Falls are a much better excursion, although they are difficult to get to from the Park because of the road infrastructure.
Facilities and roads in the park were pretty good.

It is a beautiful as advertised. Some of the trails are very challenging and the trail map provided no advance indication. The summit trail and path up to the Lake in the Clouds are well worth it. The overlook trail is very difficult and the vista at the top was not worth it. The waterfall trails by Presque isle - the west trail very nice, the east trail very challenging, but I only found that out when I walked them.

There is a $9 day pass fee, but it is worth it. We drive up to see the view over the lake, and then around the south side of the park to the summit view. Beautiful Fall colors despite some fog in the morning. It would be nice to return for some longer hikes and camping along the shore.

The view is breathtaking. We went the first week in September and it was beautiful. Don't forget your camera.

If you want to see Pure Michigan, this is the place for you. We spent our time in the Porkies, hiking the Presque Isle River area, enjoying Lake of the Clouds and spending time on the shores of Lake Superior. It is a must see!

If you're thinking you should go to the Porcupine Mountains, and have the time to travel that far, then the answer is very easy. Go.

You may not see as many animals as you expect. You may be surprised at the uniqueness of the plant communities.

We had no idea it was so big -- 60,000 acres, by far the biggest state park we know of. 35,000 acres were never logged, a very unusual tract east of the Rockies. No, they're not all 400-year-old trees. That's not how nature works. But some of the white pines and hemlocks appear to be in that age group. You're getting a feel for how the North Woods may have felt in 1600.

The day before we went, experienced hikers at Isle Royale told us, "You won't see much (wildlife). We saw a deer and coyote last time. No bears or anything else." Their experience matched ours. We saw two deer, and one hawk very briefly. The bears are not roaming around hoping to get photographed, especially in September. (We were told they recognize fall as the beginning of the hunting season.)

Where to go in this giant park? The newspaper you get at the visitors' center has it right in one article. Walk the trails by the various falls in the Presque Isle River area, which is 25 miles from the visitors' center (now you know what 60,000 acres means). Hike to the fire tower at Summit Peak. Walk the escarpment trail at Lake of the Clouds. The rangers can tell you other possibilities.

Elevations in the park are not real high. Summit Peak is about 2000 feet. The basic hikes are good for a wide range of abilities.

The only downside to this park is that it is so far away. It's also one of the things that makes it special.

This state park is larger than all the state parks we have visited. there is a lot to do there and the park is beautiful. We walked the river trail, summit peak and lake clouds trail, they are all beautiful, we enjoyed the time there

Went to the state park for a little get away. The flies were so terrible you couldn't go outside. The were biting flies and literally swarming. Couldn't let the dogs out because they would get attacked so bad. Had reserved or site for 4 nights and had to leave after one day. Lesson learned, will never go back in June. Love the park, just couldn't enjoy it.

What a WONDERFUL vacation spot!!! If you love hiking, this is the State park for you! Located to one of the most eastern spots of Michigans UP. This is a gem a lot of folks just don't know about. The view at sun set or rise is breath taking. Fall (usually around mid October) is one of the most beautiful peaceful views the wife and I have seen in the years of UP travel. Trails from experienced to novice. Day or many days. DO NOT MISS THIS VISIT. You will need a state park pass to enter.

Beautiful park with places to pull over and enjoy. Picknick tables at the pullouts so you can sit and enjoy the views. There is a campground with a place to put a boat in. The walk along the beach was lovely.

Do not miss the Lake of the Clouds, the full 2+ mile hike around the Presque Isle river/falls and the Summit hike to the lookout tower.

Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful time in this State Park. We hiked the Escarpment Trail to the Lake of the Clouds overlook, which was about 4.3 miles one way. We also hiked to Summit Peak and the Presque Isle River. We stayed in a yurt in the Union Bay Campground that had a lake trail that led right down to Lake Superior where we got some amazing views of the sun setting. The whole trip was amazing. Highly Recommended!

We took a drive through the park yesterday afternoon it was gorgeous! The trees are almost to peak color. South boundary road through the park is a must see! It’s an easy black top road with little traffic. There are spots to park along way to allow you to get out and hike a trail or just enjoy the beauty. The drive to summit peak look out is beautiful now and in the summer as the trees line both sides of the road it looks like your driving through a canopy of trees. Beautiful! Everyone should take the time to experience it.

Nice park,lots of trails. You have to buy a pass at the visitors center. Have ample supply of water and bring sandwiches if you plan on staying there long as there' are no stores or restaurants in the park.

We went for a day and will definitely end up going back. We had a very enjoyable time and want to see it more in depth. I would highly recommend going if you have never been!

We stopped by for a quick day trip. We stopped be the visitors center and saw the displays and picked up a map. Drove over and did the short hike up to the observation tower; it was a little foggy so not the best views. We need to come back and see more.

I visited this park in October, during fall foliage. I would definitely recommend coming here at that time. The colors on the trees are so beautiful. It’s hard to believe that it is Michigan. I believe that near here is one of the highest points in Michigan. (I could be wrong). But it’s worth it to come here. I recommend it.

We just snowshoed 5 miles on trails in the Porcupine Mountains. Midweek and no one was there....except for 2 park rangers who showed us a yurt. Lots of snow cover even though they've had above average temperatures recently. It hovered around 32 degrees with a light snow falling. Ideal! Wonderful winter activity! The rangers were informative and very friendly. So glad we drove up to this destination. Snowshoers should definitely put this on their list.

We traveled there with a toddler and 5 year old. We hiked 7 miles in 1.5 days and camped. We were ready for black flies and mosquitos by wearing long pants and shirts. Bought face nets but forgot them. Used branches from ferns as fans to keep mosquitos away. We did not bring a travel pack for toddler that was a nightmare. Traveled to mirror lake (not impressed at all), lake of clouds was pretty. We camp at red river gorge in ky so we were not as impressed as some of the reviews below. Lake Superior was amazing. Worth the 5 hour drive from mackinaw. It was prettier then Michigan and hurion. Locals were very nice. Waterfalls were pretty. Prepare to drive a lot with not a lot of views. Stopped at jerzis on 41 which was really good. Munsing looked fun at the beach. We heard the river offs actually warmer water.

Drove up to lake lake of the clouds in the Porcupine State Park. Wow what a view. We planned on going for a hike while there and my wife chose the escarpment trail. It's listed as difficult but worth the hike if you can manage. Remember this is a hike through the mountains so there are going to be some uphill portions. Seems my wife didn't get the memo. Lol. Overall we managed a seven mile hike there and back with some stunning views. The worst part in my opinion was the skeeters, although my wife thought it was the company. Don't really know what that means, but it was totally worth it.

The drive up to the top of the mountain is spectacular. We enjoyed the drive and walking around the area on the mountain.

Some great place to hike with awesome views. Especially the Lake in the Clouds area for views. But he park was great with lots of trails and places to go see.

From Lake of the Clouds to the many waterfalls, this park is a must-see if you are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan! Lake of the Clouds is one of the most beautiful lakes we have ever seen. And then we took a hike to see three different waterfalls on the Presque Isle River and it was absolutely beautiful! Would completely recommend a visit to the Porcupine Mountains if you are in the area, you can't miss it!

There's a ton of trails here, ranging from a short paved path to an overlook of Lake of the Clouds, to multi-day backpacking trails and all of them are gorgeous. Presque Isle, on the west side of the park, is definitely worth a visit. You do have to buy a pass to enter the park but it is well worth it!

Excellent place to see in the fall, and it is dog friendly. There seemed to be a lot to explore in the area, but we were with family so my wife, I, and our dog were unable to explore it fully. We would go back to explore.

As I'm disabled, finding places that I can walk to is not easy, but this was one that I could walk the boardwalk to the over look. Many other trails to walk for the able bodied.

Be sure to stop at the visitor center to get an orientation to seeing the park. The major attractions are the overlook of the Lake of the Clouds, a hike to Mirror Lake, and a visit to the waterfalls of Presque Isle. A day pass for $9 is required.

I went on a 2 day hiking and camping trip with "Travelyoungoa". We visited lake of the clouds and mirror lake. There are some difficult hiking sections in the park. So, even experienced hikers can try many sections too. We also hiked to the summit area scenic view. It was amazing. We visited the park 2 weeks ago. I would definitely recommend this park to my friends!

After driving several hours to get to Silver city I was a little concerned about what we would see at this park. We drove to the visitor center and learned quite a bit about the park. Our first stop was to the Lake of the clouds overlook and it was beautiful. The view from the cliffs seemed like a mountain more than 2000 feet up. We then went to the union river trail and it was beautiful. It had several small waterfalls along the path and many informational stops as well. Our next stop was the Summit Park Road over look. This was a very nice trail that lead you up to beautiful overlooks of the West and East valleys. Our last stop was the north country national scenic Trail at the West End of the park. This trail went up one side of the river to the east and then you could come back to the Westside of the river. There are several waterfalls along the way. The trail was challenging and it seems like more than a mile each way. In summary this was a beautiful park and we could have spent more time exploring many other trails. We will be back!

We visited to see and hike around Lake of the Clouds and see the waterfalls of Presque Isle River. And the Summit Peak, too. Be sure to check the map of the park to understand the layout of the park. Stretching along the coast of Lake Michigan west of Ontanagon and the only way to drive there from the town is along the north to the Lake of the Clouds or to turn south before then to drive west along the southern edge of the park - the South Boundary Road - to the Summit Peak and then continue on to the Presque Isle area on the westernmost part of the park.

The Lake of the Clouds overlook was a relatively easy stroll from the parking lot if the view is all you after. We did strike out for hike, first down to the bridge over the Carp River then back up for a hike along the Escarpment Trail overlooking the the lake. The fall colors were at peak or just past prime and impressive nevertheless.

We then drove to the Summit Peak and the viewing tower. Due to the limited space up top it was encouraging to see fellow hikers not only wear masks but also take turns before heading to the top. This meant there was adequate distancing between everyone on the top of the tower. We had clear view straight to Lake Superior; the fall foliage in this part of the park seemed past prime.

We ended the day exploring the Manido and Manabezho Falls on the Presque Isle River at the westernmost edge of the park. We happened to be there not long before sunset and the warm light of the “golden hour” not only brought out the colors of the fall foliage but made for bright reflections in the parts of the river with still water surface. We never made it to the Nawadaha Falls, the highest of the 3 on the river in the park boundary.

We had hoped to encounter some of the larger fauna reported to live in and around the park - magnificent moose ? - but all we spotted were a few deer grazing at the verge on the twilight drive back to Ontanagon. There were lots of birds whose calls we could hear during our hikes. We spotted downy woodpeckers. Squirrels and chipmunks were busily scrambling around the trails some carrying dry leaves presumably to line their winter nests.

There were many more miles of hiking trails around the park and we barely scratched the surface. I would definitely explore the park even more if I find myself in the area again.

Picnics on the shores of Gitche Gumee, Lake of the Clouds, hiking trails, breath taking observation points, and waterfalls. Paradise in Michigan's Upper Peninsula! We didn't want to leave -- the highlight of our UP road trip.

Reminded me of Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains. Equally as beautiful and so many sites to enjoy. We hiked 6 miles to see some beauty that we couldn't imagine. So worth it.

If you're looking for pristine wilderness with beautiful vista's the Porcupine Mountains are a great place to go. Your starting point should be the Welcome Center followed Lake of the Clouds, Scenic Overlook and the Presque Isle waterfalls.

if you're anywhere within 100 miles of the Porcupine Mountains just find a way to make a visit. You won't regret it.

Make sure to stop at the Visitor Center and get a big paper map at the desk as it has all of the hiking trail distances. There is a good 12 min. video to watch and a great display of animals and nature information. The gift shop is really small. I suggest you shop at the small gift shop/ice cream store right next to Union Bay Campground.

We stayed in the Union Bay Campground in site 59. It was quite muddy from the rain, it had a little ditch and hill as we backed in, but the site was wide so we parked towards the grass more. All of the sites seemed very wide! There is a large hill after site 30 going towards 32 and between sites 1 and 7. We had a 26 ft. camper. The best sites are on the lake - sites 18, 20, 22, 24, 25 and 29 space-wise. Some other bigger sites would be 57, 53, 51, 61, 81 but the most private are 63, 59 and 100. Most of the sites are very short so make sure to check that when booking. Sites 36-50 are wide open sites, no trees and the inside sites are back to back. There was 1 bathroom house but 5 private shower rooms, but there is always a line in the evening. There is a laundry room with 1 washer and 2 dryers. There are stairs that people on the lakeshore can take to get to the bathrooms.
My kids liked biking down to the boat launch and dock area and climbing on the big rocks on the shore. This is not a good swimming area as the rocks are very slippery.

Hiking - We drove to the Lake of the Clouds and hiked about 2 min. up a wooden platform to the overlook. We saw bald eagles flying over the lake and the view was amazing. We only stayed there about 10 min. and decided to hike West on the Big Carp River trail about 20 min. The hike had great overlooks of the lake but was very steep and the trail was full of roots and rocks. It would be awesome to kayak on the lake but there is no way to get down there with kayaks!
We drove to the Union Spring Trail (not Union Mine Trail) and hiked. The first 1.4 miles was basically a dirt road. We walked passed the Crosscut Cabin (and used their bathroom), walked across a bridge, and then hiked .6 miles through MUD to the Union Spring. This little gem was a bubbling natural spring. It was a small little pond and there was a nice deck to walk out on. Someday, it would be fun to continue on the trail to Trap Falls and Lost Lake! We turned around at Union Spring - the hike took us 2 hours.
We drove to Summit Peak Scenic Area and hiked the 1/2 mile to the lookout tower. You could see all of the Porcupine Mountains and Lake Superior. It was an easy hike but lots of stairs up the tower. We spent 30 min. total here.

Be prepared - South Boundary Road from the visitor center to Presque Isle is very rough!
We drove to Presque Isle from Union Bay campground. It is about a 35 min. drive. We parked across from the ranger station by Nawadaha Falls. We walked to the river and went towards South Boundary Road. Then we walked down the east side of the river. There are some really steep hills that are all tree roots. I would call this trail difficult. You will be on the edge of the cliffs at times! We were able to go to the shoreline in many places to skip rocks and feel the water. It does say no wading so we behaved. When you come to the big rock area, I believe you can cross there. We found a skinny little unused trail that took us to Lake Superior. We walked across the sandbar and met up with people that hiked down the west side of the river. We had to cross a wooden swing bridge to get to the west side. We took the lower boardwalk all the way back to the Nawasaha Falls. The entire trail took us 2 hours, but we stopped several times to enjoy the multiple falls along the way and play a little on the Lake Superior shoreline.

Next time, we would like to hike to Mioor Lake and also Greenstone Falls - these 2 places were recommended by the Ranger.

We have Sprint and did not have much cell service here. We didn't see hardly any wildlife - we were hoping for a bear or porcupine but all we saw was bald eagles.

Manabezho Falls is an easy .2 mile walk from the parking lot. We came during a regional drought but it was still worth the price of daily admission and a quick visit on our way to the Eagle Harbor lighthouse. Very little water during our visit. These are suppose to be the largest falls in the Porcupine Mountains. The stairs and boardwalks were impressive. It’s a great park to hike.

Unfortunately it rained most of the visit so did not get to see as much as we wanted. Did make it up to the summit and to the top of the observation tower just in time for the rain to stop and watch the fog lift away. Beautiful views of the surrounding areas, will go back again and hope for better weather.

We wanted to check out Upper Michigan’s western beauty for our Labor Day vacation. A trip to the Porkies is a must. We stopped at the visitor center and purchased great items from the gift shop to start. Then off to Lake of the Clouds, Summit Peak and Presque Isle River. You could spend days hiking the trails but our time was more limited this trip. I would love to visit in the fall as the colors would indescribably beautiful. We’ll be back to see more but are so glad we took the time to see this beautiful place.

Excellent destination. Love the peacefulness and wildlife. Gorgeous landscape. Excellent hiking. The DNR cabins are fantastic to rent in the park. The town is nice and friendly people.

While the park can be enjoyed in every which way the wilderness of this type can be enjoyed, the jewel of the park is the Lake of the Clouds. We come from Wisconsin, where we have our own jewels of nature, like Devil's Lake. But some people claim Lake of the Clouds blows Devil's Lake out of the water, so to speak. Either way, this lake is worth the trip to this area just by itself, on top of all the other things you can enjoy around this place. Porcupine Mountains is the gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula.

We saw the lake of clouds and presqe isle river falls it was amazing so beautiful a definite must see

This park is geared towards hikers, there are is beautiful scenery, waterfalls and a view of Lake Superior. The visitors center has great information about the park and should be your first stop.

This was our first time at Porcupine Mountains State Park. We camped at Union Bay and it was perfect! It's not overly big, just the right size. The sites were a little snug, but we ended up having some great neighbors. The sites right on the water are small, but the view makes up for it. Great location to see all of the beautiful falls. If you're in need of wifi, this was sketchy at best. We will definitely come back.

Spent a day driving through and taking short hikes. We drive to the Lake of the Clouds Overlook. A short walk affords a stunning view.

We also saw several beautiful waterfalls on two different short hikes of 2 miles or less, each.
Overlooked Falls and Greenrock Falls were in the Little Carp River Trail. Take a walking stick on this one, as much of the Trail is on side by side planks elevated above soggy ground. The hemlock forest is quiet and pristine.
Multiple Falls can be seen on the Presque Isle Trail with dramatic views of the Falls and the river mouth from strategic boardwalks and suspension bridges. Lots of stairs to climb but well spaced with resting benches. Well worth the effort. You won't be disappointed.

Beautiful view and easy walking! The is also a nice visitor center with gift shop and knowledgeable and friendly staff!

Specific details: 100 - 200 foot walk from car to yurt. No firewood until Dec 1, so had to buy our own to heat the yurt. Water was still on in the campground - about a 5 minute walk to the bathrooms and water. Bring a water jug and water catch basin. The supplied pots and pans are terrible - bring your own cooking and eating gear, along with camp stove and both candles and headlamps. The mattresses are firm (all are twin) - we used closed cell foam camping pads to protect us from the clammy feel of the waterproof covered mattresses, and to keep us warmer. On top we put twin fitted sheets, and on top of that sleeping bags. Made for a comfortable night. Yurt was full of flies - perhaps it is that time of year. Bear box was useful to protect food from rodents. Yurt was wind and water proof. No cell coverage. Closest internet is AmericInn in Silver City. They will allow you to sit in their lobby if you ask nicely.

Visited with my husband and our 11 year old daughter. This is an amazingly beautiful place and well worth the drive to this remote location.

We have 5 days here and could honestly spend two weeks or more. There are so many trails, rivers and waterfalls to explore. Overwhelmed at every turn by the natural beauty. Camper's paradise!

We visited here at the peak of fall color. The sight of Lake of The Clouds was breathtaking. The ADA approved ramp walk gives you excellent views from several angles. The park has many other hiking trails and camp sites. The access to Lake Superior here is also excellent.

Stayed in the West Union Bay Yurt for 2 nights. Comfy bunk mattresses (firm!), roomy yurt with clear dome in ceiling and windows for air and lake view. Warm in 30-50 degree weather. Rained one night and we were totally dry. Woodstove super heats the hut, outdoor fire pit, metal picnic table, and bear box stocked with pots/pans, dishes, etc. No electric but outlets in bathroom. Clean baths with hot water showers. Would highly recommend. Other cabins and yurts are a hike in. E & W Union yurts are just yards from parking. E is closest but W stayers must walk past it. Still quite private. W is all alone. Love these and feel they are totally worth the fee for the comfort and weather and bug security!

Great Hiking! Escarpment trail, lake of the clouds Presque Isle - East and West. Do not miss this great Michigan park.

We had a wonderful week long stay at this park minus the bugs. We stayed in mid to late July. Most of the week I was eaten alive by both mosquitoes and flies and made sitting outside (even with spray) unbearable for me. My husband didn't have quite the same amount of attention by the bugs but they were noticeable. The sites away from the water are quite large and grassy. The sites down by the water were on the small side and when it rained it seemed to pool down there a bit. The sound of the water on the shoreline was beautiful and relaxing. This is by far the cleanest State Park I have stayed at! Workers were friendly and worked cleaning the restrooms and showers meticulously. They used some sort of machine to sanitize the showers daily. The park offered four regular showers and one handicap/restroom/shower on the back side of the building. There was always a line in the evening. The park has laundry facilities so bring your own quarters. The only downside is that there was one washer and two small dryers and they were almost always in use.The park has swings for the kids, but no playground. My small kids had difficulty riding around the park as people were coming and going with large campers all times of day. The park has a store called the Porcupine Outpost within a quarter mile of the park's entrance. They have souvenirs, ice cream, camping supplies and clothing.

This park is beautiful and offers lots of fun. They offer camping, cabin rentals, hiking, beaches, and scenic drives. Everyone can enjoy this park. There is a very nice visitor center with a cute little shop.
There is a bunch of hiking trails and most have at least sections that are paved or wooden walkways. There are short trails and long trails. Many of the trailheads have parking spaces.
The views are spectacular. There are 2 places within the park that are charged to enter. If you have the Michigan passport your good or buy a nine dollar day pass. That covers both areas.

great views of virgin forest lands, has lots of hiking trails from easy to difficult terrain. Has camp ground and outback camp sites in the wilderness.

We went to see Overlooked Falls. It was so beautiful to see the different small falls that make up Overlooked Falls. The walk down to the falls was beautiful as well. Can't wait for next year to explore more of the Porcupine Mountains. If you love nature, you will definitely want to visit here. You must get a parking permit (only $9 for the day) to visit all parts of the park.

Drove through Porcupine Mt state park in October, Leaves were turning and it was very beautiful. Only had time to drive to the Lake of the Clouds overlook and it was spectacular! Wish that we would have had more time to hike and see other overlooks.
Definitely a worthwhile place to visit.

Before spending our three nights at The Lake of the Clouds cabin we spent one night in one of the yurts in Union Bay campsite. It was fantastic! The yurt was nice and clean. There's a woodstove for heat and a fire ring outside. The yurt is situated down a small lane from the main campsite (there are two of them but far enough apart that you don't know the other people are there). We stayed at the furthest one. There is a small path down to the rocky shore. It was lovely to watch the beautiful sunset over Lake Superior.

Hiking through the forest, the waterfalls, the shores of Lake Superior . . . . this park has it all! We were on a limited time schedule, so we didn't get to see it all, but it was amazing. We will definitely be coming back. Some of the highlights are Lake of the Clouds, Summit Peak, and the waterfalls at the far end of the park.

Expansive! Beautiful views. Minimal crowds. Trails could be better marked. We did the Escarpment Trail... should have been 4 miles. 6.5 miles later we found the main black topped road and three lovely angles that had just done the Superior Trail...the gave us a ride back to our vehicle in the main parking lot 2 miles further. It would be nice if trails circled back to the parking areas. Looking forward to doing more trails in the future.

This is one of the most beautiful places on earth, sacred. The drive is beautiful, and the walk to the scenic point is very accessible. You don’t want to miss this!

This is a very busy park, especially in the fall. it is a short walk to the Lake of the Clouds. There are also other hiking trails. There is a trail that goes to the bridge that you can see from the top of the overlook. It is an okay hike, not a whole lot to see. The trail was very muddy when we went as it had rained a lot. Stop at the visitor center for maps and information of what to see here.

Hiked up to Lake in the clouds, very nice. Look forward to going again during fall colors, would be even better

Porcupine Mountains are filled with great hiking, beautiful waterfalls and Lakes! We felt the beauty rivaled that of Colorado hiking!!

Although it was raining, although it was a very long drive, but when we reach the Porcupine Mountains, and stand on the top of the mountain, I would say it worth it.

Nice park. Waterfalls, campground, hiking, lake Superior. No cell service in most of the park, great way to unplug the kids.

Just returned from a Porcupine backpacking trip. The good is obviously the beauty of the park itself. Lots of scenery, lots and lots, plus we got to stargaze over Lake Superior. Here comes the challenges with this area...they had some recent snow and it also rained for a day of the trip. This resulted in about 85% of our 23 mi backpacking trip sloshing through extremely muddy trails. With carrying a 30-40 lb pack this can really test your cardio and I would dress differently if I came back to this area with maybe different type of footgear (I had waterproof but the mud was going over the top of my boots). You can’t control weather conditions and it change fast, but I have hiked in many different parts of the country and this was by far the most challenging I’ve ever experienced due to mud conditions. This area might be better as a static home base type of camp/hike. We called ahead for trail conditions but only got basic feedback that trails are passable.

Exploring, hiking and overlooking the sights of this beautiful park will let one view the wonders of God’s creation. Choose your level of adventure. Every fitness rank can be accommodated. So many trails, camping sites and even some cabins are available. This park is a treasure!

The Porcupine mountains are just beautiful. If you are in the area you must check it out! Great views and great trails!

The park is very well maintained with many gorgeous views. We loved all of the waterfalls! It is also amazing to look out and see such a large expanse of Lake Superior. The designated camping sites were situated in great places. I would recommend a trip!

This is our second year staying here. Great campsite. Clean and well-kept. I wish there was more access to the stony beach area. The one day use area had two big tree trunks blocking access to the lake. I thought last year there was another access to the 'beach' area, but this year was a campsite. Pity as there is a glorious sunset and sunrise to be seen over the lake. As someone else said - try to get wood somewhere before you come. We purchased wood at the little shop close to the camp ground but it was terrible - really difficult to get a fire going. A little extra advise - bring some toilet paper with you. It tends to run out in the morning!

I would recommend this State Park to others. There are some wonderful trails and glorious sights to see. We'll be back next year!

We stayed in a lovely Bed and Breakfast (Hamar House) in Chassell. We traveled a little more than an hour west to get to Lake of Clouds. It was beautiful. We walked for about a mile on the Escarpment trail for some more lovely views and then proceeded to the visitor center. The folks at the visitor center were very helpful. We then visited Summit Peak and the series of Presque Isle waterfalls. One day was a little too short for Porcupine Mountains.

Beautiful place on the shore. If your looking for lots of walking this place is for you. We did a quick walk to the lake of the clouds and room some photos. Really is a great place and staff is friendly. Biggest thing was the bugs were unreal today. I saw several people much smarter than us wear hats with head nets. We had bug spray. That was not enough, just keep that in mind.

The Porkies experience has always been a gem. Have spent time at several cabins lakeshore and interior. Brought my son and grandson this time to Speakers 4 cabin. What a pristine setting, phenomenal view and sunsets. Nice hike in from the east...but not too long for a 10 year old...easy trail access north/south; perfect hike to Presque Isle SP and waterfalls. Backpacking, campfires, story telling, brats and beans, exploring, appreciating whatever nature revealed to us and even a 'refreshing' immersion into Lake Superior made for a memorable and quality experience.

Absolutely beautiful! Definitely worth it to hike the whole trail (4.5 miles) up to the Lake of the Clouds. DO IT. And be sure to check out Presque Isle River and marvel at the Nawadaha Falls, Manido Falls and Manabezho Falls.

My husband and I visited in mid July and did 3 nights of backpacking. We stayed at LOC 3, LOC 1 and LS 17, and they were all lovely sites. The water source at Lake of the Clouds is most easily accessed right near Site 3 and we used a gravity bag, which was easy to fill and hang from a tree stub. Site 1 was directly off of the Mirror Lake Trail, so you’d see folks passing right by, but that’s a trade off to being so close to the trail head parking lot if you get in late and want an easy start to the trip. FYI, you can’t really see the lake from sites 1-3, but the woods around them are lovely and spacious and you’re only a mile from the escarpment trail, which affords gorgeous views of the Lake. The hike into our Lake Superior site was a very different feel than the other trails - more dense with fewer spots to “pull over” and have a break. The first couple miles are largely walking along a rocky path and various boardwalks - some of which had broken (wish they did repairs more often!) and one of which was pretty high above the stream below- warning for those with poor balance or fear of heights. The final leg to get to the site was a muddy one and required some negotiating up on logs and rocks to avoid stepping in the goop, but the absolutely stunning and utterly private site made it all worth it - a gorgeous, rocky Lake Superior shoreline all to ourselves with no one for over a mile.

always a great place to see
take the back rd 519 on one way going there
or explore the trails if you are a backpacker

This is Michigan ‘s largest state park. Stay more than a day, this is a worthy destination. Easy marked trails and boardwalks make key landmarks accessible. Cabins, etc. for backpacking. Campgrounds on either end of the park. Do not miss Presque Isle River. Thank you to the dedicated staff and volunteers that keep this wonderful park for visitors to enjoy.

This State park costs $9 for out of state visitors. You can see the Lake in the Clouds and several waterfalls and picnic areas to eat lunch. Beautiful drive and well worth the cost to get in. Lots of traffic and little parking so be patient.

Lake of the Clouds was amazing. There are so many great hiking opportunities here! I love that the North Country Trail is now going to Lake of the Clouds and that more people will get to enjoy the Porkies and the NCT together. It's so worth a trip to see the waterfalls here too. The beauty of this place is immeasurable.

Go to the visitor center first for info. Lake of clouds overlook was beautiful. Hiked a few miles down as well. We checked out the Presque river and the falls too. Did the Summit which is a really pretty view, be ready for a climb. It was much busier than expected for this time of year. Lots of hikers due to the wonderful hiking trails available. So relaxing!!

Beautiful waterfalls, and easy hiking paths. It costs $9 to get into the the main areas of the park.

Went hiking here with a friend. Great views on the escarpment trail and lake of the clouds lookout. Lake Superior trail was nice too. Book lodging well in advance, cabins book up months in advance. There is a fee to enter the park. North Country passes through here as well. Worth a visit!

We drove up to the Porcupine Mountains hoping to catch the fall colors and we were not disappointed. The park offers wonderful views with beautiful fall colors amid several great hiking spots. There was everything we could desire to get us into the fall season! A wonderful place to visit!

I took my first visit to porcupine mountain 8/27/16 and it was recommended by locals that reside in Marenisco. It was approx 40 min drive to porcupine. Be sure to stop at the visitor center first and pick up a map/brochure which tells you how long each trail is & how to get to some of the popular waterfalls. There are several campgrounds around porcupine. It cost $9 a day to park at the state park. There is no stores or food nearby the area so be sure to bring water & a snack with you. I highly recommend lake of the clouds which is 7 miles from the visitor center and then Presque Isle River scenic point which is 25 miles from the visitor center & they have a short trail that takes you down to Lake Superior & I seen people swimming there. Lots of signs to the scenic places so you won't get lost. Enjoy!!

Spent 3 nights and two full days in PMWSP. Camped at Union Bay modern campground, but after seeing Presque Isle River primitive campground, wish we’d have stayed there. Both are plenty nice though. Highlights: Lake of the Clouds, Escarpment Hiking Trail, Presque Isle River Hiking Trails. Views of Lake Superior are sublime!

We camped at the presque isle campground and it was very nice. It is very close to lake Superior, you could actually see it through the from the campsite. We hiked part of the Lake of the Clouds Escarpment trail and it was beautiful. There were a lot of nice views of the lake from there, though it was very rocky and steep at times. We also hiked to Greenstone Falls, which was a bit underwhelming and a muddy trek at the time of the year we were there.

You will not be disappointed when you step off the beaten path and spend the afternoon hiking these amazing scenic trails. You can take as long or little time as you wish because our short hike turned into a 3 hour tour by stopping at small appropriate stops along the way to get great family pictures and a little nature time. Don’t forget the bug spray, walking sticks and water bottle in a backpack or fanny pack so your hands are free for balance on the well maintained but still mountainesque terrain.

We just returned from another week in Michigan's beautiful U.P. and have some new experiences since our last trip. We visited Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for the fist time. Bring your Michigan Recreational passport for entrance in to several areas of this park. Make sure you visit the Headquarters first for maps and points of interest. Things not to miss: Lake of the Clouds, Summit Peak and the Presque Isle waterfalls. There are a lot of hiking trails, campgrounds, rustic cabin rentals, yurt rentals, boat launch and some awesome scenery. There are also many motels and cabin rentals close to the park in nearby towns. For the outdoor enthusiast this is a must see area.

Great place to view God's hand at work! Beautiful woods, beaches and waterfalls. Even though it was a bit rainy and overcast it was awesome.

So much peace and beauty to take in. So many waterfalls and trails. Make sure you spend at least 3 days here.

Just missed the peak fall colors—was there early October. One concern—when my wife stopped into the information building and asked about Summit Peak the person did not inform her that the parking lot closest to the peak was closed and you would have to hike much farther. Considering that we are both senior citizens this lack of concern was disappointing.

Amazing park, unique to the UP. Highly recommend visiting this park for several days to enjoy all it offers.

Amazing day at the Porcupine Mts. The runs were well groomed and all runs were open. We packed a great lunch and had it by the fireplace.The staff was very nice and accommodating. The prices were reasonable and got us our gear fast 120.00 for 2 lift and gear.
We were amazed to see so few people at the Mt there were no lines at all.
The role tow to take you across the top of the Mt.was tricky but we caught on fast
If you want fun for the entire family at a reasonable price this is a great option. We will be back.

There are several different campgrounds nestled in throughout the park, but they also have one right near by called the "Union Bay" Campground which has electricity. But for those who are looking for a more traditional camping experience they have several outpost camps.

There are several points of interest throughout the park including Summit Peak and Cloud lake, which are both great for pictures, but fair warning, Cloud Lake is a bit of a hike, around 3 miles from the closet lot to park in.

Anyways, we stayed at the Union Bay Campground which from what I understand is one of the most popular, and fair warning, if you're coming from the West, there are no clear directions to the campground until you get right up on it practically, and you're just driving through long wilderness roads.

But all in all it's a beautiful place!
Lots of stops and sights to see.

The colors were great, the drive to the Lake lookout was great, the only poor thing was the road condition from Visitor center to the falls.

Beautiful as always. Our neice and nephew had never been to this park before, they were a bit to Young till now. They were amazed. We came to late in the season to go to the little museum/gift shop/ ranger station. I think all kids should see nature up close and personal. This park can be dangerous if your kids don't listen well. But is a great place to learn and explore.

We took in the Lake of the Clouds and 3 waterfalls at the other end of the park on the Presque Isle River. All were beautiful!

We’ve spent two full days (three nights) hiking and exploring the Porcupine Mountains State Park. We just didn’t have it in us to do the whole camping thing although this area offers beautiful camp grounds and an abundance of back country camp sites and also rustic cabins. The area offers some private rental cabins with more services like power, water, etc but we found them wanting a premium price. So instead we booked at the only area motel which is the Americinn in Silver City right at the east entrances to the park. It too wasn’t cheap but at least we were getting a full service accommodations for the price. It was very comfortable after hiking to come back to AC, TV, freshly made up bed, etc. there is also zero cell phone coverage throughout the region so the motel WiFi was really nice for us to stay connected. Think about it, there isn’t even the ability to make a phone call around here it’s so remote unless you drive all the way back to Ontonagon. The AmericInn includes a pretty good restaurant and bar. And is pretty much the only close by eating option. The next restaurant choice is the Konteka in White Pine (like 7 or 8 miles south). It’s good too. So we recommend the AmericInn option if you you’re mainly interested in experiencing the park and it’s not about the camping.

I'd been hearing from a lot of my friends what a gorgeous place the Porkies are, so I think I had it built up in my head. I wasn't as bowled over as I thought I would be. The trails we went on were up and down, some stairs and mostly wooded paths. There are various trails, some only half mile long and others you can go about 12 or more if you want to. It reminds me very much of Door County's parks in Wisconsin, with less touristy things to do and no little shops along the way.

This is an awesome place to go for serious hikers. However, the overlook is very accessible to almost everyone. The lookout tower is a short but steep hike with many stairs at the top. It shouldn't be too difficult for hikers, but it might be a struggle for some. The waterfalls in Presque Isle are amazing and worth the short walk and long stairways.

Don't expect quiet or solitude at the Lake of the Clouds cabin. It is found too close to high use areas. I could hear people yelling and screaming at campsites across the lake, at the overlook, on the escarpment trail...you get the idea. The Escarpment Trail now has hundreds of users each day gaining access from the overlook parking area, even in late August. Rude people will walk down the cabin access trail-which is supposed to be for cabin renters only. Make sure you lock up the cabin when you are not there. The cabin could use some maintenance. The floor needs to be painted, and a window needs to be replaced. There is no picnic table or logs to sit on near the fire pit. It was nice to have the boat that came with the cabin to go out in the lake and catch some smallmouth bass. If you want solitude, you need to hike into the interior of the park. The North Mirror Lake trail and Lake Superior trail are often muddy, full of mosquitoes and dead falls, but are much quieter experiences.

We hiked the short but steep, sometimes rugged trail to Race Horse Rapids in Porcupine Mountains State Park. At the bottom of the trail, we climbed onto several of the rock outlooks on the banks of the Rapids. The woods are beautiful and peaceful, and the views of the rapids and surrounding cliffs are lovely. The day we went, it was cool and had been raining, which we really enjoyed, but we were careful on the slippery rocks.

What a wonderful place to hike or drive through. Enjoy nature at it's best in the summer. We had sunny, hot temps but fresh air and fantastic views. Be on the lakeshore or up on a look-out or walk a multitude of trails. Many choices plus camping. Very busy area. Also choices for those with limited walking abilitites.

My husband and I drove through the area and walked on a few short trails to see Manabezho Falls and Manido Falls, very beautiful and worth the walk of stairs. The road that goes through the park was very curvy and the trees created a canopy over the road...so beautiful! We drove to Lake of the Clouds Scenic Area, this is were you walk up a trail and view a scenic overview of the Lake and woods, the trees were changing colors and it was so beautiful!!

Just awesome my kids loved it very pretty would like to had more time to explore the area but bounced around the upper peninsula last summer for couple weeks

Our family have been visiting Michigan every summer and this was our first time to visit this side of Michigan. We were really looking forward to some great falls and awesome areas but were disappointed. Definitely not a place to plan for your summer vacation.

The Porkies are alright - its a big place and if you like empty wilderness, hiking and the sort of high-adventure stuff, this is the place for you. I prefer to do some hiking but also enjoy built-up natural wonders like Tahquemenon Falls or Palms Book State Park on the other end of the peninsula. The bad part of "built up nature" is that its usually over-run with people who think the same way you do - unless it rains. We were leaving to drive home and HAD to tour the park in the rain - and we're glad we did - we had the whole place to ourselves! There's something kind of exhilarating about seeing a waterfall, thundering and swollen from the rain, and being rained upon while you do it - its like being part of the exhibit! Lake of the Clouds in particular was amazing - powerful hot wind whipping all around us throwing rainwater in our faces as steely-grey clouds scraped along the ceiling just above our heads - it was amazing! Rain or shine I'm sure this place is great - I prefer rain!

A visit to the Porcupine Mountains is a must do if you are visiting the south shore of Lake Superior. The view is tremendous, the hiking trails are great, there are good picnic places and excellent campsites.

What an adventure! Highly recommend going to the visitor center and shopping out the different length hikes and their difficulty levels, very helpful! Getting up early in the morning where there wasn't many crowds was ideal!

one of the best state parks in the u.p of Michigan well worth the time to go and visit to see the lake of the clouds ,waterfalls ,trails to hike you got to go and see it to believe it well worth it

Have lived in Michigan for 35 years and this was my first visit to the Porkies. Who knew such beauty was right here in the U.P.? We spent two days and only saw a portion of the park, but hit the highlights - Lake of the Clouds, Presque Isle Falls. Start with the Visitor's Center, which is very well done - excellent exhibits, maps, information and a great video. Rangers are really helpful. I expected it to be super crowded, but it wasn't. Easy access to some spectacular scenery from parking areas. We want to go back during the fall color season for sure. One recommendation- pack your own lunch and bring it with you, as it is a huge trek to find anything outside the park.

We hit a few of the falls and Lake of the Clouds. This place is beautiful and remote. There is no cell service. The visitor center was super helpful. I would recommend.

If you're into hiking this is a great spot. Most of the hikes are of the easy to moderate type with a few on the difficult side. Be sure to hike the Escarpment trail off the Government Peak trail. Tt is one of the best.

Wow. This is a must see in September. The hiking is great and the views are endless. I would suggest at least 3 full days and if you have the time rent a cabin you hike into.

This is a special place.

My family (kids aged 13 and 10) started at Lake of the Clouds and hiked part of the Escarpment Trail. Beautiful views! We did not meet many people on the trail so it definitely felt remote. Flies and mosquitoes were bad. We all had head nets and kept moving 👍🏻😁

We also walked upto the Summit Peak tower. Amazing!

We visit the park every time we are near. A gem with great trails for the hiker, access to rivers and some excellent rustic cabins. Don't mist.

Went to Lake of the Clouds and Summit Peak both had wonderful views. They have a very nice visitors center, with very informative rangers. I recommend you watch the 20 minute movie at the park information center. We plane to go again tomorrow and spend at least another 1/2 day. Plan a minimum of at least one day to see this park,

We just Loved this State Park...so many waterfalls to see..We went the first week of October 2018..the colors were peaking! Never saw such beautiful color before...

We visited with family and enjoyed the natural beauty of the area. Check out the Wilderness Visitor Center, Lake of the Clouds Area, Summit Peak with observation tower, Presque Isle Area with stops at Lake Superior, Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls, Nawadaha Falls, and suspension bridge.

This is a beautiful area but truly a wilderness. There’s a nice visitors center, and you can drive up to the Lake of the Clouds parking lot where there’s a short walk up to the overlook. But it seemed to us that this is a hiker’s and backpacker’s park. We enjoyed driving around and looking at waterfalls in the area. Several of the waterfalls were a bit too far for us to hike to, but some waterfalls in the surrounding areas were close to parking. They were very helpful at the park with maps.

Wow! What beautiful color we saw today. No wind, no rain, no sun...nothing but outstanding beauty. Definitely worth the 9.00 to get in.

For us, our visit to the Porcupine Mountains this time was a short one.
We parked next to the Presque Isle Entrance Station. It was a beautiful day in the 70’s. From there it was a short walk to the West Side Presque Isle trail and our first waterfalls. At this spot there was a wooden viewpoint to enhance the view.
As we walked toward the Lake, there were a series of trails and wooden walkways. Also, the closer we got to the lake, the more crowed the trails were.
We finally got the bridge and walked down to the beach. We found many pieces of driftwood there. This is a great trail to bring your children and pets. We saw many there enjoying their day.
For me, anytime you can spent at Porcupine Mountains is a great day!

The best state park in Michigan. By far. You can’t beat the untamed beauty Porcupine Mountains has to offer. Go. You won’t regret it.

I visited the park with two friends for three days. The trails to waterfalls are well marked and cleared. Be prepared for numerous steps and some slippery areas. I recommend a walking stick and carry drinking water. The views are spectacular.

Some very rugged terrain here, but also some family accessible places as well. The main attractions are Lake of the Cloudss, the Summit, and the waterfalls (Manabezho Falls, Mandio Falls, and Nawadaha Falls). The waterfalls are our favorite part. To see all of the main attractions and make a stop at the visitor center, you will need about 5 ½-6 hours for driving and walking to the stops. A park pass is required and can be purchased at the Visitor Center or the kiosks at the main attractions. Currently, there is a $40 vehicle park pass for a year at all Michigan state parks or $11 daily pass.

We only had one day, so we asked at the welcome center and they recommended 1. Lake of the Clouds 2. Summit Peak Scenic Area and 3. Presque Isle for the waterfalls. There were a lot of stairs to access Summit Peak. They have many benches for resting, which we used. It was worth it, just fantastic! So much to do, we could have easily spent a week here.

Loved every minute of the Porcupines and it was to be our farewell to Lake Superior after following the shoreline from Sault Ste. Marie ! The Wilderness in November was pretty quiet so we basically had the place to ourselves but conversely most things were closed/empty ! But the scenery & drive made up for it and I prefer it to Crowds !! Pick your time to go & enjoy it !!

We just camped there over 4th of July! It was AMAZING. I'm looking forward to going back as soon as possible!!

We couldn’t decide which to stay at so we stayed at both. The 1 mile hike into Speakers was lovely and felt like an adventure. The cabin was clean and cozy and we loved the remoteness. We enjoyed our private beach. It was so peaceful and idyllic. What a view for the sunsets!! We were sorry to leave and wished we booked it for 3 nights, but then we hiked the easier 1 mile hike in to White Tail. Here, instead of a peaceful beach, waves were crashing onto large slabs of granite - what a thrill to just sit and watch! It was a totally different experience and we were very glad we’d made time to experience both. We are 72 and 64, and the hike in to these cabins was very doable and so worth doing!!

This is one of the most beautiful views in Michigan on a clear day you can see all the way over to the iron mountain ski jump. It is especially jaw dropping when all the Fall colors are full. It is also very accessible for those who are handicapped.

Drove from central Wisconsin to visit, and we were not disappointed!
A beautiful area, take time to walk as many trails as you can.

Always so beautiful! Happy to be back with my family! Park staff were super friendly. We enjoyed the views, the beaches, hiking, waterfalls, star gazing and park programs. The camp hosts were great too!

Most beautiful state park in Michigan! Summit Peak and Presque Isle River Waterfall Loop were absolutely beautiful.

We spent a full day here and half of a second day. I'd recommend starting at the visitor center near the NE entrance and getting your bearings. From this, we were able to sketch out activities for 8 hours on day 1 and 4 hours on day 2.

We did the Nonesuch Trail (about 2 miles round trip with stops for viewing ruins, a small falls and the river) - taking about 1.5 hours.

We did the Union Mine Trail (about 1.3 mile loop with stops for waterfalls, historic signs, and ruins) - taking about 1.5 hours

We did the Lake in the Clouds (about 1/2 mile loop) - wooden trail with great overlooks - took 30 minutes

We did the Escarpment trail one-way (4.3 miles) which was extremely scenic and likely the best trail in the park - took 2.5 hours.

We did Summit Peak (about 1 mile round trip) which took us to a tower at the highest point of the park - about 30 minutes (elevation gain)

We did the Presque Isle Trail and Falls - several intertwined trails - covered about 2.5 miles - took about 2.5 hours.

We did some stops along the beach at the NE entrance.

Porcupine offers great hiking, but come prepared with lots of bug spray and hiking boots. We took the Little Carp River trail, Summit Peak, and Mirror Lake. We often did not see another hiker on the trail. Make the drive along the Southern border to Presque Isle - wonderful water falls and nice beach.
We camped at Union Bay - sites along the lake are jam-packed, but right across the road are larger site.
Nice restrooms, clean and well maintained.

We rode our motorcycles along the lake shore and in the park. Very beautiful spot on God's green earth

For us, this was not worth the bother. However, I think the reason may be that we came in late October, and the leaves had pretty much fallen from the trees. We were trying to do a lot in one day so did not stop at the Visitors Center in Octonaon first so we did not even have a trail map. However, we loved the Bond Falls in the same vicinity. So if you are short on time, visit the Falls.

An excellent Stat Park for the whole family. The campgrounds are great with Lake Superior views. See Lake of the Clouds. Beautiful! Good hiking trails.

Very beautiful place. One of those places you have to see at least once. The locals were very friendly too.

We enjoyed the two days we spent in the Porkies. The Lake of the Clouds is beautiful and so are the waterfalls. We did two small hikes and our dog was able to go with. This park is very dog and kid friendly. The campground on Lake Superior was super busy and full. Stop by the store close to the campground for ice cream!

I emphatically warn folks with motorhomes to stay away from most of this park - especially the route 107 from the north going up to the Lake in the clouds ... and the first 15 miles area from the headquarters southward to route 519. These roads are horribly potholed and rough... even newer areas are pot-holes and rough... AND the worst part is that the overhanging trees and branches will damage your roof and electronics on it.. Guaranteed to cost you significant $... It was wet and raining.. I made the complete trip around the entire pard .. did my absolute best in dodging and swerving around to miss the low hanging branches but had hundreds of branches hitting the coach... broke an antenna .. twisted the spotlight arround.... I never got over 30mph but had a miserable trip.... I reported the horrible tree branvhes hanging down to the "kind of ranger" gal at desk up at top parking lot of lake in the Clouds .. she said it was not their fault nor responsibility.. those roads are "county" so it was not the parks problem. The person(s) responsible should be fired and charged with fraud. Miserable experience - wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Lots of wildlife this time and not a single bug. Surprisingly the trails wear the too muddy except where there was snow melt and runoff.

This was our first time ever to the Porcupine Mountains and to the State Park. Just breathtaking. We will be back!

The Michigan state park in the Porcupine Mountains -- known familiarly as the "Porkies" -- is a wonderful place to visit. Hiking trails and camping right next to the shore of Lake Superior. The visitor center features a good informational video presentation and has a nice display about the history of the area plus a gift shop that's packed with nice things. Fall colors are beautiful.

The porcupine mountains are an amazxing insite into Michigan's Upper Penninsula. The views, the waterfalls and hiking sites, camping areas and the amazing Lake Superior shoreline are more than you can absorb in one day...Come for a week long adventure into wilderness beauty and you definatley would not be disappointed.

Absolutely breath taking,,,,,Pictures don’t do it justice! There are picnic tables there and a couple of charcoal grills. We took along a picnic lunch and made up some burgers along with some other eats. Was a fantastic trip. Took along our handicapped son who is in a wheelchair and the place is totally handicapped accessible for those folks. He got to enjoy the same sites we did.

This place is excellent for hiking, exploring and there's a lot of history to learn about. The staff are always helpful if whatever you need. It's a beautiful place to be in any season. We like the fall the best..cooler and no skeeters. Quieter then too. We are there for almost two weeks so from the time we arrive we are greeted by the beginning of color and when we leave color has started to heighten.

Enjoyed Lake of the Clouds, the many waterfalls within the park and also took the chair lift ride to see the fall colors. Great staff everywhere!

The view is INCREDABLE! no mistake when I say a MILLION dollar view. Absolutely beautiful. The area is hikeable to miles and miles of trails and backpacking. There are camping locations too. If you go and see the falls you are on the right path because they are worth it! If your not well start planning to see them because they are the main attraction to this place and don't forget to bring some good hiking shoes and a swimsuit.

If you are driving a vehicle without Michigan plates, a one-day entry pass is $9, a 4 day pass $34.
The primary attraction is the Lake of the Clouds. There are 2 approaches from the parking lot. The wooden ramp is longer, but the gradient a good deal gentler! You will also get better photo opportunities by walking up the ramp.
At peak, fall foliage here is spectacular, but outside the park the color ebbs and flows in unpredictable ways. From MI 28, far and away the most scenic approach is from County 519, which is around the curve after you pass the Wakefield lake and municipal park. An obvious left off of 519, and some ten miles later an obvious right, will take you through an arboreal forest and bring you out near Silver City. If you are approaching from Silver City, take the left for the road marked for the Visitor Information Center; follow the signs for Wakefield.

Great scenic hikes and waterfalls. Could use a better map of waterfalls in area and hiking distances to them. Beautiful place! Bond falls was our very favoirte in the area

A fantastic place for outdoor people. Hiking, camping and wonderful vistas to see. The dense forests, Lake of the Clouds and Mirror Lake are among some of the best places to see.

The trail from the parking lot to the yurt is closer to a mile in length, with lots of narrow wood plank sections. However, the road beside the outhouse leads straight out to the road and is much less of a trek. To get to the yurt this way, turn right out of the parking lot and walk about a quarter mile down the road to the SECOND green gate on the north side of the road. There's nothing much to see other than the creek but being alone in the middle of a huge forest is very tranquil and soothing. The mosquitoes are vicious. Bring some of those green coils with you. Family Dollar in Ontonagon has them, four coils for a dollar. Don't use the yellow bug spray in the food box, as the label says not for use on humans. It's only for clothes.

This place is utterly beyond fabulous. The staff and rangers are so friendly and helpful. Everywhere you turn there is something new to experience in the trails. Plan to stay three evenings for the wonderful hiking!

We brought our boys (15, 12 and 10) plus our dog for a week long camping trip. We stayed in Union Bay Campground. There are lots of wonderful hikes, swimming and just plain hanging out to be done. If you need more entertainment than this you will struggle. Very peaceful and beautiful.

A backpacker's dream come true...lovely trails, well-maintained park, campsites and adorable, comfortable rustic cabins. My husband and I have backpacked here 3 times within 15 years.

We hiked around the park in June. Everything was so green! We hiked up to the lookout for the Lake of the Clouds. We only spent a day there so we didn't see everything.

My teenage daughter and I stayed at a Lake Superior cabin in early April. There was enough snow to cross country ski, though the downhill lifts were already closed. The road to the escarpment area was still closed, so we spent a full day skiing and hiking there and back to the cabin. We want to return when the rim road is open to check out more of the area.