Wilderness Preserved
The Porcupine Mountains or “the Porkies” are a range of small mountains along the Lake Superior coastline of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, just a few miles north of the Wisconsin border. The protected 60,000 acres make it Michigan’s largest state park. Just over half of those acres are covered in old-growth forest, having escaped the lumberjacks who clear-cut so much of the region.The pristine forest and the rich understory it sustains aren’t the whole of the “wild” in the wilderness. The preserve is also home to an assortment of woodland creatures, including abundant deer, black bears, timber wolves, beavers, river otters, and the occasional moose. Birders have counted nearly 400 feathered species in the region, from the rare Kirtland’s warbler to the bald eagle and peregrine falcon. While you may also see actual porcupines, the name of mountains comes from the way the trees looked along the ridge.
Colors Galore
Because of the forest’s abundant hardwoods, the autumnal color show is impressive. The overlooks make for amazing panoramic views, and the rugged hiking trails set you right down within it and the road between the two campgrounds runs the length of the park for a color drive.The most popular destination within the park and a good view of fall is the scenic overlook of Lake of the Clouds. A drive or hike up the ridge arrives at a parking area a short walk from the bare rock of a basalt escarpment. You can look out over the long narrow and photogenic Lake of the Clouds stretching out below.
A hike to Summit Peak, the park’s highest point, leads to a 50-foot observation tower, offering views of the big lake out over the color palette. On the clearest days, the view extends all the way to Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands or even to Isle Royale near the Canadian side of the lake.
Bring Your Hiking Boots
Trekkers can enjoy more than 90 miles of trails, ranging from gentle walks along the river to steeper or more remote paths. The Presque Isle River, which kicks up whitewater over dramatic rock formations and offers views of several named waterfalls, empties into Lake Superior right next to its namesake campground. The trails from that point lead upstream along either bank and are easily accessed for daytrippers.Roughing It
The Porkies are a perfect place to experience the joy of camping: forest-bathing the mind, stretching the muscles on a walk in the woods, taking a quiet moment to appreciate the beauty of the natural world, and quality time around a campfire at night.Rustic campsites, sites with electrical hookups, and walk-in sites serve Presque Isle Campground at the southern end of the park, while Union Bay Campgrounds has modern sites and facilities at the northern end. Deeper into the woods are backpacker sites, yurts, rustic cabins, and small, basic outpost sites that serve tents and small campers.
If camping isn’t your thing, you can still try Kaug Wudjoo Lodge—an Objibwa name that means “place of the crouching porcupine”—a modern, fully furnished four-bedroom lodge that sleeps up to 12. From May through November, there is a seven-day minimum stay and a four-day minimum otherwise.
Planning Your Trip
We booked our campsite online using the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ excellent reservation system. A map of the selected park pops up with color-coded availability at both campgrounds plus backcountry sites and cabins. Sites offer photos so you can choose better for shade, privacy, etc.Too late for a fall visit? The Porkies are great any time of year, actually—spring and summer, of course, but also the winter months: alpine and cross-country skiing are popular, and overnight visitors can rent cabins in the snowy woods. Some roads close Dec. 1 and open up for snowmobiles when the snow arrives, but the road to Presque Isle Scenic Area remains open.