Great Smoky Mountains National Park is perfect for first-time park visitors and is probably the most visited nationwide park within the U.S., with 13.3 million vacationers yearly. The Great Smoky Mountains are perhaps best known for beautiful fall foliage (as well as missing person cases, on a darker note), as are the underrated autumn trails in Acadia National Park (the USA’s fifth hottest nationwide park with 4 million guests a yr).
Nevertheless, what you may not know is that the Higher Midwest has an underrated state park that is a mixture of each of those favourite East Coast nationwide parks. It is situated in Michigan close to Lake Superior, where Isle Royal National Park is located, which is also home to an unusual “phantom” island.
This underrated however scenic mountain vacation spot might as nicely be a nationwide park, because of the beautiful surroundings alongside its rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and ridges that rival the Nice Smoky Mountains and Acadia, regardless of the season.

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Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Is Like Acadia & Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park Rolled Into One
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, MI, has 60,000 acres of pure options
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is situated within the village of Ontonagon, one of many small towns with the best foliage in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is proper within the Porcupine Mountains (“Porkies”)—a 59,020-acre vary that resembles a crouching porcupine—and is simply on the south shoreline of Lake Superior.
Charges |
Michigan Recreation Passport required (might be purchased on the Customer Middle and kiosks in the principle points of interest – $9 for day-use) |
Opening Hours |
8 am – 8 pm, every day, year-round |
Guests Per Yr |
400,000 to 450,000 |
Busiest Season |
Between Might and October (late Spring to mid-Fall) |
The 60,000-acre park would not cowl your complete Porkies, but it surely has different key points of interest:
- Lake of the Clouds: The park’s most outstanding website, recognized for its secluded enchantment and weird place in a valley (covers 50 acres) between two ridges within the Porcupine Mountains
-
Presque Isle River: The place the park’s three iconic waterfalls are discovered:
- Manabezho Falls (15-foot drop)
- Manido Falls (12-foot drop)
- Nawadaha Falls (3-foot drop)
- Previous-Progress Forests: 35,000 acres of virgin, over-400-year-old bushes, together with birches, hemlocks, maples, and yellow birches
- Summit Peak: The best level within the park (1,958 toes above sea degree) with the 45-foot Summit Peak Tower for viewing
The Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is probably not as massive as the two,000-acre Fontana Lake within the Grand Smoky Mountains. However the vastness of the latter would not evaluate to the previous’s serene magnificence and mysterious geography.
Within the fall, the colourful bushes alongside the Lake of the Clouds nearly cover the waters fully. However as soon as you notice it, the lake is totally tinted with the reflection of the blue clouds, not like the open Jordan Pond in Acadia, which turns into a mirror to its surrounding foliage.

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The Greatest Mountaineering Trails In Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan
There are over 90 miles of mountaineering trails within the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, MI
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park has greater than 90 miles of mountaineering trails starting from simple to difficult. All of those take you to breathtaking viewing factors to benefit from the park’s key options.
Most of those hikes might be rigorous, largely as a result of rugged surfaces, rocks, mud, and uneven terrain. However that makes these trails satisfying to many; it is the right ambiance to retreat, mirror, and understand such a feat.
There are 49 trails listed on AllTrails, however we have narrowed it all the way down to the six most really helpful mountaineering trails by guests:
- Lake of the Clouds Overlook Trail: A straightforward hike that takes you to the most effective spot overlooking the Lake of the Clouds (1.8 miles out and again, 52 minutes)
- Presque Isle River Waterfalls Trail: A moderate-level solitary path that follows the west aspect of the Presque Isle River, the place you’ll be able to see all three of the park’s waterfalls (1.9 miles out and again, 47 minutes)
- Escarpment Trail: Thought of a reasonable to strenuous hike however has majestic views of the Lake of the Clouds, Previous-Progress forests, plus native wildlife and crops (8.2 miles out and again, 4 hours and 4 minutes)
- Summit Peak Trail: It is a quick however reasonable hike going as much as the best level of the park, but it surely’s value it when you see the views from the Summit Peak Remark Tower (0.9-mile loop, 29 minutes)
- Big Carp River Trail: A extra demanding path fashionable amongst backpackers and campers, it takes you alongside the Presque Isle River and the Large Carp River through rugged terrain and steep descents and ascents (16.2 miles, 6 hours and 6 minutes)
- Union Mine Trail: This reasonable and peaceable hike follows an authentic 1850s miner’s journal and takes you thru the park’s mining historical past (1.1-mile loop, 26 minutes)
Canine are welcome on the mountaineering trails in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Simply guarantee they’re leashed, clear up after them, and maintain them from disturbing different wildlife.
The Escarpment and Large Carp River trails have a few of the rockiest and steepest paths. Make sure you’re bodily conditioned to take these difficult hikes and produce all the mandatory gear.
Bears, wolves, and coyotes reside within the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, so make sure that to retailer meals correctly, keep away from mountaineering at daybreak or nightfall after they’re lively, and don’t strategy any of them.

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The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Is Additionally Enjoyable In The Winter
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, MI, is an underrated spot for numerous winter recreations
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is not only a fall vacation spot. It additionally transforms right into a winter wonderland and stays open to winter sports activities fanatics or those that want peace. Throughout this time, the Lake of the Clouds and the three waterfalls turn into frozen—making a magical panorama from a fantasy film.
You can even spot some cute animals this season, just like the white-tailed deer, snowshoe hares, wolves, foxes, woodpeckers, and owls. However most individuals come right here for some thrilling sports activities throughout winter. The park has 20 miles of cross-country ski trails and several other miles for snowshoeing.
Snowmobiling and downhill snowboarding are additionally among the many high winter actions right here. However when you’re not into sports activities, the park has designated spots for winter tenting and ice fishing. You’ll be able to catch yellow perches, northern pikes, numerous varieties of trout, and bluegills from the frozen lakes and rivers.
Whereas we propose visiting the park throughout fall for its picturesque foliage scenes and winter for ice sculptures, we additionally advocate exploring the park throughout spring to see the waterfalls at their peak.
Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park undeniably gives nationwide park-level views. It even will get extra annual guests than the state’s Isle Royal National Park, which only gets 29,000 tourists annually. However when you’re interested in each underrated parks, it’s going to be simple to plan a double go to since they’re simply 1.5 hours away.
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