Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: Top Things to See, Eat, & Drink

What is the Porcupine Mountains Famous For?

Did you know? Porcupine Mountains were named by the Ojibwa native people due to their silhouette of a crouching porcupine. Today, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is the largest state park in Michigan.

THINGS TO DO
WHAT TO EAT & DRINK
WHEN TO GO
WHERE TO STAY
GETTING AROUND
SUGGESTED DURATION

Views

1. Lake of the Clouds

Surrounded by the Porcupine Mountains, Lake of the Clouds is a beautiful blue gem nestled in the pines of northern Michigan. In the summer, the vibrant blues and contrasting greenery bring a steady flow of tourists, while the multi-colored foliage in the fall brings photographers and road-trippers from all over the Midwest.

📚 Also Read: Michigan's Upper Peninsula One Week Itinerary

Trail & Parking Information

Completing the entire Escarpment Trail is 8.4 miles round-trip with 1,666 feet in elevation gain. The trail is out and back and is rated as "hard" difficulty. Plan at least four hours to complete the entire trail. To modify this trail, we recommend turning around after about 2.5 miles when the lake views are no longer in sight. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.

Parking for this trail requires a Michigan Recreation Passport and can be found at the Lake of the Clouds overlook, located here.

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2. Union Mine Interpretive Trail

The Union Mine Trail is a fun, family-friendly loop trail through the Porcupine forest, that winds alongside several nearby creeks. The walk includes several informative trail signs, outlining the history of mining in the Porcupine forest. Early to mid-summer this trail can get pretty buggy, so be sure to pack some spray!

📚 Also Read: Marquette Complete Guide

Trail & Parking Information

Completing the entire Union Mine Trail is 1.1 miles round-trip with 111 feet in elevation gain. The trail is a loop and is rated as "moderate" difficulty. Plan at least 30 minutes to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.

Parking for this trail requires a Michigan Recreation Passport and is located in a gravel lot by the trailhead.

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3. Presque Isle River Waterfalls

This loop features three impressive waterfalls flowing along the pristine Presque Isle River. The west side of the river is equipped with boardwalks that make it easy to navigate up and down the river. The east side of the river is mainly dirt trails, however, they provide a different vantage point of these rushing waterfalls.

Trail & Parking Information

Completing the entire Presque Isle River Waterfall Trail is 1.9 miles round-trip with 223 feet in elevation gain. The trail is an out & back and is rated as "moderate" difficulty. Plan at least an hour to complete the entire trail. For more information and to download the trail offline on your mobile device, visit AllTrails.

Parking for this trail requires a Michigan Recreation Passport and is located in a parking lot by the ticket booths or at the end of the road here.

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4. Presque Isle Suspension Bridge

At the end of the Presque Isle River Waterfall Trail is a suspension bridge leading to a small peninsula. The tip of this peninsula is the idea place to swim in Lake Superior or watch the sunset. This is the perfect spot to admire the tranquil waters of Lake Superior.

💡 Did you know? There are 9 waterfalls along the 42-mile long Presque Isle River

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5. Chasing Waterfalls

There are over 300 waterfalls in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, ranging from 5 to 48 feet in vertical drop. There are a variety of impressive waterfalls, not only within Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, but within close proximity surrounding the park. Save this list of Impressive Upper Peninsula Waterfalls and chase all the Michigan waterfalls as you road trip through the Upper Peninsula!

Noms & Brews

While in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, there are not a lot of dining options. We recommend stocking up on some camping and hiking snacks that will last you through your trip. However, should you be looking to drive outside the park to a nearby town for food and brews, below is a list of our recommendations:

Plums and Honey Creamery (Ironwood) - Delicious homemade ice cream and waffle cones
Rigoni's Bakery (Ironwood) - Known for the famous U.P. Pasties
Bake Superior Bread (Ironwood) - Breads, bagels, and sandwiches
Contrast Coffee Co. (Ironwood) - Coffee and breakfast
Cold Iron Brewing (Ironwood) - Experimental beers in a laid-back atmosphere
Up North Café (Ontonagon) - Breakfast with a Northern Michigan charm
Syl's Café (Ontonagon) - Breakfast and famous U.P. Pasties
Porkies Outpost (Ontonagon) - Your closest option to the park for pizza, burgers, and beer
Rocky Reef Brewing Company (Woodruff, WI) - Tasty brews with live music and food trucks
Alpha Michigan Brewing Company (Alpha) - Add to your U.P. road trip, this top-rated brewery is worth a stop

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Planning Your Trip

Q: How many days do you need for Porcupine State Park?

A: In order to have enough time to complete the top things to do in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, we recommend spending at least two full days. If you want to add Marquette or Pictured Rocks, you may consider staying in the Upper Peninsula for a full week.

📆 J&L Recommended: 1-2 Full Days

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Q: What month is the best to visit Porcupine State Park?

A: Porcupine Mountains has its perks at all times of the year. It becomes a winter-wonderland for skiing and snow sports during the colder months, the mountains provide scenic vantage points for fall foliage, and the summer is the best time to take a dip in the frigid Lake Superior. Our personal recommendation is to enjoy pleasant weather, a warmer Lake Superior, and minimal bugs in late summer.

📆 J&L Recommended: July - September

Q: How much does it cost to go to Porcupine Mountains?

A: A Recreation Passport is required to enter all Michigan State Parks. For residents, this is a $13 annual pass (2023 pricing) and non-residents $39 annual pass (or $11 daily).

🎟️ J&L Recommended: Get your recreation passport here

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Q: Where is the best area to stay in Porcupine Mountains?

A: While visiting the wilderness of the Porkies, we chose to experience more of the nature by camping. Presque Isle Campground offers rustic campsites, our personal favorite being the walk-in sites that are nestled along the breathtaking Lake Superior. For more camping amenities such as running water, toilets, and showers, Union Bay Campground is another great option located on the northern side of the park.

🏕️ J&L Recommended Camping: Presque Isle Campground - Site P13

Prefer a Hotel or Cabin?

The closest nearby towns are White Pine and Ontonagon. This charming cabin on Lake Superior would be a fantastic choice for lodging.

Use the search box below to select your travel dates and find great deals on hotels near Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

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Getting Around the Porkies

Q: What is the best way to get around the Porcupine Mountains?

A: Marquette is most easily explored via car in order to navigate to all of the parks and surrounding nature. Although the city of Marquette does have cellular service, we recommend downloading offline maps to navigate throughout the Upper Peninsula (which has spotty service overall).

💎 Download offline maps with all of our recommendations pinned here!

Q: Can you see the northern lights in the Porcupine Mountains?

A: If you are lucky, you may see the northern lights in the Porcupine Mountains! They are not seen at all times of the year, rather they are most frequently spotted from August to April