PORCUPINE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS

The Porcupine Mountains, or Porkies, are a group of small mountains spanning the northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, near the shore of Lake Superior. The Porcupine Mountains were named by the native Ojibwa people, supposedly because their silhouette had the shape of a crouching porcupine.They are home to the most extensive stand of old growth northern hardwood forest in North America west of the Adirondack Mountains, spanning at least 31,000 acres. In these virgin forests, sugar maple, American basswood, eastern hemlock, and yellow birch are the most abundant tree species.  The area is part of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. ~wikipedia

The drive through the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness are was popping with color.  We entered on the West side – Presque Isle River area.  I was a lovely six hour drive from Red Wing, MN.

WEST SIDE

The Presque Isle River water falls are short hikes from the main road with ample parking places.  There are quite a few stairs on one of the hikes.  Another occasion to get the puppy-kids out of car for a walk.  This Michigan state park was a bit more pet-friendly compared to WI and MN, where you are limited to an area or certain trails.

Geography

The most striking geological feature of the Porcupine Mountains is the long basalt and conglomerate escarpment parallel to the Lake Superior shore and overlooking Lake of the Clouds, a continuation of the same copper-bearing bedrock found farther northeast on the Keweenaw Peninsula. A second ridge farther inland, on the other side of Lake of the Clouds, includes Summit Peak, the highest point in the mountains at 1,958 feet.  Rivers, waterfalls, swamps, and lakes lie between the rocky outcroppings. There are a number of waterfalls on the Presque Isle River in the extreme western side of the park. ~wikipedia

EAST SIDE

Lake of the Clouds Overlook is accessible from the East t side of the park.  It is hard to beat the view from here.   This area is wheelchair accessible via a long ramp.

It was mid 39 degrees with a 30+ MPH wind when we visited – Brrrrrr, it was cold.  I must say that an iPhone does a tremendous job with a panorama.  My phone was all over the place in that wind.  You can see by the weather map below; although Lake Superior is a cold lake, this time of year it’s relatively warm and turn that snow right into rain.

Don’t miss that photo op @ Porcupine Mountains Outpost.