The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is a rugged paradise of ancient forests, pristine lakes, and breathtaking vistas, particularly in the fall. We really think its one of the U.S.’s most underrated regions.
We were lucky enough to be able to schedule a fall RV trip to the area and the crisp autumn air and the promise of fall colors made every morning feel like Christmas for these two outdoor enthusiasts.
Although the fall colors, in and of themselves. were pretty exhilarating, we chose the park’s most well-known destination for our first adventure in the area – Lake of the Clouds. This 1.3-mile hike is one of Michigan’s most photographed scenic overlooks for good reason. The overlook is easy to reach and that crystal blue lake nestled in the valley below is everything we’d hoped for. The fall colors created a beautiful backdrop. It really is that kind of view that will have you stopping to sit so you can better appreciate the natural beauty.
Some reviewers have noted that it can be windy in this area and we did have a bit, but honestly, we were there on a bluebird kinda day!
The “Porkies” are a large wilderness area, one of the last remaining few in the Midwest. With over 90 miles of hiking trails, there is truly something for everyone.
Our next stop was the Union Mine Interpretive Walk. This short (just over a mile) loop offers a glimpse into the area’s copper mining history. Placards along the trail are actual journal entries from copper miner William Spalding. This was a great way to learn a little history while taking in the Hemlock and Sugar Maples that hung overhead.
The Union Mine opened in 1846 when copper was primarily used for pots, pans, buttons and roofing. William Spalding’s journal talks about tunneling through the bedrock using sledge hammers, hand drills, black powder, candlelight and muscle. Although the Union Mine produced masses of copper weighting over 50lbs and some silver, it was unprofitable and closed in 1848. The mine was idle until 1864 when record copper prices during the Civil War brought it back to life under new owners. By the late 1890’s copper was in high demand for the production of electrical wire and given that Michigan is the only place in the world where economically abundant quantities of pure, elemental copper occurred, Michigan claims it enabled the widespread distribution of electricity throughout the United States. I don’t recall though whether this particular mine was a big contributor to that effort.
We knew from our Lake of the Clouds hike that in dense forests like this, it helps sometimes to get a view from higher up and so we took the 1.5 mile hike to Summit Peak Tower. There’s a boardwalk here that leads to an observation tower. The elevated vantage point gave us a better sense of the park’s scale and terrain.
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Our longest hike of the trip was about 3.5 miles along the Presque Isle River. From the west entrance it extends out into Lake Superior. Along the river’s edge there are several waterfalls, some pretty cascades, and interesting water-carved rock formations. We moved from heavily wooded areas with thick, old roots, up and down along the river bed banks.
As an added bonus, Doug spent the middle of each night checking out the northern lights.
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We’d seen a lot of the yellow, orange and red canopy from above it and along the roadside as we drove from trailhead to trailhead. I don’t know if we were there during the peak, but on the day we left the area we had a bit of rain, some overcast skies, and as we drove through Wakefield and Saxon towards Minneapolis those brilliant yellows and oranges faded into bronze and brown.
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We found pretty vistas, historical insights, and peaceful moments beside rushing waters in the Porcupine Mountains. The trail system is well designed for adventurers of all levels and despite being a well maintained and accessible park, the area retains its wild and untamed character which seems increasingly rare in our developed world. It’s a place that’s not that far from some major cities where people can go and feel connected to something larger than ourselves.
