2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Got up the steep slopes near the top of Government Peak and stopped for a break. Accessible Rooms, Cellular Signal, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Maps Available, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Restroom - Accessible, Theater/Auditorium, Trailhead, Wheelchair Accessible, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The easy stroll will take you to a pier that looks out over the crystal blue water. For more information call the park headquarters at (906) 885-5275. Government Peak Trail 6.9 miles Backpack After the previous days misadventures on the ski trails, I instead took the 2-mile road walk up to the Government Peak trailhead and the Escarpment Trail. (There's not much in the way of info on any of the cabins, especially about the nature of the hikes needed to get to them.) Youll take various boardwalks along the ridgeline where youll see Lake of the Clouds snuggled amid a valley of trees in one direction. gitche gumee cabin porcupine mountains. Public Tracks There are no published trips for this hike. Backpackers now must register in advance for specific sites before entering the backcountry and stay at those designated sites once they are on the trail. Photo 4, Rocky shoreline of Lake Superior. It has bunk beds with mattresses to accommodate up to eight people. Your Hosts: Rob and Kim. Memengwa Swamp can be sloppy hiking with boot-sucking mud even during a dry spell. No running water or electricity is provided. Call 4194532584 for more info. $155 per night. It really is a wonderful area to explore all seasons but we love fall!! 2-down, how many more could there be? They'll allow you a view of the mountain and the gorgeous wooded terrain they speckle. Scenic Overlook Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Park. CrossTrail 4.5milesBackpack Enjoyed a nice break on Cloud Peak before heading down to the Lake of the Clouds cabin. In all, I ended up trapping 13. Porcupine Cabin sits in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains at an elevation of 6,400 feet. You can register for a backcountry campsite or reserve a cabin through the Michigan State Parks Campground Reservation System (800-447-2757;www.midnrreservations.com). From here you drop quickly to the Little Carp River Trail junction. FULL DISCLOSURE: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Campsites include a fire ring and a bear pole. Correction LineTrail 2.8milesBackpack The cabin sleeps eight people and is considered rustic: Theres a wood stove for heat and cooking, two outdoor fire rings, an outdoor charcoal grill, a hand-pump well and an outhouse, but no running water or electricity in the cabin itself (though a solar-powered battery onsite allows for two USB charging ports). The best of Michigan's Lake Superior North Country Finally arrived at Union River Cabin. There are many trails too and just need to collect info from visitor center. Previous entries warned of the cabin mouse. I always hang my food bag to mouse-proof it so I wasnt too concerned. Gathered some wood for a small campfire and toasted myself for surviving the trip! We wondered if it would be much different than the Lake of the Clouds because it follows the ridgeline as well. Learn how your comment data is processed. It really irks me to find garbage or leftover food in the cabins. Some of the backpacking sites look pretty awesome. Mirror Lake is a 5.8-miles trek along Little Carp River Trail. This act gave the park the new designation of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Other attractions include the Summit Peak observation tower, Porcupine Mountains Ski Area, an 18-hole disc golf course and much more. The further away from Lake of the Clouds you get, the less crowded it is. Don't forget to visit Downtown Ironwood and experience its charm for yourself. Each outfitted with a metal ring, but with no other amenities. Reservations will also be available online at Michigan State Park Online Reservations (www.midnrreservations.com) or by calling the Central Reservation Service at 1-800-44PARKS. Firewood is available for indoor use during winter as long as supplies last. Cross Trail swings away from the water At this pointand makes its steepest climb of the day. FlexOffers Affiliate Disclosure Dang Travelers also participates in the FlexOffers affiliate network and uses links within our content to earn a commission. The cabins are equipped with standard furniture including a wood stove, bunk beds, mattresses, tables, chairs, cookware, utensils, and an outhouse. Reservations and more information can be found at midnrreservations.com by clicking on Backcountry under the Camping tab. Porcupine Mountains Solo Hike | Crosscut Cabin - YouTube Watch as I embark upon a solo backpacking trek into the Porcupine Mountains State Park in Ontonagon, Michigan. Our first day in the Porkies -- Sunday, August 16th -- began far away, on the east end of the UP. The park hosts a 35,000-acre old-growth forest amounts its waterfalls, rivers, trails, campgrounds, and Lake Superior shoreline. A small pasture by the barn is provided but stock users must use their own containment system. Correction Line Trail really kicked my butt. All rights reserved (About Us). The trail stays near the river for the next half mile, winding along a series of interesting pools until you reach Bathtub Falls. (587 reviews) "Liked: Large, clean, comfortable room (2-room suite) They allowed pets. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. There are numerous other waterfalls within the Porcupine Mountains State Parks interior. Nice, comfortable ,well kept and a gtrat location if you want to visit the Porcupine mountains or nearby beaches. The views kept getting better and better as we continued on the high rocky cliffside. I was so tired after a long day of hiking that I napped after dinner and missed most of the sunset over Lake Superior. The Escarpment Trail in Porcupine Mountain State Park is going on our list of favorite hikes in the Midwest. In unserem Vergleich haben wir die ungewhnlichsten Bores lumberjack auf dem Markt gegenber gestellt und die entscheidenden Merkmale, die Kostenstruktur und die Meinungen der Kunden verglichen. It took us 55 minutes to hike in. ONTONAGON, MICH. -- Backcountry explorers at Michigans Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park have a beautiful new spot to consider when booking their next trip. This Lake Superior cottage is perfect for an up north get-away. A backcountry camping permit is required. [5] Visit our Website @ www.petersonscottages.com. Site 001, Loop AREA PORCUPINE CABIN, Type Cabin Nonelectric, Water is not available at the cabin; water obtained from nearby natural water sources should be treated prior to use to prevent Giardia, A high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended to access the cabin, Cell phone coverage is either limited or not available in this area, Guests must carefully follow the food storage order for Gallatin National Forest (, Maximum group size for using the facility and adjacent area is 15 people, No garbage service; please bring garbage bags and pack out all trash and personal belongings, No liquid fueled (white gas) stoves or lanterns allowed in the cabin or on the porch, Please collect your own firewood for campfires, The primary occupant is responsible to ensure all members of their party abide by USFS Regulations, Firing a gun or use of any other weapon is not allowed within 150 yards of the cabin. This is a 3.6 mile loop that climbs up the side of one of the "mountains" (specifically, the Porkies ski hill, an outpost of the Escarpment) and was supposed to give excellent views of the park. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. I was pleased to find that no one had left any garbage or food in the cabin that would make my pack heavier! TL,DR: I made a long-ish cabin-to-cabin backpacking loop through the Porkies. The trails are used by snowshoers and cross-country skiers in the winter. Parts of the ski trails were really nice. For more information on these waterfalls you can reach the park office at 906-885- 5275. Do this early some cabins are reserved up to a year ahead. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It seemed like the Union Spring Trail doesnt get much use. Some of the cabins have nearby backpacking campsites, for example at Mirror Lake and near the mouths of the Big and Little Carp Rivers. It is the highest point in the park and the observation deck has outstanding views especially in the fall! Take in the views from your back deck, relax around the bonfire, enjoy walk to Lake Superior, hike or snowshoes the North Country Trail to waterfalls or take a day trip to the Porkies. The path does not change much after the split, although there are some muddy spots, it wasn't bad even after two days of rains. Photo 5, Photo Courtesy @shelbydiamondstar Photo 7, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The nightly fee is $125; no pets are allowed. Ski area with 14 runs It is a 4.5-mile trek, but most backpackers choose to follow Little Carp River instead, a longer hike (7.3 miles to the Greenstone Falls) but a much more scenic route. All except one require a bit of hiking (1 - 4 miles) to get to them. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park here. The closest place is probably the hardest to find. But look around, if the deer flies will allow it, and theres a good chance you will spot bear prints. Some of the trails were pretty difficult, others were awesome. The hike in from the Union Spring Trail trailhead seems to be about 2.25 miles. Click here to read more about Porcupine Mountains Backpacking. It's a fairly shallow river. Bear tracks look more like a human foot than they do dog tracks, but they have a larger, more rounded pad and often the claws are clearly visible. Backpacking Trip, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan, USA It has 50 rustic sites near the river with vault toilets and hand pumps for water. Of those acres, 35,000 are an uncut virgin forest. At roughly 60,000 acres, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigan's largest state park, home to towering old-growth hemlock-hardwood stands, roaring waterfalls and spectacular sweeping vistas. Overlook Trail Loop3.5mile Day hike During the winter, the last two miles of the road to the cabin are not plowed. Hit the trail about 11:00am for one of my shorter days. My original plan was to hike up the ski hill and then take the cross-country trail over to the West Vista and take the Overlook Trail down to the Government Peak Trail and Escarpment Trail. Or if they are entering the park, they reach the Big Carp River via Pinkerton and Lake Superior trails, a 4-mile walk.Cross Trail is level for the most part but can be wet, especially in the middle when it crosses Memengwa Swamp, and at times is hard to follow. Cottages on Lake Superior. If choosing to do this trail, plan on staying at one of the three wilderness cabins on the way or at one of the backcountry campsites. In all of the rooms there are either 1 queen or 2 full-size beds. This multi-use trail can be used both directions. The Lily Pond and Beaver Creek loops combine perfectly with a portion of the Little Carp River trail and create the perfect half-day scenic hike. Ski Storage As you stand overlooking the untouched tree-covered land, itll amaze you that such an area still exists in the Midwest. A trip to Michigans Upper Peninsula is not complete without a visit to Porcupine Mountain State Park. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park includes 60,000 acres of pine, hemlock and hardwood. The third is Toledo Creek that flows through a small ravine and reached at Mile 2. The 59,020-acre park offers summer and winter recreational pursuits and interpretive programs. Trudged along until finally reaching Trap Falls to take another break. Do not feed them and keep a safe distance if you run into one. Cabins and yurts are $65a night, modern campsites $18-27and rustic sites $15. Crosscut Cabin serves as a x-country ski warming hut in the winter months. All vehicles must have either a $6 daily pass or a $11annual state park Recreational Pass. Luckily I had a headnet! This is really an amazing addition to the park, said Park Supervisor Mike Knack. Brad P. It is strongly recommended that visitors reserve backcountry campsites well in advance for the peak season; June through August. TIP: Fill up your water bottles before arriving, there are no water sources at the parking lot. This trail goes by Buckshot Cabin. Plus, its not that difficult of a trail so it was very relaxing. 100 Majestic Waterfalls It's home to a 35,000-acre old-growth forest, roaring waterfalls, miles of rivers and streams, more than 90 miles of hiking trails, a modern and rustic campground, backcountry camping, the Lake Superior shoreline and unrivaled vistas. Only the east side is generator-friendly. TIP: If you have time to make this a longer hike, add Mirror Lake and Beaver Creek for the Summit Peak Loop hike. Find and book unique accommodation on Airbnb. Deer, moose, bears and elk may be spotted nearby. Arrived at the cabin shortly after 6:00pm, collected water and took a dip in a calm and refreshingly cool Lake Superior. Woke early to thunder in the distance. Reviewed Date: June 2011. Its a good hike to get inside the park. Guests can look out at the northern peaks of the Crazies from the front porch. Cross Trail stretches between Lake Superior Trail at the mouth of the Big Carp River toa junction with the Little Carp River Trail, a mile from the Little Carp River Trailhead on South Boundary Road. Within a half mile the wet lowlying woods turns into a grassy marsh-like opening before Cross Trail returns to the woods. It will also be buggy, but there is one plus. You follow the river briefly, then the trail swings away from the Big Carp for good, and in a half mile you descend to cross a feeder creek. You've earned it! Seemed really bold. Lighthouses-Old Restaurants Required fields are marked *. Since its construction, the cabin has been used as temporary housing by Forest Service rangers while they were patrolling for timber poachers, watching for fires and monitoring livestock. Rustic Tent & RV Camping. To ease overcrowding in the backcountry, the Michigan DNR eliminated dispersed camping in 2018 and instilled a registration system for the trailside campsites. Several bird species that inhabit this area include bald eagles, owls, jays, western meadowlarks and mountain bluebirds. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 33303 Headquarters Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953 Visit Website Reservations Contact Map Amenities Accessible Travel + Leaflet What's Nearby Outdoors Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park More Info We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Took a break at one of the many beautiful pools downstream of Shining Cloud Falls to filter some water and ice my aching feet in the wonderfully chilly river. Havent been up there for years and even then did a very short day hike. and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. There is one stream crossing, but it is on a wide wooden bridge. | Photo by Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Each cabin has a refrigerator, microwave, flat-screen tv, and coffee maker along with bath towels, soaps, and shampoo. Are dogs allowed in Porcupine Mountains State Park? The ski trails here were pretty good (clear and dry) so I made better time. Directions: Just outside of Wakefield on Hwy M28 take Cty Rd 519 North up a incline. Yes, dogs are allowed in the state park, but they may not be left unattended in a vehicle or at the campsite at any time. It connects the Lake Superior Trail at the mouth of the Big Carp River with the Little Carp River Trail near Greenstone Falls. from. Nonesuch Mine Trail1 mile Short trail From Livingston, Montana, travel north on Highway 89 to Wilsall. This was definitely the least relaxing vacation Ive ever taken but it was still totally rewarding and satisfying. Cozy White Pine Home - 10 Mi to Porcupine Mtn. While there are plenty of impressive places to experience fall color in Michigan, Porcupine Mountain State Park is one of the best. Looks like a great trip. With 60,000 acres of old-growth forest, snaking rivers, spectacular vistas, and picturesque waterfalls, the Porkies will impress the most avid traveler. Cable TV & VCR/DVD There are various options for lodging in and near Porcupine Mountain State Park that include campgrounds, cabins, and a few motels and hotels. An axe and splitting maul should be available. The park boasts many popular natural attractions, including Lake of the Clouds (with an accessible viewing area), the scenic Presque Isle River corridor. Skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles are required to reach the cabin. You'll find private cabins on farms, country estates and private land. Providing 83.61 sq. Summit Peak Tower Trail0.5mileShort trail Made it to the Correction Line Trail and began my ascent. Sunday, July 27, 2008 . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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