Trails: The park has 90 miles of hiking trails throughout the virgin timber forest of the Porcupine Mountains overlooking Lake Superior. Access fee:Park entry pass Nearest town: Silver City, MI Trail map: Available at the park Web site:Porcupine Wilderness State Park Points of interest: Virgin pine forest, clifftop views of Lake Superior, waterfalls Other activities: Backcountry skiing Lodging: 16 backcountry cabins are available in the park. Several motels are located in the area. Camping: Backcountry sites and frontcountry campground Weather forecast:Houghton Tourism info:Ontanagon Tourism Getting to the trail: The park is 3 miles west of Silver City Map of local region:Silver City
Trail Name: Porcupine Wilderness State Park I have hiked there: Several times I last hiked there in: August, 101 Trails that I hiked: All Favorite trails: Escarpment; North Mirror Lake; Big Carp; Little Carp; western portion of Lake Superior trail. Best time to go: August--warm and no mosquitos or flies; never needed inspect repellant Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Fair Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Tremendous scenery (mini-mountains; steep climbs (Escarpment/North Mirror Lake); rushing mountain streams with waterfalls; couple of unbridged river crossings; world's greatest and fresh water inland ocean=Lake Superior) and excellent trail layout. Unlike many frigid alpine lakes of the Rockies and Sierras, Lake Superior and the few interior lakes are warm enough to swim and clean off in after a full day's hike. What I disliked: Muddy areas with no or worn out boardwalks especially Correction Line Additional comments: Have met big black bear both on trail and in camp at night. Take bear size pepper spray available from Rocky Mountain outfitters. Have experienced massive nighttime lightning storms. Pack everything in waterproof bags to stay dry if rain storms are encountered. Use bear poles to hang food at night.
Travel Escarpment from east to west; North Mirror Lake from north to south; and end with west half of Lake Superior trail going east to west, finishing with trio of magnificient waterfalls on Presque Isle River. Submitted by: AJ from: Suburban Chicago, IL Date submitted: June 29, 2005
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Trail Name: Porcupine Wilderness State Park I have hiked there: Several I last hiked there in: Oct, 2003 Trails that I hiked: Big & Little Carp River, Superior, Pinkerton, ect... Favorite trails: All of them. The Superior trails have beautiful views of the lake and steep inclines. The forest trails have views of the rivers and bluffs. Wildlife abound and solitude galore. Best time to go: May-October Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: See above. What I disliked: No dislikes. I would like a more challenging remote area to hike but this is the best I have found to date in my area. Comments: Submitted by: RJP from: Hubertus, Wisconsin Date submitted: Jan 8, 2004
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Trail Name: Porcupine Wilderness State Park I have hiked there: Several I last hiked there in: August, 2003 Trails that I hiked: All of them. I have hiked over 95% of the trail system in the park. Favorite trails: Little Carp River, Escarpment Best time to go: June-September Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Some of the most beautiful scenery east of the Rockies. Great mix of woods, mountains, Lake Superior, streams and waterfalls. Plenty of solitude even during height of tourist season. What I disliked: Very little to complain about. Seems like there are fewer markers than 15 years ago. Comments: As I once read in a trail guide, "Natural areas possess hazards not encountered in everyday life." If you understand what that means, you will love the Porkies. If you don't, you won't, just stick to the few overlooks accessible by auto. Submitted by: MJM from: Holland, MI Date submitted: Oct 22, 2003
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Trail Name: Porcupine Wilderness State Park I have hiked there: Once I last hiked there in: July, 2002 Trails that I hiked: Escarpment Favorite trails: Escarpment Best time to go: spring, summer, fall Trail marking: Very good Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 4.5 stars What I liked: Some great vistas, trail well marked. What I disliked: Comments: This is a fairly difficult trail because of the hills, and roots in the trail. Submitted by: ERS from: Gaylord, Michigan Date submitted: July 25, 2003
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Trail Name: Porcupine Wilderness State Park I have hiked there: Once I last hiked there in: Sept, 2002 Trails that I hiked: Escarpment Trail
Little Carp Trail Favorite trails: Escarpment Trail Best time to go: late summer and early fall Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: The trail has some of the most beautiful scenery in the Midwest. The view of Lake of the Clouds from the Escarpment is breathtaking. What I disliked: Comments: there were signs of bears Submitted by: Bill Young from: Williamston, MI Date submitted: Feb 4, 2003
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Area name: Porcupine Wilderness State Park Times hiked: Once Date last hiked: July, 2001 Trails hiked: Escarpment, Big Carp, Cross Trail, Little Carp,and the North and South Mirror Lake Trails. Favourite trails: Escarpment Best time to go: Trail marking: Fair Trail maintenance: Very good Rating: 5 stars What I liked: Scenery, and layout were great. Able to make many different loop combinatios. What I disliked: Nothing Comments: Watch out for the bears. Submitted by: JJ from: Detroit Date submitted: May 16, 2002
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