The leaves were just starting to change on our visit and it was raining, yet it is another favorite. The cabin sits on a hillside overlooking the grasslands of Shields Valley. Porcupine Cabin sits in the foothills of the Crazy Mountains at an elevation of 6,400 feet. They provide bunk beds, cooking gear, wood stove, axe/saw, an outhouse, and fire pit with picnic tables. Dates Guests Guests AdultsAges 16 or above ChildrenAges 3-15 Any pets? Overlook Trail Loop3.5mile Day hike According to Michigan DNR, the federal government recognized the area as a National Natural Landmark. State parks, forests, trails and recreation areas see more than 20 million visits a year. The park includes a picnic, camping, and parking area. They'll allow you a view of the mountain and the gorgeous wooded terrain they speckle. (yes, it is open in Covid era). 2-down, how many more could there be? 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). Within a half mile the wet lowlying woods turns into a grassy marsh-like opening before Cross Trail returns to the woods. The Government Peak trailhead was oddly crowded, and we were lucky to get a parking spot. Its 5.2 miles round-trip and will take you from the highest point in the park to a quiet lake and scenic waterway. Got up to deal with it and another trap went off before I could get there. Most of these trails made for unpleasant hiking - muddy, flooded, thick waist-deep vegetation, and aggressively buggy. We will receive a commission at no additional charge to you if you book through our link. Camping in the Porkies is an adventure, whether you prefer a forest yurt, rustic cabin, modern RV site, or backcountry camping in the heart of the woods. 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. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park offers some of the best hiking and backpacking trails in the upper Midwest (ranked #2 by Silent Sports Magazine). Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Trail Map 2nd Edition, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 5th Edition. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Those valleys were real heartbreakers I hated losing elevation only to have to regain it again. It includes a table and chairs and a wood burning stove for heating. gitche gumee cabin porcupine mountains. You ascend more than 80 feet to the top of a bluff and are rewarded with a fine view of the Big Carp flowing through a series of rapids far below. Coordinates: 42.168382,-114.260859. The nightly cost to camp is $20 for up to 6 people. Brad P. 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The half-pear prints of whitetail deer will be the most common tracks seen. The hike starts off on a gravel road that's closed to cars, but it quickly transitions to a footpath after you cross the bridge over Little Carp River. This act gave the park the new designation of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Cabin rental from 155 dollars per night for up to 4 guests with an excellent rating of 100% based on 466 reviews. Foot trails, cross-country ski trails, mountain bike trails. The trails are used by snowshoers and cross-country skiers in the winter. Winter spring summer or fall Porcupine Mountains Rustic Cabins provide a close-up view of the awesome Porkies the affectionate moniker Yoopers give to this small Michigan range. A state park Recreation Passportor daily vehicle permit is required to enter the park and leave a car at the trailhead. Don't forget to visit Downtown Ironwood and experience its charm for yourself. The 60,000-acre park is Michigan's largest state park and one of the largest wilderness areas in the Midwest. Amenities 13 rooms and 5 cabins available. Its a good hike to get inside the park. Scenic Overlook Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Park. from. Total number of participants: 6 youth (ages 11-16) and 2 adults Cost for members: For a map or a complete description to the trails order Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: A Backcountry Guide for Hikers, Backpackers, Campers & Winter Visitors by Jim DuFresne from the eshop: Click on highlighted trails for the individual trail page: Lake Superior Trail17.1miles Backpack Some of the cabins have nearby backpacking campsites, for example at Mirror Lake and near the mouths of the Big and Little Carp Rivers. Firewood is available for indoor use during winter as long as supplies last. Cottages on Lake Superior. 4.5/5 Wonderful! Directions: Just outside of Wakefield on Hwy M28 take Cty Rd 519 North up a incline. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is located west of Ontonagon in the Upper Peninsula. From . 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. Crosscut Cabin serves as a x-country ski warming hut in the winter months. 2 Kayaks and snowshoes are complimentary. It sleeps eight people. Travel eight miles until you reach the Porcupine road turn east, and go eight miles until you reach the cabin. Correction Line Trail really kicked my butt. Only the east side is generator-friendly. Those more than four inches wide indicate a good size bruin has passed through. Mirror Lake is a 5.8-miles trek along Little Carp River Trail. Gathered some wood for a small campfire and toasted myself for surviving the trip! Evening turned cool with breezes off the lake. Hiking is the most popular Porcupine Mountains things to do and theres a hiking opportunity for the novice or experienced hiker so lets talk best hiking trails. The Presque Isle River trail is dog-friendly, but you must keep them on a leash. It is open from open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ET), from mid May through mid Octoberand during the summer months it has a list of vacant cabins available for last-minute rentals. Come and join the fun! Exhausted. new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, The Lily Pond Trail itself is 2.5 miles long and gains 643 ft. of elevation along the journey. Within the Yellowstone Ranger District, refunds for weather or accessibility issues on the day of arrival or later will not be considered. They iced down in the frigid Union river as I too iced my aching body in a deeper pool in the river. 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. Thankfully, very few mosquitoes at the cabin and no gnats! Skiing & Snowmobiling Conditions: Check in time is no earlier than 4pm (eastern)* Check out time is not later than 10:00am (eastern)* Stays of seven nights or longer have first choice of location. You can't check in to your cabin before 3PM, so we figured that . Trudged along until finally reaching Trap Falls to take another break. Most of these trails made for unpleasant hiking muddy, flooded, thick waist-deep vegetation, and aggressively buggy. The view uphill from Porcupine Cabin looks west toward the Bridger Mountainss and shows the wood shed, left, and the cabin itself, right. Although this sounds like complaining that the cabin was too small, I actually liked it very much. Yes, even though they are not the type of snow-covered mountains you typically think of. FIREWOOD IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH. Marna Daley, 406-587-6703 Livingston, MT- The newly constructed Porcupine Ibex Trail on the west side of the Crazy Mountains will open to the public on October 11th, 2019, in time for the Montana Youth Hunt and general season. While eating dinner, I read the cabins logbook. | Photo by Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Finally arrived at Union River Cabin. The third is Toledo Creek that flows through a small ravine and reached at Mile 2. No pit toilets or water. I have a goal to try and stay at least 1 night in each of the cabins. The rest of the hike follows the river. 888-784-7328, Park visitors at the Lake of the Clouds scenic overlook Photo, Porcupine Mountains relief map in the visitor center Photo 3, A forest pathway at Porcupine Mountains. by travel and outdoor writer Jim DuFresne! and reservations. In addition to wild forests and lakeshores, Michigans largest state park has numerous historic copper mining sites. The Upper Peninsula is really a tremendous swath of land, and today we would see much of it: 5 hours and 250 miles from east to west, covering all but the most extreme points of the UP. Each cabin has a refrigerator, microwave, flat-screen tv, and coffee maker along with bath towels, soaps, and shampoo. Reviewed Date: June 2011. Thanks! All except one require a bit of hiking (1 4 miles) to get to them. It's a fairly shallow river. This is a pet-friendly accommodation! Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Trail Map 2nd Edition, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 5th Edition. If you ever read the words escarpment along with a hiking trail, know its going to be fantastic views. Bores lumberjack - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. 14 mi from Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The Cotten Cabin was added to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park's backcountry lodging offerings this year. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Call 4194532584 for more info. The center is the best source of maps and trail information on the backcountry. 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. Winter access requires snowshoeing, skiing or snowmobiling up to 2 miles from the end of the maintained gravel road. The trail contains ridges and old-growth forests and is considered to be a moderately difficult hike. Started to sprinkle about halfway to the car. The hiking in the park ranges from easy day hikes to a five-day backpacking loop where every night is spent in a different rustic cabin. Press J to jump to the feed. The park boasts many popular natural attractions, including Lake of the Clouds (with an accessible viewing area), the scenic Presque Isle River corridor. 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