Providing 83.61 sq. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor Crosscut Cabin Trail is a 1 mile less popular blue singletrack trail located near White Pine Michigan. Its an out and back with a few trailheads so you can still experience a portion of the hike even if you dont want to walk the whole thing. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park includes 60,000 acres of pine, hemlock and hardwood. Its 5.2 miles round-trip and will take you from the highest point in the park to a quiet lake and scenic waterway. Started to sprinkle about halfway to the car. Continue walking a little further on the path that brought you to the cabin. They must remain quiet and on no more than a six-foot leash. [5] The Artist-in-Residence program at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is open to artists and artisans whose work can be influenced by this unique northern wilderness setting. The first stop for visitors just arriving at the Porcupine Mountains should be the park\'s impressive Wilderness Visitor Center, located a half mile south of M-107 on South Boundary Road. Porcupine Mountains Recognition: Legally Dedicated Wilderness Area National Natural Landmark Size: 47,671 acres Location: Ontonagon & Gogebic Counties Management: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Activities: Hiking, camping, cabins, hunting, fishing, research. and reservations. There are 18 rustic cabins and a few yurts located inside the park. For a map or complete description to all the trails order Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park: A Backcountry Guide for Hikers, Backpackers, Campers & Winter Visitors by Jim DuFresne from the eshop: Cross Trail heads south from the posted junction with the Lake Superior Trail on the west bank of the Big Carp River and immediately passes the Big Carp Four Bunk Cabin. Soon the mouse made an appearance and stared at me from behind the woodstove. You can't check in to your cabin before 3PM, so we figured that . Don't forget to visit Downtown Ironwood and experience its charm for yourself. 420 Friendly for 21&up. Day 4 Destination: Mirror Lake 2-bunk Cabin, Took some time after breakfast to collect some dry firewood for in the cabin as well as split some logs a previous user had left into woodstove-sized pieces. Finally made it to Mirror Lake and took the trail back to the cabin. The cabin opened up for reservations this week, with overnights starting May 15. There is one stream crossing, but it is on a wide wooden bridge. Learn how your comment data is processed. Mirror Lake Bunk is featured here. The Lily Pond Trail itself is 2.5 miles long and gains 643 ft. of elevation along the journey. If you combine this loop with the Little Carp River Trail and the Beaver Creek trail, you will create an entire loop, but if you decide you only want to . TIP: If you are trying to avoid people, head straight over to East River Trail and make it an out and back instead. East-West Trails Loop2.7miles Day hike Campsites include a fire ring and a bear pole. Lovely cabin with a fully functional kitchen; Silver City (from USD 150) Show all photos. Refrigerator/Microwave/ect Plan for 3 4 hours. 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. But since there are usually few people on the trail, chances of spotting wild Cross Trail is probably the least traveled route in the park. Downpour began just as I stepped under the rear lift-gate! by travel and outdoor writer Jim DuFresne! Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to the road condition. But they are a group of small mountains nonetheless and in a section of one of the oldest mountain chains in the world. While there are plenty of impressive places to experience fall color in Michigan, Porcupine Mountain State Park is one of the best. Equestrian trails are located nearby, and a small pasture near the barn is available for cabin renter's stock. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park - entire length of Lake Superior park shoreline. FULL DISCLOSURE: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Phone: 906-884-4230 E-Mail: millers@up.net. 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. The cabin will need to be cleaned and all trash carried out. Section 17 Cabin lies just across the river while Greenstone Falls Cabin is a quarter mile to the west. Do this early some cabins are reserved up to a year ahead. Historical Museums (Aieeee!!!) The trail contains ridges and old-growth forests and is considered to be a moderately difficult hike. All vehicles must have either a $6 daily pass or a $11annual state park Recreational Pass. Rustic Cabins & Yurts. Trail conditions were also great with not much mud until after the first river crossing. We stayed at the Porcupine Mountains Union Bay Campground and the hosts made it one of our favorite stays during our van camping trip. 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. Porcupine Mountains State Park was established in 1945 to protect this large stand of old-growth forest, much of "maple-hemlock" type. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is most popular between May and October when temperatures are comfortable and theres no snow on the ground. Most of these trails made for unpleasant hiking muddy, flooded, thick waist-deep vegetation, and aggressively buggy. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. During the winter time, cross-country skis, snowmobiles, or snowshoes are required for the last 2 miles to the cabin. Discover and book the best cabin rentals in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan. There are 20 sites along the Lake Superior Trail, with seven more on the shores of Mirror Lake, five on Lake of the Clouds and 12 stretched along the Little Carp River Trail. Swimming out back on private beach The elevation at the cabin is 6,400 feet. The cabins are equipped with standard furniture including a wood stove, bunk beds, mattresses, tables, chairs, cookware, utensils, and an outhouse. Local Trail Association Michigan Mountain Bike Association Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support trail development & maintenance. In 1972, Michigan passed the Wilderness and Natural Areas Act. Backpacking Trip, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan, USA Packed up (again pleased to not have to pack out anyone elses garbage or food left in the cabin) and hit the trail. It has 50 rustic sites near the river with vault toilets and hand pumps for water. This is one of the newer cabins for rent inside Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the UP of Michigan. There are numerous other waterfalls within the Porcupine Mountains State Parks interior. You'll find private cabins on farms, country estates and private land. This private Northwoods style home only has one neighbor and is located 10 minutes from the spectacular Porcupine Mountains. We're David & Angela (Dang), a married couple obsessed with travel. Its the only modern campground in the state park with water, electric, flush toilets, and hot showers. Make sure to check out another favorite of ours, Keweenaw Peninsula in the Fall, it is close by and can be combined with a Porcupine Mountains trip. Someone had left three traps, so I went ahead and set them and went to have a lie-down. The Cotten Cabin was added to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park's backcountry lodging offerings this year. Other attractions include the Summit Peak observation tower, Porcupine Mountains Ski Area, an 18-hole disc golf course and much more. There is also a room devoted to,the diverse wildlife in the park and a small theater where,multi-slide presentations are repeated through out the day. You've earned it! If there is availability after you arrive, you can get a permit for an open backcountry campsite that day. Day 1 of 3. I think there's signage that indicates that you can ski to the left (probably it's a ski trail across the water in the winter). The trail is wide, like a fire access road, and it climbs continuously but is not hard hiking. With more than 90 trails, there are many options to get out and explore. Backcountry reservations (www.midnrreservations.com; 1-800-44PARKS) are available six months in advance for May 15 through Oct. 14 to 72 hours before arrival at the park. Brad P. (yes, it is open in Covid era). Ski Storage The Wisconsin State Park System provides places for outdoor recreation and for learning about nature and conservation. Its already booking up quickly.. Backpackers on the Escarpment Trail. Within a half mile the wet lowlying woods turns into a grassy marsh-like opening before Cross Trail returns to the woods. Be prepared if planning a visit from mid-May to late July because it is black fly season and they are not only annoying but bite as well. Only the east side is generator-friendly. Didnt sleep very well due to a combination of exhaustion/general hiking pain and visions of mice dancing on my face. Just north of Wilsall, turn northeast onto Shields River Road. $155 per night. Fully refundable Reserve now, pay when you stay. $166. Cable TV & VCR/DVD The trail eventually becomes relentlessly uphill, except for the two stream valleys you cross on the way up. There are 4 private trips. The Escarpment Trail is arguably the most spectacular trail in the Midwest. Public Tracks There are no published trips for this hike. The ski trails here were pretty good (clear and dry) so I made better time. Guests can drive to the cabin in the summer, but a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended due to road conditions. The hike in from the Union Spring Trail trailhead seems to be about 2.25 miles. North Mirror Lake Trail 3.8milesBackpack/day hike Spent. I also have a goal of hiking all of the trials in the park. 14 mi from Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. 554 ft Elev Gain Overview This is a moderate one way trail in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. And in the other direction, the Big Carp River weaving through the forest along with the pretty bridge crossing the water. 888-784-7328. At roughly 60,000 acres, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigans largest state park and one of the few remaining large wilderness areas in the Midwest. All rights reserved (About Us). Lovely rustic retreat with views of Big Powderhorn Mountain, Gogebic County (from USD 114) Show all photos Summit Peak Tower Trail0.5mileShort trail Reservations and more information can be found at midnrreservations.com by clicking on Backcountry under the Camping tab. Stock is not allowed near the cabin or inside the cabin fence.. Thankfully, very few mosquitoes at the cabin and no gnats! Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Great Lakes beach safety. Coordinates: 42.168382,-114.260859. Your accommodation will be based in White Pine. Great report! Because the cabin is off on a path that most people don't hike, it is very secluded, unlike the Mirror Lake 4 and 8 cabins where people are basically hiking past your door all the time. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The National Library of Australia's Copies Direct service lets you purchase higher quality, larger sized photocopies or electronic copies of newspapers pages. There will be a split in the path, the main fork goes to the right; a smaller branch to the left (toward the water). In all of the rooms there are either 1 queen or 2 full-size beds. All except one require a bit of hiking (1 - 4 miles) to get to them. As you stand overlooking the untouched tree-covered land, itll amaze you that such an area still exists in the Midwest. The center is the best source of maps and trail information on the backcountry. Evening turned cool with breezes off the lake. It's TINY -- about 10 x 13, with two beds (bunk), a small woodstove, a cupboard for dishes and a small shelf for doing shelf-stuff, like food preparation. Filtered some water and then went to move my car from the Union Spring trailhead to the parking area for the Union Mine trail. The nightly fee is $125; no pets are allowed. Get the amount of space that is right for you. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently acquired the cabin and about six acres of land that had comprised one of the state parks last private property in-holdings. MORE INFO: On the East trail, you can take a short detour and hike out to Lake Superior. DO NOT BURN PROVIDED FIREWOOD FOR OUTDOOR FIRES, EVER, AS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. Reviewed Date: June 2011. July and August have mild temperatures in the upper 70s, but near the lake can be much cooler so wear layers. 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation. At 400 sq ft of living, it comfortably sleeps 4 adults but can sleep 6. Enjoy the breathtaking sunsets, strolls along the beach, swimming, kayaking or making your evenings memorable by sitting around the fire pit getting lost in the flames. by travel and outdoor writer Jim DuFresne! 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. 1. Awoke to clearing skies. Looks like a great trip. I was so tired after a long day of hiking that I napped after dinner and missed most of the sunset over Lake Superior. Photo 4, Rocky shoreline of Lake Superior. ft) of living space in Silver City, this lovely cabin is only about a 15-minute drive from . 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