Porcupine Mountains Backpacking: Three Days on a Lake Superior Loop
One wilderness park, old-growth, ridgelines & Lake Superior, in the western UP.
Three days backpacking the Porkies in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula: the Escarpment Trail above Lake of the Clouds, the Big Carp River waterfalls, Summit Peak, and the Lake Superior shore.
“I’ve requested to book a Chain Lakes Loop guide on ExplorOFF, and it was the best idea ever! I highly recommend going with their guided option since you get a real human connection on the trail and don’t have to worry about a thing. Yulia was great to talk to!”
10 stops on a real mapEvery stop pinned in order→Porcupine Mountains: every stop pinned in order.
Lake of the Clouds, the Escarpment & Lake Superior · Upper Peninsula
Every stop on this trip, in order, opens as one driving route in the Google Maps app. No copying addresses across one at a time.
Porcupine Mountains in photos: 5 of the stops.
Plan and book your 3 days in Porcupine Mountains, one step at a time
How 3 days in Porcupine Mountains split up
Plan 3 days for Porcupine Mountains. Total distance: ~25 mi. Difficulty: Moderate. Park pass: Rec Passport. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, the Porkies to anyone who has been, sprawls across nearly 60,000 acres of Michigan's western Upper Peninsula on the shore of Lake Superior. It protects one of the largest old-growth northern hardwood forests left in the United States, a tangle of virgin maple, hemlock, and yellow birch laced with rivers, waterfalls, and low ancient mountains.
Day 1: Lake of the Clouds & the Escarpment Trail
4 stops · Day one
Day 2: Big Carp River waterfalls down to Lake Superior
3 stops · Day two
Day 3: Summit Peak tower & the Presque Isle River falls
3 stops · Day three
Lake of the Clouds & the Escarpment Trail
Get your Recreation Passport and backcountry permit sorted at the visitor center, then drive to the Lake of the Clouds Overlook at the end of South Boundary Road. This is the single most photographed view in Michigan: a long blue lake cradled in old-growth forest far below, walled in by the Porcupine ridgeline. Soak it in from the paved overlook before you shoulder your pack.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
Drive from~1.5 hr · fuel up · grab supplies · DriveThe Porkies sit in Michigan's far western Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior. Plan on about 1.5 hours from Houghton County Airport (CMX) or roughly an hour from Ironwood. Pick up your Michigan Recreation Passport, fuel, and any last supplies in Silver City or Ontonagon, since there is no store deep in the park.
- Lake of the Clouds Overlook
The iconic Porkies view · ViewpointDrive to the Lake of the Clouds Overlook at the end of South Boundary Road, a short paved walk to the single most photographed view in Michigan: a long blue lake cradled in old-growth forest far below, walled in by the Porcupine ridgeline. Soak it in before you shoulder your pack and start the ridge.
- Escarpment Trail
~4 mi one way · cliff-top ridge · HikeSet out on the Escarpment Trail (about 4 miles one way), the finest ridge walk in the park, riding open cliff tops directly above Lake of the Clouds past Cloud Peak and Cuyahoga Peak. It is fully exposed, so save it for a clear day and take in the lake and the Big Carp River valley below you the whole way.
Curtis Abert / CC BY 2.0Backcountry site near the Big Carp RiverReserved via Michigan DNR · lodgeDrop off the escarpment to a reserved backcountry site or rustic cabin near the Big Carp River for your first night in the wilderness. Dispersed sites, cabins, and yurts are all booked through the Michigan DNR reservation system, and the cabins go far ahead for fall-color weekends.
Big Carp River waterfalls down to Lake Superior
Today you follow the Big Carp River Trail (about 9 miles), the heart of a Porkies backpacking trip, as it descends the river valley through deep old-growth forest. The trail strings together one waterfall after another, including Shining Cloud Falls, the largest on the river, with the water dropping over dark rock between mossy hemlocks. It is rugged, rooty Upper Peninsula hiking, so take it slow and watch your footing on the wet rock.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Big Carp River Trail
~9 mi · waterfalls · old-growth · HikeFollow the Big Carp River Trail (about 9 miles), the heart of a Porkies backpacking trip, as it descends the river valley through deep old-growth forest past one waterfall after another, including Shining Cloud Falls, the largest on the river. It is rugged, rooty UP hiking, so take it slow and watch your footing on the wet rock.
Mouth of the Big Carp RiverWhere the river meets Lake Superior · ViewpointThe river delivers you to the Lake Superior shoreline at the mouth of the Big Carp, where the Big Carp River Trail meets the Lake Superior Trail along the great lake itself. Walk a stretch of cobble beach with the biggest freshwater lake in the world stretching to the horizon.
Curtis Abert / CC BY 2.0Lakeshore campsite on Lake SuperiorReserved via Michigan DNR · lodgeCamp at a reserved lakeshore site near the mouth of the Big Carp and fall asleep to the sound of Superior's surf, one of the best camps in the park. Filter your water, treat the lake like the ocean in a blow, and reserve the site ahead through the Michigan DNR.
Summit Peak tower & the Presque Isle River falls
On your last morning, climb to Summit Peak, the highest point in the park, where a boardwalk and stairs lead to an observation tower with a sweeping view over the whole rolling old-growth wilderness, out to Lake Superior, and on a clear day to the Apostle Islands of Wisconsin. The short Government Peak Trail and the Summit Peak area give you a final taste of the high country before you hike out.
Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.
- Summit Peak observation tower
Highest point · boardwalk + tower · HikeClimb to Summit Peak, the highest point in the park, where a boardwalk and stairs lead to an observation tower with a sweeping view over the whole rolling old-growth wilderness, out to Lake Superior, and on a clear day to the Apostle Islands of Wisconsin. Save it for a clear morning.
- Presque Isle River falls
Manabezho, Manido & Nawadaha · ViewpointAt the far west end of the park, a loop of boardwalks and stairs links three powerful waterfalls on the Presque Isle River, Manabezho, Manido, and Nawadaha Falls, as the river churns through a gorge of ancient rock to Lake Superior. It is a drive from Lake of the Clouds, so plan it as a separate stop.
Stay in Silver City or OntonagonLodging, fuel & food near the park · lodgeBase your last night in Silver City right by the park entrance or in Ontonagon a short drive up the Lake Superior shore, both with lodging, fuel, and food. There is no gas or store deep in the park, so fill up here before the drive out to Houghton (CMX) or Ironwood.
Sort where you sleep each night
Most nights on this trip are in a tent. Reserve any campsite the route needs, and the room either side of it if you want one.
Tell us your dates and we will do the calling: the rooms either side, and the guided days in between. Nothing is charged and you decide at the end.
Request to bookWhat to pack for Porcupine Mountains
Built from this route, not a generic list. Every line says why it is here.
On every day of this trip
On your feet
Because you are sleeping out 2 nights
For the 1 night under a roof
For the drive to the trailhead
What we actually learned in the Porkies.
Buy a Michigan Recreation Passport
Every vehicle entering the state park needs a Michigan Recreation Passport, or a daily vehicle pass. Add it when you renew your plates, buy it online through the Michigan DNR, or pick one up at the park entrance and visitor center.
Reserve backcountry sites, cabins & yurts early
Porkies backpacking uses dispersed backcountry sites plus rustic cabins and yurts that you reserve through the Michigan DNR reservation system. The cabins are coveted and book months ahead for fall-color weekends, so lock in your dates as early as you can.
Time it for fall color, late September to early October
The Porkies are famous for autumn color, usually peaking late September into early October across one of the largest old-growth hardwood forests in the country. Late spring through October is the backpacking window; winter buries the trails in lake-effect snow.
Pack a head net for early-summer bugs
Running the Escarpment Trail loop in June or July exposes you to heavy, painful Upper Peninsula blackfly swarms, worst near the rivers and old-growth interior. Bring a head net, repellent, and a tent with good netting. Better still, shift the trip to late September or early October to hit peak fall foliage while the bug hatches die off.
Expect rugged, rooty, signal-free trails
Porkies trails are remote, rooty, and often muddy, with stream crossings that can run high after rain. Cell service is nearly nonexistent in the backcountry, so carry a paper backcountry map from the visitor center and tell someone your route and exit day.
Base in Silver City or Ontonagon
There is no gas or store deep in the park. Silver City sits right by the entrance and Ontonagon is a short drive up the Lake Superior shore, both with lodging, fuel, and food. Fly into Houghton (CMX) or Ironwood and drive in.
Porcupine Mountains: questions before you go
Porcupine Mountains hiking: the questions people ask most.
The classic Porcupine Mountains backpacking trip links the Escarpment Trail above Lake of the Clouds (about 4 miles of cliff-top ridge), the Big Carp River Trail down through old-growth forest and waterfalls to Lake Superior (about 9 miles), and a stretch of the Lake Superior Trail along the shore. Most hikers add Summit Peak and the Presque Isle River falls. It works as a 2 to 4 day loop depending on how many backcountry nights you reserve.
Three days is the sweet spot for backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains. That covers the Escarpment Trail above Lake of the Clouds, the full Big Carp River waterfall descent, and a night on the Lake Superior shore, which is the route this itinerary follows. With only two days you can still do an overnight on the escarpment and river. With four or more, add a layover day, the Mirror Lake area, or more of the Lake Superior Trail. Whatever the length, reserve your backcountry sites through the Michigan DNR before you arrive.
Yes. Backcountry camping in the Porcupine Mountains uses dispersed sites plus rustic cabins and yurts, all reserved through the Michigan DNR reservation system, and you need a backcountry permit for overnight trips. You also need a Michigan Recreation Passport, or a daily vehicle pass, to enter the state park. Pick up your permit and a backcountry map at the visitor center.
Late spring through October is the backpacking season. Fall color, usually late September into early October, is what the Porkies are most famous for and is the most popular time, so reserve early. Early summer brings blackflies and mosquitoes, so pack a head net. Winter is for cross-country and downhill skiing, with deep lake-effect snow on the trails rather than backpacking.
The Escarpment Trail is widely considered the best hike in the Porcupine Mountains: about 4 miles one way along open cliff tops directly above Lake of the Clouds, with the lake and the Big Carp River valley spread out below you the whole way. It is exposed, so save it for a clear day. Many hikers start from the Lake of the Clouds Overlook and walk the ridge from there.
The Lake of the Clouds Overlook is a short paved walk from a parking lot at the end of South Boundary Road and is the single most photographed view in Michigan. For a longer experience, hike the Escarpment Trail along the cliffs above the lake, or drop into the basin on the Big Carp River and Lake of the Clouds trails on a backpacking loop.
The Big Carp River Trail strings together a series of waterfalls, including Shining Cloud Falls, the largest on the river, as it descends to Lake Superior. At the far west end of the park, a boardwalk loop along the Presque Isle River links three powerful falls: Manabezho, Manido, and Nawadaha. The Presque Isle area is a drive from Lake of the Clouds, so plan it as a separate stop.
It is moderate but genuinely rugged. The mountains are low, but the trails are rooty, often muddy, and have stream crossings that can run high after rain, plus steep pitches off the escarpment and along the river. There is almost no cell service in the backcountry, so carry a paper map, sturdy boots, and water you can filter, and budget extra time over the mileage.
The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior, near Silver City and Ontonagon. The closest airports are Houghton County (CMX), about 1.5 hours away, and Ironwood, about an hour away. Most visitors drive in and base in Silver City right by the entrance or in Ontonagon up the shore, since there is no fuel or store deep inside the park.
Tell us your dates and we ask a local guide who works this area what they can do on your days and what it costs. If nobody is free, we tell you. Asking is free: no card, no deposit, and nothing is held until you say yes.
Pick how you want to go.
Same 3-day route. Same 6 stops.
- 2 nights, numbered backcountry sites along the route
- $44
- A private local guide, campsites booked
- Included
- Airport pickup and every drive
- Included
- Park, permit and campsite fees paid
- Included
- All the gear and the trail meals
- Included
Written and walked by Yulia Vasilyeva · Co-founder · Lead planner and guide
Three years leading guided hikes in the Pacific Northwest, rated 5.0 by 20+ verified guests, and she builds every custom itinerary herself. Based in Seattle.
Last checked September 2026
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All reviews are from verified guests. ★★★★★ 5.0 average from 20+ bookings.
"Felt like going out with a really knowledgeable friend who just happens to know everything about the area. No awkward tour-guide energy, just a magnificent day."
"Yulia is an incredible guide. She knew every trail, every viewpoint, and exactly how to pace the day for our group. The photos she took of us were stunning. 100% booking again."
"I was visiting Seattle solo and this was the best decision I made on the trip. Yulia picked me up, had snacks, and took us to a trail I never would have found on my own. Absolute must-do."
"We did this as a couple's trip and it was perfect. Yulia adapted everything to us, our pace, our interests, our photo obsession. The mountain views were unreal."
"Phenomenal experience. Yulia has deep local knowledge and a real passion for the outdoors. She went out of her way to show us the hidden gems tourists never see. Will remember this forever."
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