Ten years after our first visit, we returned to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park today. Rising up from the southern coast of Lake Superior, about 15 miles west of Ontonagon, these weathered mountains offer scenic views, excellent day hikes and the opportunity for wilderness backpacking. Wolves, moose and black bear are among the wild residents of this 60,000 acre Park.
This morning, we chose the Escarpment Trail for our first hike; the most popular trail in the Park, it yields spectacular views of the Big Carp River Valley, including the Lake of the Clouds (see photo). Undulating along the north rim of the valley, the route leads to several rocky overlooks.
Our second hike was a gradual climb on the Union Spring Trail, which follows and crosses the Union River up through its valley, on the east edge of the Park. We set our sights on a beaver-created wetland (photo), about 1.5 miles from the trailhead. Other hikes are planned for tomorrow.
