Cable TV & VCR/DVD From 22 house rentals to 9 cabin rentals, find the best place to stay with your family and friends to discover the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park area. Hiking, fishing, and boating are a few of the activities available here. Welcome to the Michigan DNR's official Facebook page for the. A Recreation Passport is required to visit all Michigan state parks. Except for Sleeper Lake State Park and Holly Recreation Area, rustic cabins do not have electricity, and renters are encouraged to bring their own cookware, bedding and lanterns. from. Dates Guests Guests AdultsAges 16 or above ChildrenAges 3-15 Any pets? The DNR estimates the Union Bay East yurt is about a 200-yard walk from parking in winter, but it was longer than that, closer to half a mile. This guide will go over the best time to visit, lodging options, must-do hiking trails, the best waterfalls, and frequently asked questions below. We camped at Porcupine Mountains - Union Bay Modern Campground in a Fifth Wheel. These three parks, along with Fayette State Historic Park and Proud Lake State Park, also offer groomed networks of cross country ski trails adjacent to or near the modern lodges. My three friends and Ihad lucked outon mild, but snowy, weather during our weekend trip. - Dog Friendly There was a clean outhouse not too far away, and a bear box right outside our door. Depending on which type of trails are being used and how many people are in a group, Michigan State Parks offer five different types of winter lodging to meet the needs of diverse types of users. This year we reserved 2-nights with the ambition to see more of the park. 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. Urban, a park interpreter who leads snowshoe hikes,toldour group of about a dozenthat if the weather were clear, we would be able to see Lake Superior. 412 S. Boundary Road. The Porkies are set on the southwest shore of Lake Superior, a short drive from Bruce Crossing. E is . Disclaimer: All reservations are subject to that specific lodging establishments cancellation policy. It is the highest point in the park and the observation deck has outstanding views especially in the fall! Yes, even though they are not the type of snow-covered mountains you typically think of. Our goal is to highlight amazing locations,share our journeys andpost our favorite travel resources. But firstwe took in our cozy abode for the weekend. In the summer, she said,dense foliage partially obscures the view, which is why its important to see your favorite places in all seasons there's always something new to see. Its the largest wilderness area in Michigan at 92 square miles and has 87 miles of trails. Campsites and cabins can book up fast over summer and holiday weekends, so reserve at least three months in advance. Many of these parks allow snowmobiling and all allow cross country skiing. All Rights Reserved. There are many options available at Michigan State Parks and Recreation Areas, including: cabins, yurts, safari-style tents, or lodges and cottages with many of the amenities of home. Both snowmobilers and cross country skiers can easily access the mini-cabin at North Higgins Lake State Park and Fort Wilkins State Historic Park. Do not feed them and keep a safe distance if you run into one. The host, Sally, is awesome to work with and communication was quick and helpful. The last guided snowshoe hikesof this winterarescheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Feb.15 and22. Plus, itwas a more luxurioustrip thanmy past backpacking adventures there, thanks to a yurt we had rented. 2023 Michigan Economic Development Corporation. State Route 321. Contact Chelsey Lewis atclewis@journalsentinel.com. Before it got dark, we foraged in the nearby woods for campfire wood. Reservations and more information can be found at. - Jotul woodstove with wood supplied The stove was a luxury, but it could also be an unwieldy beast, turning the yurt into a raging inferno that forced us to open the door for relief. All except one require a bit of hiking (1 4 miles) to get to them. If you havenot visited the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Silver City, Michigan, make this theyear for your Michigan vacation! -- FEATURES -- Black bears live in the Porcupine Mountains, so keep food and garbage secure in camping and day-use areas. Another must-do hike is the Summit Peak Observation Tower. Three of these rustic cabins are open all year long. campgrounds of Voyageurs No electric but outlets in bathroom. However, by mid-February though conditions were ideal - for downhill skiing, cross country, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. No running water or electricity is provided. Required fields are marked *. 9/27/10, 4:15 AM Anonymous said. The cabins are equipped with standard furniture including a wood stove, bunk beds, mattresses, tables, chairs, cookware, utensils, and an outhouse. We were traveling thru the Porcupine Mountains and drove by Union Bay at night and got somes cool sunset views. Camping & Hiking On March 25, you can step into spring with Porcupine Pat at Sweet Arrow Lake. Free Wednesday pricing (winter only) is reflected in the AVERAGE PER NIGHT COST (WHICH INCLUDES WEDNESDAY) and is already factored in to the final price. This is one of my favorite places to stay in the upper peninsula of Michigan. We're David & Angela (Dang), a married couple obsessed with travel. View photos, research land, search and filter more than 1 listings | Land and Farm Reservations for Michigan campgrounds, including the yurts, are accepted six months in advance. The cabin opened up for reservations this week, with overnights starting May 15. Your email address will not be published. Wood for an outside fire must be collected from down sources. Because of its hilly topography, 35,000 acres of the park weren't. The house was very well appointed and very well stocked. With more than 30 parks offering winter lodging facilities, ranging from rustic cabins to fully furnished lodges, it has never been easier for winter recreation enthusiasts to enjoy their outdoor pursuits while staying on or close to the trails they are using. They provide one of the best places to stay for a western UP snowmobile trip. The easy stroll will take you to a pier that looks out over the crystal blue water. It is also nice sometimes to have the flexibility of having a home base and then exploring the surrounding area via snow shoes or trail shoes without having to carry gear. I also cant wait to visit the porkies in the summer and check out the iconic Lake of the Clouds! One of our most popular camping options. We had our sightsset on a less ambitious trek, a 2-mile, guided off-trailsnowshoe hike down the mountain. Your accommodation will be based in White Pine. Author: Karel Hayes Publisher: ISBN: 9780892727506 Size: 34.90 MB Format: PDF, ePub, Mobi View: 1997 Get Book Disclaimer: This site does not store any files on its server.We only index and link to content provided by other sites. 2023 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved. The Ojibwe looked at the tree-covered hills mountainous by Midwestern standards and thought they resembled the spiny back of a porcupine. Tunnel of Trees Sunsets are phenomenol and is really pretty location and Park is super cool check it out Swimming out back on private beach Details: WebHome Porcupine Mountains Yurt Camping: Part 2. The park hasthreeyurts available for rent in the winter, two of which, Union Bay West and East,are close to parking (the third, Little Union River,is a challenging 3-mile trek). It had been a mild winter for the area, Urban said later around a campfire at a warming shelter along the lantern-lit trail. The park provides wood for use with the stove only. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 10 h 59 min to complete. The Little Union River yurt is not for beginners when there is snow on the ground, as it is a 3-mile ski or snowshoe from parking. 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. Please note that the DNR map mileages are in kilometers, not miles! Winter brings snow, XC skiers, snow, alpine skiers, snow, snowshoers, ice, and snow. The house was cozy with plenty of room for our family of 4. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, we offer the true four season vacation experience you deserve. Four of the parks 18 backcountry cabins are available for rent in the winter, with similar amenities to the yurts. The parks Visitor Center is closed in the winter, so you must check in at the Park Headquarters,33303 Headquarters Road, Ontonagon, Mich., which is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (note that its in the eastern time zone) and is about 340 miles north of Milwaukee. This is a great base for touring the area. Get the amount of space that is right for you, Kick off your hiking boots at these rustic lodgings, Spaces that are more than just a place to sleep. We spent some quality time exploring the park on our two-month road trip making our way around Lake Michigan and it was one of our favorite places. Reservations would need to be made well in advance. Snowmobiles can be ridden directly to the brand-new camper cabin at Van Riper State Park, which is perched on the shoreline of Lake Michigamme, while the camper cabin at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park is located near a snowmobile trail and cross country ski trails. All Hipcampers should review and adhere to these standards for safety, trip preparation, and respect in order to uphold Hipcamps most important value: leave it better., By continuing below, you agree to Hipcamps. . The warm weather had left a lot of open water on Lake Superior, which helped fuel the near-constant snow we experienced over the weekend. I think it would be great! Mini-cabins also are located at the following state parks with networks of groomed cross country ski trails: P.J. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. It was about a 0.25 mile trek to the yurt, which was nestled on a small bluff overlooking Lake Superior. There are 16 rustic cabins scattered throughout the park available for rental via reservations. The ride is freeifyoure joining the guided hike, or $7 if you want to go up and snowshoe on your own. The yurts can sleep four people and are equipped with bunk beds, mattresses, a wood stove, fire circle, cookware, utensils, and an outhouse. Cancellation policies will be enforced. The parks developed campgrounds are open from May through October, with first-come, first-served camping only in November. Youll take various boardwalks along the ridgeline where youll see Lake of the Clouds snuggled amid a valley of trees in one direction. BWCAW. Porcupine Mountains State Park reservations can be made six months in advance and are highly recommended. Click our photo tolearn more. The only modern campsites are located at Union Bay Campground, which has a Tiny House for . Aconnector trail links the two Union Bay yurts with the Superior Loop trail, which dumped us onM-107 just east of the entrance to the ski area. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is most popular between May and October when temperatures are comfortable and theres no snow on the ground. Potential renters should check with the individual park for the included amenities and prices. The Porcupine Mountains is 10.8 mi (17.4 km) away from this property. As you stand overlooking the untouched tree-covered land, itll amaze you that such an area still exists in the Midwest. World-renowned Mount Assiniboine, at an elevation of 3,618m, is situated along the continental divide near the southeast corner of the park, and has defined mountain splendour in the Canadian Rockies for over 100 years. without driving all that way Services and facilities include free parking, a fridge and a kitchen. Lake Superior bashed against the shore below, which was covered in ice. We have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp and are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper community be inclusive. Tracy Ridge. On our first Yurt experience, we spent only 1-night, and we both agreed that this was definitely not enough time. The lantern-lit ski, snowshoe and hike is held from 6 to 9 p.m. every Saturday in January and February. Shewas right. Yurts,portablecircular dwellingswith a lattice structure covered in felt or fabric, have been used in Central Asia, primarily Mongolia, for thousands of years. 420 Friendly for 21&up. Gaze out at the night skies before bed and awaken in the morning . - Washer/Dryer Ready to deepen your love of our amazing planet? State Park Campground Packs for iPod, iTunes, Windows Media Player Don't forget to visit Downtown Ironwood and experience its charm for yourself.