Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Michigan / Western Upper Peninsula

Porcupine Mountains Lake Superior Trail

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (Presque Isle to M-107)

The Lake Superior Trail follows the Lake Superior shoreline of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula, from the Presque Isle River east to M-107. CopperCountry.com and Michigan Blue Magazine call it 16 miles and the park’s longest trail; Michigan TrailMaps lists it at 17.1.

Backpackers camp at reserved, numbered sites along the shore or in reservable trailside cabins. The DNR ended dispersed camping in the park in 2018.

The hike

CopperCountry.com breaks the trail into segments from west to east: Presque Isle River to Speakers Creek (2 miles), Speakers Creek to the mouth of the Little Carp River (4), the Little Carp to the Big Carp River mouth (1), the Big Carp to Lone Rock (5), and Lone Rock to M-107 (5.5). It describes the route as rugged and remote, on a rocky shoreline with many lake views, and ranks it among the park’s most challenging trails.

Hiking Project’s partial listing puts the high point at about 1,150 feet and the lake at about 600. Michigan Blue quotes a hiker summing up the park: “It’s either mountains or mudholes out here.” Its writer’s group hiked about 10 miles in heavy rain, crossing unbridged streams and muddy ground. A 2020 Backcountry Post trip writer, on a six-day loop that used the Lake Superior Trail, also found few boardwalks and large muddy patches.

The trail links with the park’s interior routes. At the Big Carp River mouth, the Big Carp River Trail climbs past Shining Cloud Falls toward the escarpment; see the Big Carp River and Lake Superior Trail loop. The Backcountry Post writer also used the Little Carp River and Government Peak Trails to make a longer loop.

Cabins sit along the way. The DNR has mentioned Speaker’s Cabin near Speakers Creek, and Michigan TrailMaps lists the Big Carp six-bunk and four-bunk cabins and the Lake Superior cabin at the Big Carp mouth, plus White Birch and Whitetail cabins on the lake. Michigan Blue says the cabins have wood stoves, bunks, and cooking utensils, and can be reached only on foot.

Storms have closed parts of the shore before. In July 2016 the DNR closed cabins and campsites between the Big and Little Carp river mouths after flooding and a windstorm, and reported the Big Carp River trail bridge washed out. Ask about current crossings when you check in.

Tips

Camping

The DNR requires campers to stay at designated, numbered backcountry sites. Reserve up to six months ahead and up to 72 hours before arrival at MiDNRReservations.com or 1-800-44PARKS, then check in at the Porcupine Mountains Visitor Center (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, May 15 to Oct. 14) or park headquarters (Oct. 15 to May 14) to get a permit. Groups are limited to six. Each site has a metal fire ring, and the DNR says most have bear poles. The DNR park map says to keep pets leashed and pack out everything.

Inside Intel: The Backcountry Post writer’s favorite site was LS 17: “We loved our first campsite along Lake Superior,” with “Spectacular views of this incredible body of water!” The group also stayed at LS 11 on the lake.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Unbridged streams along Lake Superior:

Michigan Blue's group crossed unbridged streams on this shoreline trail in heavy rain, and the DNR once reported the Big Carp River bridge washed out. Our five tips cover timing, footwear, and safe crossings.

Get the five tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.