FlexOffers Affiliate Disclosure Dang Travelers also participates in the FlexOffers affiliate network and uses links within our content to earn a commission. The further away from Lake of the Clouds you get, the less crowded it is. Add to that list the option of finding all three in one convenient, affordable location, and the clear winner is Michigan State Parks. - 2 BR, 1.5 bath, sleeps 7 Seems a bit steep for no electricity, water or showers. 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. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. This brand new single Many of our yurts are also found underneath some of the darkest skies in Utah, so don't forget your telescope! You must supply your own bedding, dishes and cookware. Book Description When the summer visitors leave in the fall, a new group of visitors moves into the vacation cottage to spend the winter. After checking in at the Forest Headquartersto get our yurt access code, we drove to and parkedbythe Folk School near the Union Bay Campground. MORE INFO: On the East trail, you can take a short detour and hike out to Lake Superior. Because the hike in was so shortand we had a natural cooler, we were able to haul in more food and drinks than we normally would on a backpacking trip. Rustic cabins are available in winter at the following state parks with groomed cross country ski trails: Cheboygan, Hartwick Pines, Porcupine Mountains, Rifle River, Sleeper and Wilderness. Typically, the cabins sleeps up to six and they're outfitted with two sets of bunk beds, a futon, electrical outlets, shelves for food and supplies, a fire circle and picnic tables. Hours: May 15 - Oct. 14: Open daily 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. EST Oct. 15 - May 14: Closed for the season Recreation Passport required for entry When the ground is covered with snow, backcountry dispersed camping is allowed (permit required,$15/night). *The Sunday of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends is subject to the weekend rate. After checking in at the DNR headquarters, we made our way to our yurt. The parks developed campgrounds are open from May through October, with first-come, first-served camping only in November. Take in the views from your back deck, relax around the bonfire, enjoy walk to Lake Superior, hike or snowshoes the North Country Trail to waterfalls or take a day trip to the Porkies. Top Sites for Glamping South Carolina. Carolyn and I had the pleasure to re-visit Porcupine Mountains State Park this past March and do some more winter Yurt Camping. Find Scipio, UT undeveloped land for sale. The area getsnearly200 inches of snow every winter,almost guaranteeing white stuff for winter adventures. 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. Sauna Fireplace Ski in/out Wolverine Trails, Beautiful, peaceful and serene cabin on Wolverine Cross Country Ski Trails in Ironwood, MI. TIP: If you have time to make this a longer hike, add Mirror Lake and Beaver Creek for the Summit Peak Loop hike. $12 per night. 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. 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. A third choice for state park winter lodging is known as the mini-cabin. But firstwe took in our cozy abode for the weekend. Campsites and cabins can book up fast over summer and holiday weekends, so reserve at least three months in advance. Other rustic cabins available in winter are at Bald Mountain, Brighton, Fort Custer, Harrisville, Holly, Island Lake, McLain, Ortonville, Van Riper, Waterloo and Wells. Park facilities include a Visitor Center, restrooms, and picnic areas. You can check Porkiesfestival.org for details. No running water or electricity is provided. Rustic cabins range in cost from $50 to $80 per night and offer lodging for groups ranging in size from two to 24 people. As far as backcountry campsites, there are 63 throughout the park. You can hop on at the Porcupine Mountains Sports Complex (the ski hill) located half a mile west of the Union Bay Campground along County Road 107. Are the Porcupine Mountains real mountains? Hipcamp is created with and hope for our future. 412 S. Boundary Road. TIP: If you are trying to avoid people, head straight over to East River Trail and make it an out and back instead. The views kept getting better and better as we continued on the high rocky cliffside. 888-784-7328, Park visitors at the Lake of the Clouds scenic overlook Photo, Porcupine Mountains relief map in the visitor center Photo 3, A forest pathway at Porcupine Mountains. Ours had a lattice structure inside, with a tan, waterproofexterior that provided good protection. This was truly one of the best places we have ever stayed, Everything ready for us when we arrived--shoveled & plowed out, cleaned, mechanicals all turned on & good condition. With almost 60,000 acres of forested mountains, woodlands, and waterfalls on the southern brim of Lake Superior, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is Michigans largestand wildeststate park. Definitely burned off all that mac and cheese! When results are available, navigate with up and down arrow keys or explore by touch or swipe gestures. The image is even more pronounced in the winter with leafless trees popping out of a blanket of white. and being disappointed. Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park 33303 Headquarters Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953 Visit Website Reservations Contact Map Amenities Accessible Travel + Leaflet What's Nearby Outdoors Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park More Info We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Click here to read more about Porcupine Mountains Backpacking. Unlike some candlelight hikes at popular parks in Wisconsin that can be crowded with people, we only saw a few other hikers on our journey. Its not a cabin, it is not a cottage, it is not a motel, it is not a hotelits home! 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. Reservations would need to be made well in advance. Black bears live in the Porcupine Mountains, so keep food and garbage secure in camping and day-use areas. to do that while still enjoying a backcountry experience. The leaves were just starting to change on our visit and it was raining, yet it is another favorite. Why Visit?Listen to the Wilds of Michigan. Winter visitors to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park will find ski trails that are groomed and track set for skiers, and snowmobiles are allowed on designated trails in the park. The yurts are popular, especially on weekends, so reserve early. The Porkies are set on the southwest shore of Lake Superior, a short drive from Bruce Crossing. Ski area with 14 runs Tracy Ridge. From there, it wasless than half a milewalkto the yurt, perched on a small bluff above Lake Superior. (This map is not geo-referenced) Related Products Trail Details County Ontonagon Regions Western Upper Peninsula Latitude N 46 49' 5.16" Longitude W 089 41' 40.56" Distance 3.5 miles Trail Type Mountain bike and Nordic ski Terrain Lake Superior, old growth forests Later, we would scoot down the bluff to explore the icy shoreline,pocked with ice canoes and other formations. "Clean And Cozy Couples Cabin Close To The Porcupine Mountains" is another top pick, offering 1 bedroom, towels, coffee and tea making facilities and more. week stay in a cabin could pay for a very nice sleeping bag and TIP: Bring bear spray or wear a bear bell when hiking especially when alone or backpacking deep in the woods. July and August have mild temperatures in the upper 70s, but near the lake can be much cooler so wear layers. Sitting in a real chair, playing a game of cards by lantern lightwhile a wood-burning stove kept the yurt warm enough for some of us to don T-shirts, then snuggling into a sleeping bag to sleep comfortably on a bedwith a mattress (and a sleeping pad for extra comfort). These people would love the Porcupine Mountains as they have several backcountry rustic cabins and yurts. Personally, I find that spring arrives very late in our little corner of the mountains of east-central Pennsylvania, but perhaps this year will be different. The yurts look especially cool. Besides the wilderness campsites (first come first served) there are also cabins, and a few yurts . We spent the first 3 days of October day hiking in the Porkies. The Lake of the Clouds viewing area is also accessible. It's around 8 miles from Ontonagon. Are there bears in the Porcupine Mountains? Only the east side is generator-friendly. 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. 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 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. Our yurt, Union Bay East, made it almost too easy and spoiled me for future winter camping. In the winter, when the parks black bears are hibernating, you can cook inside the yurt. - Professionally managed by Tracy View photos, research land, search and filter more than 1 listings | Land and Farm Mini-cabins also are located at the following state parks with networks of groomed cross country ski trails: P.J. Potential renters should check with the individual park for the included amenities and prices. Urban pointed outironwood trees,white cedars and hemlocks. It was fabulous! April 2, 2021. It had been a mild winter for the area, Urban said later around a campfire at a warming shelter along the lantern-lit trail. Additionally, Holland, Waterloo, Pinckney and Tawas offer camper cabins in winter with access to ungroomed trails. 22,553 were here. Youll take various boardwalks along the ridgeline where youll see Lake of the Clouds snuggled amid a valley of trees in one direction. The 12th annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival will take place on Aug 26-28, 2016 where top notch performers from all over the country and abroad will be there. The only modern campsites are located at Union Bay Campground, which has a Tiny House for . - Sauna Despite the raging inferno, it took longer to get the stovetop warm enough to brown the vegetarian chorizo my friends had brought for an egg scramble. . Bring your ownwater orbe prepared to melt snow. Our goal is to highlight amazing locations,share our journeys andpost our favorite travel resources. Shewas right. Host was very My family gathered for a long weekend at this beautiful property on the shore of Lake Superior. The two-bedroom cabins boast fully equipped kitchens, screen porches, BBQ grills, CATV, phones, and WIFI. Either way, you'll find a rental for everyone's needs. Ski Storage We ran out of time to hike this one, but its on our list for the next trip. Amazon Associates Disclosure Dang Travelers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. There was a clean outhouse not too far away, and a bear box right outside our door. Domonick and I decided to get out of town in mid-December and planned to snowshoe and yurt camp in the lovely porcupine mountains (aka porkies). See breakdown of pricing on second booking page. We also brought our sleeping pads which turned out to be a good move since the mattresses were not soft. Most cabins and yurts require a 1 - 4 mile hike to reach and accomodate from 2 to 6 campers. We didn't stay at the campground but got some cool sunset photos driving by which wanted to post for people who decided to stay right there. Cable TV & VCR/DVD The home is a large 30-foot (9.1-meter) yurt equipped with a wood stove, a queen-sized bed, bed and bath essentials, wireless internet, and many more. Contact Us, 2023 Porcupine Mountains and Ontonagon Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. That said, many We were told at the visitor center that the trail had been rolled, but we found that not to be the case. The cabins are equipped with standard furniture including a wood stove, bunk beds, mattresses, tables, chairs, cookware, utensils, and an outhouse. The Porkies hug the southern shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We found that Goldilocks level by sitting on the opposite side of the yurt and opening the door. The home was spotless and very comfortableit met our needs perfectly. No electric but outlets in bathroom. During our trek, the winds were high and waves were up. Yurts and rustic cabins are extremely popular with cross country skiers because they often are located right on the ski trails. Reservations for Michigan campgrounds, including the yurts, are accepted six months in advance.