Porcupine Mountains State Park: Summit Peak Trail (Blog Hike #104)

Trail: Summit Peak Trail

Hike Location: Porcupine Mountains State Park

Geographic Location: southwest of Silver City, MI (46.74306, -89.77078)

Length: 0.7 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: August 2001, July 2017

Overview: A short, relatively steep hike to a wooden overlook platform on Summit Peak.

Park Information: http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?type=SPRK&id=426
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=717669
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Silver City, go west on SR 107, entering Porcupine Mountain State Park.  Turn left onto South Boundary Road and follow signs to the turnoff for Summit Peak Trailhead.  Park in the blacktop parking area at the end of the access road.

The hike: Located in the very northwest corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the Porcupine Mountains are a special place.  The state park represents the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi.  Indeed, much of the land inside the park looks much as it did when the land was first settled some 175 years ago. 

            The most famous point in the park is Lake of the Clouds, a large lake surrounded on three sides by mountains some 1000 feet above lake level.  Besides the overlook at Lake of the Clouds, which can be accessed by a 350 foot blacktop trail, the best views in the park can be found from Summit Peak looking northward toward Lake Superior.  This trail is part of a larger network that criss-crosses the Summit Peak area.  The route described here is the shortest and easiest route to the views Summit Peak has to offer.

Summit Peak Trailhead

            From an information kiosk on the north side of the parking lot, pick up the wide gravel trail as it immediately begins ascending through mature oak-maple-birch-hickory forest.  The trail uses a couple of switchbacks to gain elevation and provides several benches for the weary during the climb. 

At 0.2 miles the trail levels off somewhat before coming to the base of a short wooden staircase.  Ascend these stairs and in 100 yards come to the wooden overlook platform that provides broad views to the north.  The Porcupine Mountains dominate the foreground while Lake Superior, now about 10 miles away, can be seen on a clear day in the background.  After soaking in the view, retrace your steps downhill, losing 250 feet of elevation to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Viewing platform at Summit Peak

View from Summit Peak