Summit Peak to Mirror Lake to Lake of the Clouds Loop

Summit Peak Observation Tower is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Ontonagon, Michigan.

The trip to Mirror Lake begins at the Summit Peak Scenic Area. To extend your hike, start at the Lily Pond trail-head farther south on Summit Peak Road (5.3 miles to cabin). The initial trail towards the lake is the Beaver Creek trail (1.2 miles). The trail climbs down the peak slope into some lower valley and towards the Little Carp River. The trail was well managed and fairly dry, with select...

The Little Carp River Trailhead is located in the center of the Porcupine Mountain State Park, about 16 miles west of the park headquarters on S. Boundary Road. At the start of the trailhead, hikers can see Overlooked Falls. About a mile in one the trail, Greenstone Falls can be seen past both the Greenstone Falls and Section 17 hiker cabins (reservable at Michigan DNR Website). Continuing on t...

Hiking in the porcupine mountains could be a day trip or a week trip. From a short rim hike overlooking Lake of the Clouds to a three day back country camping excursion, there are endless amounts of options for planning a getaway to the Porcupine Mountains.  Located in the far northwest of Michigan, the Porcupine Mountains are the only designated mountain range in state. They sit on the edge of...

We started our hiking in the afternoon at the Lake of the Clouds parking lot. Our original plan for the hike was to thru hike the Lake Superior Trail, however, due to muddy conditions and recent rain, we chose the Big Carp River Trail as a dryer route to get to our mid-camp point near the Big Carp cabins. The beginning of the hike offered fantastic views of the overlook area. The cliffs and she...

Upon arriving at Porcupine Mountains State Park (from Highway 107) in Ontonagon, Michigan, follow signs to the Lake of the Clouds Overlook parking lot. From this overlook you will get a taste of the many views of Lake of the Clouds that are to come. The Escarpment Trail begins here and parallels the lake above the two rocky peaks, Cloud and Cuyahoga, for the majority of the hike.Along the trail...