Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park
Reviewed Sep. 25, 2019

Unpretentious and quiet

We stayed in this rustic campground mid-week in mid-September and were glad to find it wasn't busy or noisy. I think we hit it just right post-summer and pre-autumn colors (although several patches of trees along the way were blazing with fall color!). Loved that it had a 'no generator' side to help with the quiet we were seeking. While I had first booked Site 19 because all the lake sites were taken and I liked its privacy tucked into the woods a bit, we found that it was almost all dirt and, with rain expected, we didn't want to hang out in a mud bowl. We went back to the ranger and he recommended Site 11, which was actually super nice--still somewhat private but also grassy and with a slight view of Lake Superior.  I think 18 would be great, too, if the lake sites are unavailable. All of those looked awesome, with my favorites being #10 and #6. Site 10 was right across from us and was vacant for the majority of our stay, which allowed us to set our chairs on the bluff overlooking the lake and read and enjoy the views. 

The weather was unseasonably warm for mid-September and Lake Superior was oddly calm. This resulted in some flies, which was a bummer. Every night, though, the winds kicked up around dinner time and they were gone. When they were hanging around, though, (mostly mornings), they made cooking miserable and also the pit toilets buzzed with them, which was not fun. But I think once the autumn temps kick in and the winds sustain a bit, they'd be much less of an issue. 

The park is in an amazing location, with the Presque Isle River running through it and phenomenal hiking trails/vistas right there. It was also an easy drive to Lake of the Clouds, Summit Peak, and Ontonagon. Just stunning forests, waterfalls, hills and drives and, of course, the incomparable Lake Superior all within easy reach. We also stopped at Bond Falls on our way to the Porkies from the east, which was beautiful. 

Love the UP; love the remoteness yet accessibility (if that makes sense) of this campground; love tent camping on Lake Superior; love this place.

Site11 (see notes above)
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019
  • Review photo of Presque Isle - Porcupine Mountains State Park by Mary H., September 25, 2019