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May 1, 2017
Contact: Bob Wild, 906-885-5206 or John Pepin, 906-226-1352
DNR reopens roads at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in western Upper Peninsula
Park staff continues to assess damage along trails; no damage found to cabins
Roads have been reopened at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula after an ice and snow storm felled hundreds of trees at Michigan’s largest state park late last week.
“We had crews out over the weekend cleaning up and assessing the damage,” said Jeff Gaertner, park supervisor. “All roads are open and passable, but park motorists should expect some wood and debris on park roads.”
Road 107 to Lake of the Clouds and the road to Summit Peak were closed late Thursday, April 27 as trees weighted down and weakened by a thick coating of ice and snow continued to fall, hampering the efforts of clean-up crews.
The road to Lake of the Clouds reopened Sunday and the road to Summit Peak Road was opened today.
“We have not been on all the trails yet, but so far it looks like the majority of the damage begins around 1,000 feet elevation and continues higher,” said Bob Wild, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources interpreter at the park. “The lower elevations, like those near Lake Superior, did not get as much ice.”
Of the trails inspected so far, the Government Peak Trail in the park’s midsection, the Overlook Trail east of Lake of the Clouds and the Cloud Peak Trail have been impacted most heavily.
“In one section of the Government Peak Trail, there are over 300 trees down and across the trail within a 4-mile stretch,” Wild said. “There is also damage to some foot bridges and many sections of boardwalk.”
Over April 26-27, higher elevations at the park received up to an inch of ice, which was then covered, by 2-4 inches of snowfall.
 “Park visitors are urged to continue to use caution and watch for the potential of falling branches or trees weakened by the recent storm,” said John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer.
Last summer, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Park was struck by two consecutive storms — the first in the west, the second in the east — that felled numerous trees onto trails, flooded creeks and streams, which undermined riverbanks and toppled more trees. One cabin had to be relocated and several campsites and cabins were temporarily closed.
For more information on Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park visit www.michigan.gov/porkies.
/Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Suggested captions follow. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Bridge: A footbridge damaged at Mirror Lake in the interior of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is shown.
Road 1-2: The edges of the road to the Lake of the Clouds show the remnants Saturday of the recent storm damage at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
Stairway: A stairway damaged at Lily Pond at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is shown.
Trees: Some of the trees twisted and felled at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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