Robert Wild,
interpreter, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park,
Wilderness Visitor Center

Schedule of Weekly Nature Programs

Schedules for other nature programs

The Wilderness Visitor Center, located in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, introduces visitors to the rich wilderness heritage of this 60,000-acre park. Set alongside the largest old-growth hardwood-hemlock forest in the Great Lakes region, the center features exhibits and programs that tell the story of Michigan's rugged Upper Peninsula.

Tell us about your visit

To get better acquainted with the park and all there is to do and see, read the summer 2010 edition of the Porcupine Mountains Visitor.

The Wilderness Visitor Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EST), from late May through mid-October.

A 100-seat auditorium features a multi-image slide program that traces the history of the Porcupine Mountains and explores our nation's wilderness values. The center also includes a large relief-model of the Porcupine Mountains allowing visitors to map out a visit to the park's backcountry and obtain a perspective on its rugged topography. Noted for its scenic vistas and striking geologic formations, the outstanding feature remains the 35,000 acres of old-growth hardwood forest. But these mountains also have a rich geologic history, and those who explore here will be amazed by what they discover.

The Wilderness Visitor Center also serves as a registration station for backcountry campers. Here, visitors staying overnight in the park's backcountry can obtain camping permits and receive valuable information on trail conditions, black bear sightings and minimum impact camping techniques. Staff also can assist visitors with information on campgrounds, trailside cabins, area facilities, and hunting and fishing opportunities. A handy field checklist is a must for enthusiatic birders and hundreds of wildflowers and plants carpet the forest floor.

Interpretive Activities

Here's just a sample of our popular hikes or activities. All programs are free, but a Recreation Passport is required for entry to the park. Activities may be canceled or rescheduled due to severe weather. And before you visit the park, print out this map showing where all the naturalist programs begin.

Student Field Trips

Educators and group leaders interested in arranging a visit to the Wilderness Visitor Center or an interpretive hike or program, should contact Bob Wild, the park interpreter, at (906) 885-5206, or by e-mail at: wildr@michigan.gov.