Michigan citizens and visitors interested in winter outdoor adventures should consider a trip to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, one of the few remaining large wilderness areas in the Midwest. It offers over 65,000 acres of outdoor recreation, including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

All the downhill ski runs are open at the ski area from Friday through Monday for that long weekend break. There is a 28-inch base, and 14 inches of new snow fell in the past week (week of Feb. 2).

Maybe you want to try your hand at cross-country skiing, but you do not have the equipment. The full service ski shop can outfit you with cross-country or downhill skis and snowshoes. There are 20 miles of groomed, track set, cross-country ski trails at the Porkies.

Every Saturday evening in February, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., park naturalist Bob Wild lights 80 lanterns on the one-mile Superior Loop trail to give visitors a chance to experience the wilderness at night. Guests can join Wild around the campfire and share laughter and stories of their adventures.

The Porkies has a lodge, cabins and yurts available for winter rental. To make a reservation for the lodge that sleeps 12, call the park at (906) 885-5275. Winter reservations for a cabin or yurt can be made online at www.midnrreservations.com, or by calling 800-44-PARKS (800-447-2757). Summer camping reservations are also being accepted through the end of July, to include Memorial Day and the Fourth of July weekends.

For more information about the park, events at the park, lodging opportunities and accessibility, contact the park supervisor at (906) 885-5275 (or TTY/TDD 711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired), or visit the park's Web site at www.michigan.gov/porkies.

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A nonresident annual is $29 and a nonresident daily is $8.