Ojibway spirit god and the Song of … Manabozho
January 11, 2010
Ojibway spirit god, photo by Luminous Light Huntress
A previous post on Manabezho Falls in the Porcupine Mountains State Park offered another view of these amazing falls and some information from GoWaterfalling’s page on Manebezho Falls.
While trying to find out more about Manebezho, who also seems to be the trickster god Manabozho, I learned from Indian Names in Michigan that although Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Song of Hiawatha uses the name of a real-life Mohawk sachem (paramount chief), the deeds are those of Manabozho. That’s enough grounds for me to bring you the Manabozho and the ultimate fish story.
See this photo background bigalicious or in Tamara’s Porcupine Mountains set (slideshow).
Big Carp River from the Lake of the Clouds Overlook
November 6, 2009
Lake of the Clouds Overlook – 1, photo by posthumus_cake.
Can’t. Resist. Lake of the Clouds.
This is the Big Carp River as seen from Lake of the Clouds Overlook in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. More of the Porcupine Mountains & more Lake of the Clouds on Michigan in Pictures.
posthumus cake has more great pics in their Keweenaw Peninsula set and you can view them bigger in the slideshow.
Red, Gold & Green … Upper Peninsula Style
September 30, 2009
DSC00561, photo by ansonredford.
I know that we were just in the Porcupine Mountains, but if you’re looking for fall color in Michigan, there’s simply no better place in September! See Fall Color Tours: The Western Upper Peninsula from Michigan in Pictures for a great color tour suggestion from Travel Michigan.
Be sure to check out this photo bigger and also in Donald’s Porcupine Mountains set (slideshow).
Mirror Lake in the Porcupine Mountains
September 25, 2009
Mirror Lake, photo by deciBelle.
Be sure to check this fall photo from Mirror Lake bigger or in Leslie’s Landscape set (slideshow).
There’s a nice writeup on the North Mirror Lake Trail on Mike & Aimee’s Favorite Hikes in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. You can get maps for all the trails on trails.com and get more photos and info on Michigan’s largest state park from Michigan in Pictures.
Lake In the Clouds Sunrise
August 8, 2009
Lake In the Clouds Sunrise, photo by Marc Akemann.
I know that we were just at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, but this one was too good to let pass. Marc writes:
The previous day I had been experimenting with a Tiffen CC30M filter for an upcoming job where there was an excess of green. I accidentally left the filter on my 28mm lens which I had planned to use for this shot of Lake In the Clouds. Being 60 miles away from this place, I had to wake up at 3 AM to hit the road to beat the sun. I got to the overlook, climbed down the side of the cliff about 10 feet to a ledge, all in the dark, set up and waited a few minutes, never checking the lens. So that explains why I shot this with the CC30M filter. Anyway, while I was waiting for the right light, the sky was crystal clear and the wind was calm. All of a sudden a stiff wind came in from my right and whistled on over the lake, bringing these clouds in with it. Almost as quickly as it came, the wind stopped and, well, I started shooting. It was really weird.
Check this out bigger in Marc’s Landscape slideshow (or Weather slideshow) and read more about the Lake of the Clouds here and here on Michigan in Pictures.
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
August 6, 2009
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, photo by kmaz.
Be sure to check this out bigger or in Konrad’s Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park set (slideshow).
I’m thinking this waterfall might be Manabezho Falls. For more on this amazing state park, check out Porcupine Mounties on Michigan in Pictures, this cool article from Summit Post on visiting and enjoying the Porkies and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park site.
More of the same (and much more of the different) in the Michigan Waterfalls group on Flickr!
Fall color from the top of Michigan
October 11, 2008
Fall color from summit peak, photo by mtsn.
Well, Summit Peak in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park isn’t the highest point in Michigan. However, as the very detailed article on the Porcupine Mountains at climbing, mountaineering, hiking site SummitPost explains:
The Porcupine Mountains rise from the shore of Lake Superior in the far western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are not remarkably high by some standards but for this part of the midwest they represent some of the most rugged terrain around. The “Porkies,” as they are known by locals, are actually a series of three ridges that lie parallel to the shoreline. The mountains are preserved within the borders of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
The first ridge rises 1000 feet directly from Lake Superior to a maximum elevation of around 1600 feet. The lake-side of the escarpment rises steeply but gradually while the south side is a 300-500 foot cliff overlooking the Big Carp River valley and the famous Lake of the Clouds.
The second ridge is a bit higher, reaching an elevation of 1850 feet at Government Peak. Again, the north slope of this ridge is gradual but steep. The south side however does not drop off like its neighboring ridge to the north. the two Mirror Lake sit in this high valley at about 1500 feet in elevation.
The third, and southernmost, ridge is the highest. The height of land is known as Summit Peak and it is the 3rd highest point in Michigan at 1958 feet. Climb the 50 foot observation tower at the summit, however, and you will be standing higher than even Michigan highpoint Mt. Arvon. Summit Peak does command an impressive view but does not rise from its surroundings as drastically as the ridges to the north because the terrain here averages around 1500 feet in elevation.
Read on for lots more information about hiking in the Porkies, links and photos. For some reason their map didn’t work for me, so here’s Summit Peak on the Absolute Michigan Map!
Speaking of photos, the one above was taken on Tuesday (Oct 7) and is wallpapery fresh for all your computer background needs. Kiyo has plenty more in her Porcupine Mountains State Park set (slideshow). She also operates a Japanese language site with Michigan tourism information.
Presque Isle River gorge
June 14, 2008
Presque Isle River gorge-1, photo by aragirn
This photo is part of his Porcupine Mountains State Park collection which includes photos of Manabezho Falls, Manido Falls, Nawadaha Falls, Overlooked Falls and Union River Gorge. You can order some of his photos (including this one) in the waterfall gallery on his web site.
The Michigan DNR says that at the Presque Isle River Scenic Site, the river traverses a series of low falls and cascades before dividing into two swifter and narrower channels that cut deeply into the underlying bedrock. Trails.com’s Presque Isle River entry says:
The Presque Isle is perhaps Michigan’s best-known whitewater river. Its river corridor is a beautiful one, carved out of some of the state’s wildest and most remote terrain. But it is the water itself that draws whitewater kayakers and canoeists from around the Midwest. As it rushes northward from its origins in rugged Michigan and Wisconsin forestlands to gush out into Lake Superior, the river packs extended runs of challenging whitewater together with thundering waterfalls to create an unforgettable paddling experience.
Mist Woods and Porcupine Mountains terrain
November 29, 2007
Mist Woods, photo by Kim Nixon
Kim says that this photo was taken on the way up the Summit Peak Path in the Porcupine Mountains on October 6th, 2007. She has more photos from (and writing about) the UP on her blog, The Dailies.
SuperiorTrails.com says that the view from Summit Peak is the most “don’t miss” attraction in the park. On their Porcupine Mountains Hiking Trails page, Exploring the North writes:
This trail provides an opportunity to visit Summit Peak at 1,958 feet, the highest point in the park. A 40-ft. observation tower provides an outstanding view of the park as well as the surrounding area . Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Apostle Islands, and Copper Peak are a few of the sights that can be seen on a clear day. A viewing deck on the way up to the summit provides a panorama of the Little Carp River valley and ranks as one of the best views of the park.
Our Absolute Michigan Map of Michigan at Google Maps got a cool upgrade earlier this week with the addition of a new “Terrain” feature, and I thought the Porkies (which probably offer Michigan’s most wild & rugged terrain) would be a perfect place to put the map through its paces – click this link to check it out and let me know what you think!
You can get a detailed trail map at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park page from the DNR.
Quincy Hill in Fall Colors 5, photo by KaylynStar
Kaylyn has a number of colorful photos of Quincy Hill in the fall. As the northernmost point of Michigan, the Keweenaw Peninsula would probably have been the logical place to start color touring Michigan rather than where we did start (Western UP – Ironwood, Silver City, Wakefild, Porcupine Mountains).
In any case, the Keweenaw, way up north and surrounded by the icy waters of Lake Superior, is one of the first places in Michigan to be touched by autumn’s paintbrush. Michigan.org’s Color Tour of Houghton, Eagle River, Copper Harbor starts you in the city of Houghton at the Quincy Mine (photo: Quincy Mine & Hoist by Coder). 
The mine is open from May through late October and is part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park and offers guided tours of the old copper mine, the largest steam hoist ever built and a whole lot more mining history. There’s a museum on site and they also have a passenger cog rail tram that takes you to the top of Quincy Hill (where I assume you can get some great photos).
The tour heads north on M-41 to Phoenix where you can apparently tour the Church of the Assumption. The copper mining ghost towns of the Upper Peninsula page from Exploring the North has a brief bit on Phoenix:
Phoenix is located on highway 41 at the junction of M-26 to Eagle River. Once (about 1872) a thriving mining town of around 500 to 1000 people, but today there are only a few old buildings and the Phoenix Church remaining at the site of the old mine. St. Mary’s Church was built in 1858 to serve the Catholic residents of the mining community of Cliff, the scene of the area’s first major copper discovery in 1844. In 1899 the church was dismantled and reassembled in Phoenix, where it was renamed the Church of the Assumption. The Keweenaw County Historical Society has purchased and restored the property so the Phoenix Church appears much as it did over 100 years ago.
From there, it’s west to Eagle River, once an important port town for the copper industry and now a resort community. Attractions include the Eagle River Falls (photo: Eagle River Falls by Jim Sorbie) and the Eagle River Inn (they have some cool old photos on their site). Keep heading north and you’ll come to Jacob’s Falls and the Jampot, where the good monks of the Holy Transfiguration Skete make jams, jellies and pastries from all kinds of fruits including their famous thimbleberry jam. Stop car. Go in. Buy jam.
Eagle Harbor is next, and I can never mention Eagle Harbor without mentioning the first blog I ever saw, George’s Eagle Harbor Web. It’s also home to the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse and Museums (detailed info from Seeing the Light). 
Not far past here is Brockway Mountain Drive, the highest above sea-level drive between the Rockies and the Alleghenies. From the lookouts you can see glorious views of the town of Copper Harbor where you can see their photo gallery & webcam, Lake Fanny Hoe & Fort Wilkins State Park and the northern Keweenaw (photo: Samuel of the Mountain by Kyle Rokos). It’s probably time for a bite to eat too and them you can take a boat tour to the Copper Harbor Lighthouse if you’re feeling a little adventurous … or the ferry to Isle Royale if you’re feeling a lot adventurous!
It looks like the folks at Travel Michigan got a little tired at this point, tailing off with:
Continuing south of Copper Harbor is the authentic Delaware Mine, which yielded eight million pounds of the metal between 1847-1887. The scenic route continues through wonderful forests and through the city of Calumet, which was the cultural and commercial center of the Keweenaw Copper Range. Take time to visit the restored Calumet Theater and the red sandstone buildings of the downtown business district. This is the heart of the Keweenaw National Historic Park, which recognizes the importance of the mining history of this rugged and scenic region.
I’ve been in the Delaware Mine and I have to agree with UPTravel.com who say “If you have time to visit only one attraction in the Keweenaw, make it Delaware Mine, the area’s premier tourist attraction, where copper was mined from 1847 – 1887.” It’s very, very cool.
If you’re curious as to what the color looks like right now, I’d say “pretty darn good!” A final reminder, be careful when driving those back roads!
Just so it’s clear, these fall color tour entries are produced by Absolute Michigan & Michigan in Pictures using the great information compiled in Travel Michigan’s Fall Color Tours as a starting point. We’re trying to add to what they’ve put together – not rip them off! As always, if you have links to information or photos that we missed, comments or reports, post them in the comments below!
Don’t miss our Michigan Fall Wallpaper series and see more of Travel Michigan’s Fall Color Tours.
