Porcupine Mountains Wilderness Escarpment Backway

The Escarpment Backway climbs 1,200 feet up the backbone of the Porcupine Mountains, Michigan’s most rugged wilderness, following a primitive road built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This 12-mile route provides vehicle access to backcountry overlooks of Lake Superior’s Ontonagon Bay and the last remaining old-growth hemlock forests in the Great Lakes region. The road deteriorates significantly after Union Mine, with loose rock, steep grades, and washouts that claim oil pans and exhaust systems regularly.

This is expert-level terrain requiring rock sliders, skid plates, and a spotter for several sections. The road is typically closed from November through April due to snow, and spring washouts often delay opening until late May. No camping is permitted along the route itself, but backcountry sites are available by permit at Lily Pond and Mirror Lake. The payoff is unmatched wilderness views and access to hiking trails that most visitors never see from the park’s crowded campgrounds.