High in Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains—affectionately known as the 'Porkies'—the Escarpment Trail offers an nice overview of this State Park. The undulating path treats hikers to sweeping views of lush foliage and the breathtaking Lake of the Clouds below. There’s no better way to immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Trail Info
Know before you go
Expect it to be buggy if it's summer time. Welcome to Northern Michigan. All that beauty comes with a tradeoff. Bring that insect repellent and long sleeve clothing!
There are two options for starting this trail: beginning at the Lake of the Clouds Overlook or the Government Peak Trailhead. I started at the Overlook, hiked down to the Government Peak Trailhead, and then back up. If I were to do it again, I’d reverse the route—the turnaround at a parking lot just didn’t feel like a natural endpoint.
There is an entry fee to visit the park. It was $11 for a day pass when I visited in 2023. More park info can be found at the official website.
The road to these trailheads closes during the winter, typically from December through late spring.
Other trails nearby
There's 90+ miles of trails in this park, including many backcountry options. Check out this page for details on backcountry camping.
The Mirror Lake Trail offers a similarly challenging hike, also starting from the Lake of the Clouds Summit Area
The Trail
My hike began at the Lake of the Clouds Overlook area.
And within no time, epic views of Lake of the Clouds to start off the hike!
This area is definitely worth taking some time to explore. A few boardwalks offer different vantage points, including this view looking west, where you can see the Big Carp River winding through the trees. Alright, should we go home now?
Just kidding! We need to get our steps in. Leaving the Lake of the Clouds summit area, we will be heading towards the Government Peak Trail. Note there is one junction leaving the summit area. Make sure you veer left to stay up on the ridge. Right would take you down to the Lake of the Clouds Cabin via the Mirror Lake Trail.
Navigation along the rest of the trail is generally straightforward. However, later on in the trail you will come across a few forks like this. It doesn't seem to matter if you head left or right. Right will keep you closer to the ridge (and the views). Left will take you in the trees.
Naturally, we’ll stick to the right to catch those views. While the ridge isn’t particularly narrow, it offers just enough openness to fully immerse you in the sweeping scenery
Looking back towards Lake of the Clouds. The vibrant, lush green was so captivating. Can you imagine the colors during foliage season?
Note, if you start at Lake of the Clouds as I did, there’s a great turnaround spot about 2 miles in. It offers most of the best views without the awkwardness of ending at a parking lot.
But if you're in it for the long haul, continue along the Escarpment Trail. Here was another juncture. Left would take you to the highway, but right will keep you heading towards the Government Peak Trail.
Mostly in the trees now. There's really only one path and it's well marked and easy to follow.
And we've reached Government Peak Trailhead. If this is where you started--congrats on finishing! For me, this was my halfway point so I'd have to turn around and immediately head up a steep hill to begin the journey back to my car.
But at least I'll get to see these views one more time. Awkward trail route aside, this trail really is special.
SS Reflections
My visit to the 'Porkies' was the perfect finale to my road trip through Michigan’s UP. After being wowed by Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks, these mountains really completed the experience. Before this trip, Michigan hadn’t struck me as a top destination for natural beauty—now I’m already planning a return.
Other helpful resources
Hiking Hungry's post about this trail