Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park|Rocks, the Cedar Tree, Lady Superior, and so much more!
Updated: 3 days ago
I just spent a beautiful week camping on Lake Superior at Porcupine Mountain. It is one of the few places that speaks to my soul...
From the energy of the volcanic rock that caresses the water as if it were an extension of it, to the majesty of Lake Superior, I didn't think I could be more impressed until I met the cedar tree.
The Cedar Tree
There is an ancient healing that comes from the cedar tree. It has been used ceremonially and in cleansing practices by many Indigenous people for generations, helping to release traumas and stuck energies. I think I would have been drawn to this tree no matter what name she was given. The way she stood so strong, bending out of the volcanic bedrock, seemed as if she were reaching for something. Her trunk took a full ninety-degree turn as she emerged from the rocky earth, stretching towards the sun. Her battered bark, twisted from wear and weather, reminded me of someone... Maybe it was me. Perhaps it was a reminder of the "broken" me that was forced to evolve and reshape myself. Whatever it was, she felt like a kindred soul. I spent each morning with her, sharing moments of mindfulness and meditation. There were many meaningful moments at Lake Superior, but my mornings with the cedar were by far the most healing.
The Rock
The basalt bedrock that cradles Lady Superior brings with it ancient wisdom. Its layers of bedrock reveal a history that began more than one billion years ago. From smooth surfaces to fossilized sections and jagged edges, as I walked along the path, I couldn't help but hear the stories. Running my hand across the warm basalt, I wondered how many stories it had quietly held. Stories of the ancient humans who walked here, and all the creatures that followed. How the molten rock shaped it all, and the ice age glaciers that carved the path, all coming together in one sacred stone...
Lake Superior - Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park
Big water always calls to me. Lake Superior, with her crystal clear waters and her ability to reshape the weather with each changing mood, is no exception. On this trip, we paddle boarded, kayaked, swam, and rock hounded. In our seven days, we witnessed every personality that Lady Superior had to offer, but we also had plenty of time to enjoy her...
My maiden voyage on the paddle board left me in awe at the clarity. One of the great things about paddle boarding is the different perspective it offers. From this vantage point, I could easily see twenty feet down. On hazy days, I could probably see more depth than distance!
I was just starting my paddle, maybe thirty feet off the shore, when I saw something trailing towards me on the surface of the water. It was weaving in the water, leaving a tail behind it. At first, I thought it might be a snake, but no, not here in this cold, deep water. Maybe in some parts, but in this section of the lake, it is solid rock bottom. There are no pebbles, just boulders butted together, with clear fault lines so straight you'd believe they were cut by hands.
As it came closer, I could clearly see a smaller fish being tailed by a lake trout about the size of my forearm. The smaller fish zigged just as it reached my paddle, followed closely by the lake trout. I don't know how it ended, but in my mind, the smaller fish escaped, thanks to my board...
We paddled as far east as our bodies would let us, watching schools of fish swim beneath us. In the skies, seagulls and the occasional eagle flew overhead, while loons snorkeled and dived in the water, and we tried to remain invisible. I could have spent another week there and not grown tired of paddling...
Sunrise, Sunsets, and a Full Moon
I didn't think anything could match the beauty of a sunrise or sunset on Lake Superior, but the moon did its best to compete. We sat on one of the many boulders that seemed to have been thrown there from a volcanic eruption. This boulder consisted of hundreds of little rocks encased in lava. We watched as the full buck moon rose over the horizon. The orange sphere that appeared in the sky did not disappoint...
It's hard to decide which is more beautiful, the sunrise or sunset. Yet, the aura of colors made me believe that an entire palette of colors exists only on Lake Superior. From pinks and oranges to the deepest teal blue I'd ever seen, I fell in love with the colors. The sound of Lady Superior caressing the shore seemed to silence all the other noises of the day.
Lake Superior Sunset Wood and Rock Hearts in Nature Eddie at Presque Isle Park Eddie at Presque Isle Park Lake Superior Sunset Pebble Rock Varieties on Lake Superior Sunrise and Lava Rock on Lake Superior Agates on Lake Superior Rocks All the Blues of Lake Superior Lake of the Clouds Basalt Bedrock Lake Superior Lake of the Clouds overlook Full Buck Moon August 2026 Cairns at Sunset on Lake Superior Bond Falls Upper Penninsula Birch Trees on Lake Superior Basalt Rock Two if by the Sea
Lake of the Clouds
As if Lake Superior wasn't enough of a treat, at Porcupine Mountain, you get an entirely unique experience at Lake of the Clouds. It's a 133-acre freshwater lake formed in the valleys of the mountain. On some days, fog and low-lying clouds settle over the valley, covering the lake in a soft embrace. We loved her so much that we took two trips up. The first was on a beautiful blue sky day, where the woods, water, and sky painted a canvas that your eyes would still see when you close them...
Then, on one of the cloudy days, we decided it was time for a hike along the Escarpment Trail, which ran the ridgeline of the mountain, overlooking the lake. It was an easy hike for limber bodies, taking us up mild inclines and rocky terrain. Much of the trail is a majestic wooded forest with massive birch, sugar maple, and red oak. The overlooks were the highlight, offering an entirely different view of the lake than the highly trafficked scenic overlook. The hike was perfect, but sitting on the rock ledge, Earthing and admiring the lake was the true highlight...
Agates
If you know me, you know I love rocks and gemstones. Amazonite, tiger eye, amethyst, quartz, and pebbles each have their own personality and healing properties. They too speak to my soul. On the beaches of Lake Superior, just west of the Porcupine Mountain campground, there is an abundance of rocks. After a good storm, you may be lucky enough to find an agate. My hunt is never just for agates, but for any stone that speaks to me. On this trip, I met the twenty-five-pound limit that Michigan allows. There was such a beautiful variety, and while most were very common, I may have found one agate, some fossils, and a few rarities. The excitement of racing the tide or calmly sitting on the shore brought me so much joy...
Waterfalls
As if all the other wonderful activities weren't enough, Porcupine Mountain is surrounded by beautiful waterfalls. While they are all spectacular, one of my favorites is Presque Isle, followed closely by Bond Falls, which is about an hour north of the park. At Presque Isle, it isn't so much the waterfalls as it is the familiar basalt rock that cascades with the river. Just below the suspension bridge, you will see a mesmerizing display of eddies—small spirals, half circles carved into the rock, creating little whirlpools...
There is a beautiful beach that borders Lake Superior, and I am told it is another excellent place for rock hounding!
The Woods
I've gained a strong appreciation for trees over the years. Experiencing the forest in the Porcupine Mountains allows you to see a variety of trees in one area. There are varieties of maple, oak, basswood, hemlock, white pine, spruce, and balsam fir, all co-mingling and making the forest stronger, more beautiful, and even more diverse. We didn't just hike at the Porkies; we forest bathed. Appreciating each tree, each branch, and each root system for the beauty it added...
Unity
There is so much that makes Porcupine Mountain magical, but having all these nature healers in one area is perhaps what makes it the best. Not because of any one tree, rock, waterfall, or sunrise, but because together they remind us what wholeness looks like...
Thank you, Lake Superior. I'll see you soon.
