Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Competes for Top USA TODAY State Park Honors

Michigan's Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park has emerged as a top contender in USA TODAY's 2025 10Best State Parks competition, representing the epitome of Midwestern wilderness and outdoor adventure. The park, spanning nearly 60,000 acres in the Upper Peninsula, offers visitors an extraordinary landscape of ancient mountains, extensive hiking trails, and diverse ecosystems.

The park's unique geological features include a mountain range rising to 1,958 feet above Lake Superior, with some of the oldest rounded, forested mountains on the planet. Visitors can explore over 90 miles of hiking trails, discover more than 70 waterfalls, and experience pristine wilderness that includes 35,000 acres of untouched old-growth forest.

Tom Nemacheck, executive director of the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association, emphasized the park's significance as the last great wilderness in the Midwest. The park offers year-round recreational opportunities for diverse outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, backpackers, anglers, kayakers, and winter sports enthusiasts.

USA TODAY's reader-driven competition allows voters to select their favorite state park, with voting open until May 12. The final rankings will be announced on May 21, highlighting the most exceptional state parks across the United States. This recognition provides a significant platform to showcase the natural beauty and recreational potential of Michigan's wilderness areas.