Porcupine Mountains

This alpine-like view looks more like Yosemite to me than anything I have seen in Michigan before today. I can envision my outdoor photography hero, the late Galen Rowell, hanging off this rocky cliff with his camera in hand at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park like he did so many times at Yosemite. I am sticking to the walkway to capture this morning image at Lake of the Clouds. F22 at 1/8, ISO 100, 80-200mm lens at 200mm

The Porcupine Mountains loom large and colorful in the distance as I get up close and personal with the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior at the edge of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. F32 at 1/10, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

Imagine a 25-mile-long narrow road lined on both sides with trees that appear to be on fire with vibrant fall colors. Now imagine the forest floor covered in leaves and growth that is also flaming with fall colors. This is what South Boundary Road looks like today, at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. F5.6 at 1/40, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 27mm

This is the largest white birch tree I have ever seen. My dad and I spotted it while we were driving on South Boundary Road at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. I love how the trunk makes a slow s-curve and the bright colors from the surrounding trees make the birch tree stand out even more. F9 at 1/50, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 24mm

Hikers pause to savor the view from the summit escarpment at Lake of the Clouds inside the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. It seems to me there must be a million colorful trees to appreciate from this incredible vantage point. I know I am going to continue to appreciate this autumn view until darkness takes it away. F13 at 1/60, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

I felt like I was dreaming in Kodachrome as I looked down at peak fall color from the summit at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The Upper Carp River meanders through this section of the nearly 60,000-acre Michigan natural treasure

When I showed my dad this photo from the Lake of the Clouds at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, he commented that it looked like sea corral. I had not noticed that when I was shooting the photo nor when I was editing it on the computer a few days later. However, after my dad compared it to an underwater scene, I could not agree more. F2.8 at 1/250, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

Color as far as the eye can see lies beneath and far beyond my vantage point at the summit overlooking the Lake of the Clouds. Taking in this Michigan view at this moment in Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I think coming to see this Upper Peninsula treasure should be on everyone's bucket list. F22 at 20 seconds, ISO 100, 24-70mm lens at 24mm

It wasn't until I was in college that I learned Michigan actually has real mountains. One of my college roommates had family in the Upper Peninsula and he told stories about how beautiful the western half of the UP is. This was my first trip to the Porcupine Mountains, but it certainly won't be my last. I hope to bring Betsy and the kids here during the fall very soon. F5.6 at 1/320, ISO 100, 300mm lens at 300mm

Can you believe this is Michigan? Who knew that Michigan has one of the world's very best spots to view fall color. You can experience this view for yourself around the beginning of October every year at the Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. The park is located on the northwest tip of the Michigan's Upper Peninsula. F22 at 2.5 seconds, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 23mm