Escarpment Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

A trip out on Escarpment Ridge provides epic views of Lake Superior, the Carp River Valley, and Lake of the Clouds. This is a wild, rocky, wind-swept wonderland that gives the runner a sense of grandeur.

This area provides some of the finest airy views in all of the Midwest and at places feels very much like true mountain running. The effort required to gain the "high country" is relatively minimal, which can be appealing for those wishing to feel like they're really getting into the backcountry while not having to spend days and days doing it.

Flora and fauna in the Porkies are quite abundant. One may witness black bear, fisher, red squirrel, varying hare, red fox, gray wolf, coyote, bobcat, porcupine, striped skunk, and on occasion, moose. And the spring display of wildflowers in May is spectacular and the woodland wildflowers in summer continue this excellence. Coral-root orchids, rattlesnake plantain orchids, and many others. Ferns, clubmosses, lichens, and mosses are also in abundance.