Ontonagon is a harbor town located at the mouth of the Ontonagon River, known for phenomenal fishing and as the gateway to the stunning Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, “the Porkies”. The harbor serves as an official harbor of refuge, and is the only safe Lake Superior port of any size between Eagle Harbor and Chequamegon Bay in Wisconsin. Just a few miles to the east are miles of beautiful sand beach along Lake Superior.
Ontonagon County has a distinguished history of logging and mining and is the site of the first telephone system in Michigan. European occupation of the area began in the 1790s with English fur traders; the area was first inhabited by the Ojibwa Indians. Miners were then drawn to the area in the 1850s at the height of the copper boom occurring across the Upper Peninsula. Ontonagon is the oldest settlement on the southern shore of Lake Superior.
Today, Ontonagon serves as a great base to begin any adventure, from day trips to week-long back-country forays in the Porkies to days spent at the nearby beaches or quick hikes to local waterfalls. The area offers fantastic snowmobiling and skiing in the winter. The Porkies offer snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and downhill skiing, all with stunning views throughout the park. The area is well known for waterfalls as well. Aside from the outdoor recreation opportunities, the Porkies and Ontonagon host several exciting festivals throughout the year including the annual Porcupine Mountains Music Festival every August.
For more information about the area, please follow the links below:
