Presque Isle River
In the midst of all this November bleakness, I thought it would be good to think back on the green days of summer. More specifically, to our July trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For more information, you can also look at this post.
We were staying in a cabin on the shore of Lake Superior, at the eastern edge of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. One day we decided to visit the lower end of the Presque Isle River, which is at the western end of the park. Just about the first thing you come to is a suspension bridge over the river, which makes for a good viewing platform.
This is looking north, towards Lake Superior.
This is a short but turbulent river, with many rapids and waterfalls along its 40 miles. The water is tinted red, which I understand is due to a high mineral content. Historically the UP is mining country, mainly copper but also iron. These days the mines are all closed.
Presque Isle is not a quiet river. It emits a steady roar from all the rushing and falling waters. You can get a sense of that from this video that Judy took from the suspension bridge.
Judy and I got confused by the trail map, and ended up on on the East River Trail, which is a lot rougher than the trail on the opposite bank – mainly a boardwalk. Part of the east trail requires clambering over rocks and driftwood. The two of us don’t clamber like we used to.
Although this stretch of the trail offered a nice view of the river. The forests here are so intensely green, you feel like you are breathing in chlorophyll. Among the most common trees are Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Yellow Birch (Betula allegheniensis), and Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum).
The east trail involved lots of climbing and descending, plus stepping over little brooks feeding into the river, so that your feet would likely be wet by the time your were done.
Parts of the trail were covered with exposed tree roots. I wonder if this was due to erosion, which was evident on stretches of trail.
There weren’t a lot of wildflowers blooming in midsummer, but we dis see some Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis).
And some Northern Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
To be honest, the trail was not that long – just a couple of miles – but Judy and I were pretty pooped by the time we were done. On the way back to the cabin we stopped at a roadside trailer selling fried fish, which was fairly restorative.
A couple more posts still to come on our trip to the UP.
gardeninacity 
“Pretty pooped at the end” does not begin to cover it! I think it goes down in family lore as the Great River Death March (joining the Desert Death March and the Near Death by Kayak Incident and other vacation misadventures). We were clambering up and down ravines next to a roaring river with no guardrails. But I am pleased with the photo of the tree roots, and the video.
I like the photo of the tree roots, too. It’s unusual, and appealing!
Thanks!
I love that tree root photo Judy. Worth the hike, or clambering as Jason put it. I have been to the UP several times. I love that part of the country and those small rushing rivers and streams are wonderful.
The UP is a very wild and empty part of the Midwest.
Great shots and definitely an adventure. 🙂
It felt that way at the time.
I love trails like that with different terrain. A river or stream always seems to increase my enjoyment – not exactly sure why that is, perhaps the sound as well as the refreshing/restorative nature of water.
Moving water always makes a place more dynamic and interesting.
Lovely, but I would have needed a restorative, too. By the by, there is a Presque Isle, Maine. A little city/town in the northern part of the state. Remote but very beautiful with rolling hills and farmland.
I’ve heard of Presque Isle ME. I wonder if the one in MI is its namesake.
Good question.
Tree roots like that are so interesting and so dangerous if they are where you need to walk. Love the sound of the water. I’ve tried to grow bunchberry unsuccessfully and I’ve rarely seen it in the wild so thanks for that photo.
I think Bunchberry needs very specific conditions. Walking over tree roots is a real chore.
Well, Judy got some lovely photos and an interesting video out of her Death March, so hopefully it was worth it. I would have been near death myself after all that clambering and climbing. I have no sense of balance.
I’m on the clumsy side myself. Good thing I didn’t fall in the water.
I did enjoy this, what a wonderful place. Loved the pictures and the video, it reminded me of the Lakes, especially those tree roots, you see a lots of those there.xxx
I’ve heard of the Lake District but have no idea what it looks like.
I am grateful for your clambering. What a wonderful ramble.
We enjoyed it.
A beautiful place! When I saw the title of your post I was surprised because Presque Isle is a town not far from us! It’s nowhere near that pretty though.
I’ve heard of Presque Isle ME but have never been there. Actually, I haven’t been in Maine since I was about 10 years old (50 years ago – OMG).
It looks exactly like New Hampshire and even has the same tree species.
I think the tree roots are exposed mostly by erosion, but with the help of thousands of pairs of feet.
I didn’t realize there was such a similarity of terrain between that part of MI and NH.
If it wasn’t for its lack of granite mountains and hills Michigan would look much like New Hampshire.
There’s a Presque Isle in Pennsylvania, too. It seems that all of the Presque Isles are associated with a peninsula in one way or another, as “Presque Isle” is French for “almost an island.” I’ve never been to the UP, but I have yet to see anything that doesn’t appeal up there. Wonderful photos and video, and you have nothing but sympathy from me when it comes to that clambering.
Gosh, I wonder how many Presque Isles there are in the 50 states. If you look at the mouth of this river you do see an area that does look exactly like “almost an island”.
Looks like a great place to be during the summer! The river is beautiful, and it looks like the scenery was spectacular.
It’s a beautiful area, and feels very remote.
do you know if a particular species of tree developed those exposed roots? Some trees are morel likely to do it than others. In landscape situations, it typically indicates soil saturation.
Unfortunately, I didn’t id which trees had all the exposed roots.
Sounds wonderful. Beautiful, and jus difficult enough for you to have really achieved something. I don’t clamber like I used to either but I do enjoy it. A botanist friend of mine explained that in some situations, at least, erosion is beneficial to a suite of plants that can live nowhere else. All in balance , of course, and when it comes to erosion, it is hard to balance!
I guess it’s not surprising that some plants are adapted to eroded landscapes.
I guess not but it really did surprise me. Specifically, we were in the ravine habitat at Fort Sheridan. It is pretty cool down there and I think there are going to be trails, when it reopens. When we were down there it was dangerous~very steep, and no trail.
It looks beautiful, but the raging river is a bit scary… you both did very well climbing over and around all those tree roots.. it reminds me of paths we have followed on holidays..& later wondered “what we’re thinking?”
Nonetheless thanks for showing us a part of the world we know nothing about..& great photos, Judy..
I definitely made it a point to keep my distance from the waters.
I love the places like this, Jason. The photo of the trail with exposed tree roots is amazing. Sure you breathed well there, within green woods .
Happy December.
Yes, the air was wonderful. Fresh and fragrant. Happy December to you, Nadezda!