The view from Summit Peak 1958’, the
highest point in the Porcupine Mountains, overlooks Lake Superior
and the park’s extensive old-growth forests. This area was once the
scene of explosive volcanic eruptions. Now stands some of the
oldest rocks in the Porcupine Mountains which are easily visible
here. These rocks lie atop older continental basalts. These rocks
were deposited by a large stratovolcano just south and east of the
mountains. This form of volcanism is unique in the rift system,
which was dominated by flood basalts issuing from long fissures
along the rift axis. Some 40 million years after the deposition of
the first rift rocks, compressive forces uplifted areas along the
margin of the rift, steeply tipping the rock layers. The Porcupine
Mountains, the Keweenaw Fault and many other geological features of
the Keweenaw region were formed by this uplift.
The Summit Peak trail first travels
uphill under a dense hardwood canopy, with benches along the way
providing rest stops. Boardwalks and stairs continue the trail to a
viewing deck overlooking the Little Carp Valley and then onto the
summit. A 40 foot observation tower provides an outstanding view of
the park’s extensive backcountry and Lake Superior. From parking
lot to tower, the trail climbs 300 feet over 0.5 miles.
Leave No Trace - Leave What You Find
- Be Considerate Of Other Visitors - Respect
Wildlife
TO LOG THIS
CACHE:
1) Using the information from the trailhead
waypoint sign (a field guide to bedrock…) and what you
observe along your hike to the tower to identify the type of
bedrock Summit Peak is made of.
2) How far is the Apostle Islands
National Lakeshore from this viewpoint?
3) Photograph of you on top of the
Summit Peak viewing tower.
To log this cache e-mail me the
answers
HERE.
Sources:
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources Rafferty, M. &
Sprague, R: Porcupine Mountains Companion: Inside Michigan's
Largest State Park. Pages 194-204. Nequaket Natural History
Associates, 2001.
MI DNR Approved