Lake of the Clouds Overlook
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan · 1,378 ft
Typical peak
Sep 24 – Oct 2
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Classic view faces E (81°)
The escarpment drops 300 feet to a narrow lake wedged in the Big Carp River valley, with unbroken hardwood ridges running east to the horizon. Morning fog sits on the water and burns off from the far end first, so the layers separate.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Drive M-107 to its western terminus at the Lake of the Clouds parking lot, then walk the paved 200-yard boardwalk to the railed platforms.
What turns here
- sugar maple
- yellow birch
- eastern hemlock
- red maple
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 28Typical color progression for Lake of the Clouds Overlook. No change from Aug 21 to Sep 7. First color from Sep 7 to Sep 16. Approaching peak from Sep 16 to Sep 24. Peak from Sep 24 to Oct 2. Past peak from Oct 2 to Oct 12. Bare from Oct 12 to Oct 26.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 7.
This season so far
First frost
None yet
No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
60°F / 43°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Lake of the Clouds Overlook on September 28, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:23 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 92° | 7:53 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 40 min of low, warm light | 8:33 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 1:49 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 40 min before sunset | 7:05 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 268° | 7:45 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 8:15 PM |
Times in America/Detroit · day length 11h 52m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sunrise: backlit
Sun behind the canopy — leaves glow translucent. The shot most people are after. Expect flare; a hood or a hand helps.
Sunset: front-lit
Sun behind you. Flat, even light — accurate color, little drama. Good for wide valley scenes, weak for single trees.
Classic composition faces E (81°).
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.