Preserve, support, connect, inspire, educate. That's what the Friends of the Porkies does. The organization was born In the early 1980s when the late Dan Urbanski, award winning nature photographer, with the help of some of his ranger friends, had a dream that became the Friends. In 2000, the organization became a federally recognized 501(c)(3) with federal and state nonprofit status. 

The all-volunteer Friends of the Porkies mission is two-fold: assisting in preserving the Park by supporting its staff and connecting people to the magic of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.. We've provided funds for Union Mine Trail Interpretative signs and lumber for the ADA boardwalk to the Lake of the Clouds Overlook. We partner with Keweenaw National Historical Park to fund bringing K012 students and their teachers to the Park to spend a day with the Interpreter.

See Programs page for more details on our programs including the Artist-in-Residence bringing artists to the Park, Folk School, Porcupine Mountain Music Festival, Trails and Youth Programs.

Our trails group organizes volunteers to clear the cross-country and hiking trails. In 2023 we purchased canoes for the cabins and in 2021 and 2022 we purchased archery equipment for the Park Youth Programs.  In 2022 we purchased Colorblind Scenic Viewers which are located at the Lake of the Clouds, Summit Peak, and Nawadaha Falls.

In 2018-19, we partnered with the DNR to make a long-held Porkies wish come true. The Park finally owns the Cotten property, an almost 5- acre inholding on Lake Superior in the west end of the Park that includes a cabin and sauna building in an idyllic setting. 

To learn more about us, explore this website. Click around. Become a Friend. Donate. Your generosity will help the Friends grow and thrive.