This past August, my husband and I planned a family BWCA trip, but the wildfires closed our reservation. My daughter Leah was also in her seventh month of pregnancy, so we wanted a more low-key wilderness experience. My friend Josie Nelson recommended the Sylvania Wilderness Area for our canoe trip. You can car camp at the campground and take day trips, or reserve campsites on interior lakes, which requires portaging.
Tucked into Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near the Wisconsin border, the Sylvania Wilderness Area offers canoeists quiet water, forested shorelines, and a true wilderness experience. With more than 30 lakes connected by portages, Sylvania lets paddlers explore a landscape shaped by glaciers and largely untouched by modern development. Motorized boats are prohibited, helping preserve the area’s peaceful character.
The Sylvania Wilderness encompasses 18,327 acres of primitive lands and is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Visitors can camp in 50 designated campsites within the Sylvania Wilderness. The water is at the heart of the experience. Sylvania’s lakes range from small, secluded ponds to larger bodies of water surrounded by dense northern forest.
For our family trip, we camped at the main campground on Clark Lake and paddled to various interior lakes on a day trip, including seven portages. Instead of transporting our own canoes, we kept it simple and had the local outfitter near Ironwood drop off three Kevlar canoes. The portages were much easier than what we were used to in the Boundary Waters, so we could hike faster on the smooth trails. The portages ranged in distance from 200 feet to 1/4 of a mile. Compared to some of the long, rugged BWCA portages, these were a walk in the park.
Along the way, we enjoyed swimming in crystal-clear lakes and hiking through old-growth forest. The long sandy beaches on many of the lakes were quite impressive and made for multiple swimming breaks along the way. We spotted several loons, eagles, and swans as we paddled in the wilderness. Like the BWCA, the water is safe to drink with a filter, making a longer multi-day trip possible.
For those who want a break from canoeing, Sylvania Wilderness also offers top-notch hiking trails. Following our canoe day trip adventures, the Rudd family enjoyed an 8-mile hike/trail run around Clark Lake. The old-growth forest surrounding the trails and lake was breathtaking! We finished the day with a swim to an island and exploring Clark Lake on our inflatable SUP boats.
Overall, I would recommend Sylvania Wilderness as an entry-point wilderness experience. For those who may be a bit intimidated by the BWCA, Sylvania offers easy portages, reserved campsites, and options for shorter multi-day trips.
Kim Rudd, Endurance Adventures Owner