Marquette, Michigan: Scenic Wonders in the Great Outdoors

Located on a peninsula jutting out into Lake Superior, Presque Isle Park is Marquette’s star attraction. With a lush forested landscape and a dramatic shoreline, Presque Isle Park offers scenic beauty and outdoor adventures year-round. Bike along Peter White Drive around the island’s perimeter or put on your hiking boots to explore the 3.5-kilometer Presque Isle Park Loop hiking trail. This trail offers the best opportunities to see the famous deer population, not to mention a chance to experience the park’s signature summertime activity: cliff diving at Black Rocks. These 1.7 billion-year-old cliffs at the peninsula’s northern tip soar three meters above the chilly lake water. Count down 3…2…1 – and jump! If you love water activities but prefer to skip the chill, try fishing, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding to enjoy endless views of Lake Superior.

It’s hard to beat the vistas from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, one of the most popular hikes in Marquette – and for good reason. There are two trails to the top: The easier one goes around the mountain to the peak, while the more difficult trail gives you a chance to scramble over rocks and rootstock to get in some cardio. No matter which way you go, the top of Sugarloaf Mountain has three observation platforms to soak in long-range views of Lake Superior and other landmarks including the Superior Dome, the Upper Ore Dock, Wetmore Landing, Little Presque Isle and Hogsback Mountain. For the ultimate souvenir photo, go at sunset.

Explore Marquette as part of a road trip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Catch a flight from Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) to Sawyer International Airport (MQT), about 30 minutes south of Marquette. Pick up a rental car so you can explore the region at your leisure.