Presque Isle Park and Sugarloaf, Marquette's outdoor gems

One of the best things about living in or visiting Marquette is simple: downtown sits minutes from genuinely beautiful Lake Superior wilderness. Two spots in particular are local favorites.

Presque Isle Park is a 300-plus-acre forested headland that juts into Lake Superior at the north end of the city. The name is French for “almost an island,” but locals just call it “the Island.” A scenic two-mile loop road wraps the perimeter, past overlooks where Lake Superior crashes against ancient cliffs. It closes to cars in winter, which makes it lovely for walking and skiing. The star is the Black Rocks: dark basalt ledges well over a billion years old. On warm summer days you’ll see people leap from the cliffs into the cold, clear water below — a Marquette rite of passage. There are quiet beaches, miles of inner trails, and a famous sunset point. The whole park is free.

A few miles north on County Road 550 is Sugarloaf Mountain. It’s one of the most rewarding short hikes anywhere in the U.P., and the walk up is only about a half mile. There’s an easier route and a steeper one. Both end in a series of wooden staircases. The payoff is huge: three observation platforms perched around a thousand feet up. They look out over Lake Superior, Little Presque Isle, and the rolling Huron Mountains to the west. Below sits the city, with its ore dock and the Superior Dome. Bring decent shoes and give yourself time at the top. The view earns it.