Marquette County – Nature, Trails and Mining History
Accommodation in Marquette County
Marquette County combines impressive landscapes with the history of mining and skiing. Between wooded peninsulas, lakes, cliffs and historic sites, you will find many different reasons to stay. Families can combine wildlife observation, active days and cultural discoveries without limiting the trip to a single theme.
Landscapes for Varied Days
Presque Isle Park is a 323-acre wooded peninsula with pebble beaches, rocky cliffs, marshes and forest. The John B. Anderton Trail System runs through the interior of the park. The park is accessible via the city’s multi-use path or by car, offering different ways to incorporate a visit into your daily plans.
Little Presque Isle features a distinctive landscape with sandy beaches, densely wooded areas and a rugged shoreline with cliffs. Notable geological features include exposed rock formations dating back 2.3 billion years and sandstone cliffs nearly 60 feet high. For outings with different focuses, Craig Lake State Park offers another perspective: It covers more than 9,700 acres in Baraga and Marquette counties and includes six lakes. Many miles of trails, including the North Country Trail, run through the area. Moose are present there in spring, summer and fall.
When planning visits to more remote natural destinations, you should consider access conditions. For Craig Lake State Park, vehicles with high ground clearance and four-wheel drive are strongly recommended because of the rocky access road. Those who prefer a shorter hike can reach Morgan Falls via a relatively easy 2.8-mile trail outside the city of Marquette. Little Garlic Falls, on the other hand, can be reached via a challenging 7.6-mile round-trip hike or an alternative 2.2-mile route.
Mining History and Winter Sports Culture
The Michigan Iron Industry Museum overlooks the Carp River and the site of the first ironworks in the Lake Superior region. Exhibits, audiovisual programs and interpretive outdoor trails convey the history of Michigan’s three iron ranges and the people who worked there. The museum is also accessible to people who cannot use stairs; a wheelchair may be borrowed subject to availability.
Further insights are offered by the Cliffs Shaft Mining Museum, with mining artifacts and photographs from historical mining operations, as well as the Carp River Furnace, a more than 140-year-old furnace that has been restored as a historic landmark. The Iron Ore Heritage Trail is 47 miles long and has ten trailheads in Marquette County. It follows the paths of early miners and pioneers and includes historic sites, interpretive signs and preserved artifacts.
The area’s skiing history is also part of its character. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum is the United States’ national hall of fame dedicated exclusively to skiing and snowboarding and includes more than 15,000 square feet of exhibition space. The Norden Ski Club was founded on January 24, 1887, in Ishpeming by Norwegians from the community. Since 1926, the Ishpeming Ski Club has held an annual ski jumping meet at Suicide Hill.
Which Accommodation Location Fits Your Plans
If you are looking for a vacation rental or vacation home in Marquette County, first determine the focus of your trip. For days in nature, consider the trails and landscapes around Presque Isle, Little Presque Isle, Craig Lake or the Harlow Lake Area. Activities in the Harlow Lake Area include kayaking and canoeing; the Jedi Trail in the Harlow Lake Area is three miles long, with an elevation gain of 271 feet and a total descent of 288 feet. Culture enthusiasts can visit museums, historic sites and guided tours. The Marquette Regional History Center combines museum visits with hands-on projects, live performances and activities for all age groups. The Marquette Maritime Museum offers guided, interpretive tours of the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse and its grounds; the lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For additional location options, you can also explore Marquette and Ishpeming Township. This allows you to combine your accommodation search with the experiences that matter most to your travel group.
For the higher-level travel overview: Michigan.
More Destinations
More places within the same destination:
