5 Summer Hikes in Marquette County

My summer hikes in Marquette began from the Wetmore parking area. I hiked up the Beagle Road Trail, which led to the Who Cooks For You Trail, and eventually up to Bareback Mountain. It was a bit rugged, but, as usual, the views were worth the hard work.

Summer Hikes in Marquette – Harlow Lake

The hike down was delightful, with beautiful vistas of the lake and countryside, and it was easier than the climb up. The fact that people mountain bike a trail like this is incredible, and very risky on some sections. The three bikers who passed me sure were having fun.

The Harlow Lake area is a wintering ground for White-tailed Deer from the surrounding area. Herds travel from up to 25 miles away to seek food and protection in the conifer forests, Hemlocks, and Cedars.

White Pine forest

After exiting the lake area, the trail leads back into a DNR-managed forest composed mainly of White and Red Pine. These horseback riders were out for their annual 4-hour ride through the forest and along the Lake Superior shoreline. We would meet again later. This was the first part of the hike where I encountered some birds. First, I heard a familiar sound, Pine Warblers. Goes to show that getting into the right habitat and finding the expected species. A small mixed flock of Black-capped Chickadees, Black-throated-blue Warblers, and Red-breasted Nuthatches joined them.

Summer Hikes in Marquette – Lake Superior shoreline

After hiking through the pine forest for about a mile, the trail crosses the highway and heads north toward Lake Superior. I spotted a few more bird species in the marshy area along the road. An Eastern Phoebe, American Redstarts, and a small flock of American Robins were feeding in the trees.

The next mile, walking along the shoreline, was very peaceful – no rocks, no roots, no bugs.

When the hike was getting a little warm and buggy, this happened. Feel the cool breeze in your face.

Summer Hikes in Marquette – Little Presque Isle

Sheree, Izzy, and I have hiked some of the trails around Little Presque, in particular, the Birding Trail. Feeling a little tired, I opted to skip that section and shortcut across the peninsula, moving on down the North Country Trail, which I had been on since Hwy 550. I arrived on the south side of Little Presque recreation area and began the last leg of my journey, again along the shoreline of Lake Superior. This section reminded me of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with its carved out sandstone cliffs, colorful rocks, and overhanging trees.

 

Wetmore Landing

I was a hurting “old” guy entering Wetmore. Nine miles was about 3 miles over my threshold, but I really enjoyed the hike nevertheless. Being tired, I had only casually noticed several very cool beaches along the way, and it was obvious others knew they existed. To visit Wetmore or any other DNR property, you must purchase a “Passport”, but you already know that if you are a Yooper.

Besides having a great time hiking the nine miles, I located several new hangouts for future visits.

Gallery of more images taken on the hike. Thanks for visiting our new blog. Join us for one more hike, to Laughing Whitefish Nature Preserve, coming up below the gallery.

Summer Hikes in Marquette – A True Northern Forest

How wonderful a place is this? Of all the places I have been near Marquette, this has the wildest, most natural setting of them all. It has that real Northwoods feeling.

The Nature Conservancy at work

As you walk along the shaded trails of the preserve, you will be following in the footsteps of renowned wildlife photographer George Shiras III who invented the method for nighttime photography on this land. Laughing Whitefish Lake became famous when George’s pictures won prizes at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris and the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, and in 1906 National Geographic Magazine devoted an issue to his photos.

Situated between Laughing Whitefish Falls Scenic Area and Hiawatha National Forest, the 1,728-acre preserve lies along Laughing Whitefish Lake and River, six miles south of where the river empties at Lake Superior. The preserve includes three-quarters of the lake as well as over 1,000 acres of surrounding wetlands and upland forest.

Abundant wildlife including Bald eagles and loons, along with black bear, river otter, beaver, leopard frog and a host of warblers, thrushes and woodpeckers frequent the area. The varied habitats here—marsh and swamp, hardwood and beech-maple forests—all work in unison to support these creatures.

Link to TNC Laughing Whitefish page

Although the drive to the preserve is a little bouncy, you will be glad you visited this jewel of the U.P. Thanks for visiting our new blog. Take a moment to visit the North Carolina Bird Sounds page.