Presque Isle Park

Summer, 1891. Fredrick Law Olmsted, a landscape architect most famous for his role in designing New York City’s Central Park visits Marquette to work on a design project. To make the most of his visit, the city also directs him to a large peninsula just north of town in hopes of designing a management plan to turn it into a suitable park. Upon touring the land he gives the city relatively straightforward advice that can be summed up in three words, "Don't touch it."

Presque Isle Park is one of the most visited sites in Marquette County for good reason. With ease of access, this 323-acre forested peninsula extends into the water offering visitors unmatched views of the landscape and Lake Superior.

A look out on the east side of Presque Isle Park, overlooking Lake Superior and sandstone cliffs

Eastside Outlooks

The park’s east end sits high atop sandstone cliffs carving in and out of the peninsula. Park your bike and walk out to one of several outlooks along the loop. These offer a great vantage point for watching Lake Superior’s waves carve out the ancient coves and rock outcroppings hundreds of feet below.

Biking

The narrow Peter White Drive wraps itself around the park’s perimeter. The nearly two-mile scenic roadway is accessible by foot, bike, or car. Bikers can expect a modest climb for the beginning of their ride paired with an extended descent to finish things off—but don’t set your stopwatch, this ride is meant to be savored.

A group of three friends hiking on the snow-packed trail at Presque Isle Park in Marquette, MI

Hiking

Miles of hiking trails stretch through Presque Isle’s central forest, which boasts over 100 species of native plants amongst various other wildlife. A friendly (and rare) white-tailed deer population has even been known to roam the peninsula. Presque Isle is also a stop for many migrating birds, and with good timing, lucky visitors may catch a glimpse of a snowy owl.

A woman standing on the ancient black rocks along Lake Superior in Marquette, MI

Blackrocks

These 1.7 billion years old rock formations found along the shores of Lake Superior are primarily composed of a type of igneous rock called basalt. Basalt forms from the rapid cooling of lava flows, which occurred during volcanic activity millions of years ago in the region. The contrast of the dark basalt against the blue waters of Lake Superior creates a striking and picturesque landscape, making the black rocks a popular destination for sightseeing and photography.

Sunset Point

Sunset Point sits on the peninsula’s western shore and offers one of the best viewing spots in Marquette to watch the sun sink below the horizon. Silhouetted against a sky of pink and orange, the Huron Mountains and various small islands offer a view that seems almost tropical. The lake reflects all the colors of the sky, making this brilliant sunset one that can’t be missed.

Still questioning if a trip to the park is really worth it? Consider this quote from Olmsted’s final report as he backed away from the city’s request for him to help make a plan for developing the piece of land, “Preserve it, treasure it, as little altered as may be for all time.”