For our trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula this year we camped at 3 different places. First we spent 3 nights in Marquette at the Tourist Park Campground. Then we continued on to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park for 5 nights. On the way back home we spent a couple relaxing days at a beach side site in the Bay Furnace Campground in Christmas, Michigan.
We have posted 5 separate pages of pictures from this trip so make sure to look for the links to the next page at the bottom of each entry.
For this trip we decided to leave on Thursday night after work and drive just across the bridge to the Straits State Park. We reserved a pull through site right across from the bathhouse. It worked out really good, we pretty much pulled in and climbed right into our bunks in the camper without even unhooking from the truck. In the morning we had a quick breakfast, showers and it was back on the road again to Marquette.
Camping at the Marquette Tourist Park:
In Marquette we stayed at site #97 in the Tourist Park Campground. We could not find much information about this campground and were not really sure what to expect. The campground sits on about 20 acres on the North edge of town. There are 110 total campsites, 38 with full hook-ups, 62 site have just electric and the remaining 10 sites are for tent camping. Most of the sites were shaded by big pine trees, but had little privacy.
Right behind our site was an older playground with swings and a couple slides and beyond that a baseball field. We thought staying near the playground was a good idea until every morning when Reid stepped out of the camper he made a run for the slide. We took turns watching him do laps up and down. It felt like most of our stay was spent standing next to the little slide.
Looking down the road from our site towards the bathhouse. We just happened to be staying here on the weekend of the Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Race. Even with the campground filled to capacity on Friday and Saturday nights with bikers, the campground staff did an excellent job keeping the facilities in order.
When Reid wasn't on the slide he was exploring the campground on his bike.
Sites #77 and #78 were a couple of the best sites tucked away pines at the end of the loop. Even though the campground is in the city limits it really didn't feel like it. The sites on the south side of the loop backed up to an industrial area, but even these did not seem too bad.
About the only way we could get anything done was to let Reid play in the truck. Because of this we are now those people at the campground who's car alarm keeps going off.
Overall we enjoyed our stay at the Tourist Park and will be back again sometime.
Mountain Biking the Mount Marquette Trail - Blue Loop:
After eating lunch and setting up camp I decided to sample some Marquette mountain biking while Reid took a nap and the girls played at the campgrounds. Marquette has an awesome trail system thanks to the work of the Noquemanon Trail Network. The Mount Marquette or Blue Loop is advertised as some of the best single track in the area, so that is where I headed. This trail definitely did not disappoint.
After just a little riding I realized that I was no longer in West Michigan when all the rocks and roots were making my tires almost bottom out on the rims. I stopped and added some air and was good to go for the rest of the ride.
A fairly common rocky section of trail.
A fun downhill.
The bridges on the "Up the Creek" section of the Mount Marquette Loop.
Rolling single track near the end of the loop.
The Gurley Trail section. When there is a fork in the trail and the choice is easy to the right or most difficult left, of course you go left. I ended up walking the bike down this part...10 years ago I would have went for it without even thinking about it. I still am not sure if getting older and maybe a little wiser is a good thing. From this hike-a-bike section it is just a short ride back to the trailhead.
The Mount Marquette Loop is a 3.8 mile ride of Intermediate to Advanced single track. There is a good amount of climbing making for moderately strenuous ride. After this loop I took a quick ride on the Grom Kid's loop to cool down and see if it would be good for the girls to try. See page 2 for the report on this trail.
After dinner we went for a drive along the Marquette lake front. We stopped at Picnic Rocks Park to watch the waves rolling into the rocks.
Reid had to stack rocks on every post along the parking lot.
From Picnic Rocks we drove north to Presque Isle Park and again watched the waves crash into the black rocks.
Hiking from Little Presque Isle Point to Wetmore Landing:
The next morning was sunny and still breezy. We drove north about 3 miles up to the Little Presque Isle tract. We planned to hike the 1.8 mile North Country Trail section along Lake Superior from Little Presque Isle Point to Wetmore Landing. On the way we dropped off my bike in the Wetmore Landing parking area so I could retrieve the truck at the end of the point to point hike.
The picture above is looking out from the point to Little Presque Isle. It was interesting to watch the waves wrapping around the island and colliding with each other.
For about the first 1/4 mile we dropped down from the trail and walked the sandy boulder filled beach.
When the rocks started we climbed back up to the trail.
Looking back to Little Presque Isle as we started to climb higher on red rock cliffs.
Looking down at the interesting lines on the bottom beneath the crystal clear Lake Superior water.
Mom had the great idea of telling Reid that the blue trail blazes were "Blue's Clues." Between this and pop pops (lollipops for those that do not speak baby) he stayed happy for the rest of the hike.
At about 1 mile into the hike stairs take you up above the highest cliffs along the lake.
A nice family offered to take our picture from the lookout...to bad we had the sun right at our backs.
The trail took us through some interesting boulder fields after dropping back down along the shore.
Looking back along the shore to Little Presque Isle.
Nearing the sandy beach at Wetmore Landing.
By the end of the hike Reid was worn out from finding all the clues. Everyone took a well deserved rest by the beach while I biked back to pick up the truck. Overall it took our family about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete this nice 1.8 mile hike.
After our hike we stopped at the big Presque Isle Park and ate lunch overlooking the working ore dock. Presque Isle Park is a 320 acre peninsula on the north edge of Marquette. The park has 2 picnic areas, restrooms, a playground and even an ice cream concession. There is a nice single lane scenic drive along the outside of the island with pull offs where you can view the red rock cliffs and explore the rocky Lake Superior shoreline. There are also several hiking trails through the wooded interior of the park that we did not get a chance to explore on this visit.
It was still pretty windy and everyone was stopping to watch the was hit the break wall near the picnic area.
The red rock cliff overlook on the west side of the park.
The black rocks area at the tip of the park is popular cliff jumping spot. Next time we have to try it.
The black rocks area is also a fun place for the kids to climb around on the rocks.
