Hikes:
Thursday, Hikes July 27 – continued Th-H8: Wetmore Landing to Sugarloaf Mountain parking, Sugarloaf elevation 1060 feet {Moderate to difficult due to climb up Sugarloaf Mountain, 1.4 miles} From Wetmore Landing we will hike uphill to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain via the NCT Spur on the backside. After sets of stairs and a steep grade, the top will offer us panoramic views of the surrounding Marquette area. The descent will be via the 304-stepped trail to the Sugarloaf Mountain parking lot.
Thursday Afternoon Hikes Th-H7: Iron Ore Heritage Trail Jackson Mine to Michigan Iron Industry History Museum (Not on the NCT) {Easy, 3.5 miles} This section will begin at the Jackson Mine Trailhead and hike east, ending at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum where you can take in the exhibits of the Museum. The hike will pass signs talking about the Negaunee Mine Cave-in, the Pioneer Furnace, Mules and Mining and the Carp River Watershed. An interpreter from the Iron Ore Heritage Trail will be with us to provide additional information. Irene Szabo
Lake Superior’s rocky shoreline just west of Marquette with both Sandy and Pearl enjoying the water, as always.
Th-H9: Repeat of T-H5 Echo Lake Rd to Wetmore Landing {Easy to moderate, 4.7 miles} See Th-H5 for a description of this hike. Th-H10: Forestville to Tourist Park {Moderate, 4 miles} From the Forestville Trailhead we will travel over hills and through valleys as well as climb a couple of rock outcroppings for great views. The trail shares portions with the Noquemanon Trail Network, a local cross-country skiing and biking trail system. Near the end, we will be along the Dead River Basin across from Marquette’s Tourist Park Campground.
Friday, July 28 There are only morning hikes on Friday as the afternoon is reserved for break-out sessions (which we encourage you to sign up for!) Friday Morning Hikes F-H1: Repeat of Th-H8 Wetmore Landing to Sugarloaf Mountain parking {Moderate to difficult due to climb up Sugarloaf Mountain, 1.4} See Th-H8 for more information on this hike. F-H2: Camel Back Bridge to Welcome Center {Easy, 7.1 miles} Hike along the Dead River, then the gorgeous Lake Superior Shoreline from Hawley Street all the way to the Welcome Center, passing by Shiras Park/Picnic Rocks, McCarty Cove, the Maritime Museum and Lighthouse, the US Coast Guard Station, Mattson Lower Harbor Park, downtown Marquette, Father Marquette Park, Founder’s Landing, and South Beach on the wide paved NCT that is shared with bikers.
F-H4: Hawley Street to South Beach {Easy, 3.8 miles} This hike is about half of F-H2, taking us from Hawley Street by Shiras Park/Picnic Rocks, McCarty Cove, the Maritime Museum and Lighthouse, the US Coast Guard Station, Mattson Lower Harbor Park, downtown Marquette, Father Marquette Park, Founder’s Landing, and ending on South Beach. The NCT, as it passes through the City of Marquette’s downtown area, follows Marquette’s Multi-use Pathway so there will be bikers. Lake Superior shoreline.
6
The North Star
F-H6: Vielmetti-Peters Reserve (Not on the NCT){Easy to moderate, 4.0 miles} The Vielmetti-Peters Conservation Reserve is a 123-acre working forest with nearly four miles of trails for visitors to explore, just on the edge of the City of Marquette. This Reserve features small waterfalls at the confluence of the Wood and Spring Creeks on their way to the nearby Dead River. There are three loops of the trail system where we will go “over the river and through the woods” in a variety of terrain and trail types. Irene Szabo
F-H3: Hawley Street to Welcome Center {Easy, 6 miles} See much of the same beautiful scenery along the shores of Lake Superior as F-H2, but a little shorter, starting at Hawley Street and walking to the Visitor Center.
F-H5: Hawley St to Presque Isle Park and Around (Not on the NCT){Moderate, 2.7 miles} Instead of following the NCT south through Marquette, this hike will head north from Hawley Street, passing Clark Lambros Beach Park, LaBonte Park, the working ore dock, and then continuinue around the perimeter of Presque Isle. Chief Kawbawgam’s gravesite is on the Isle where his family once lived. No dogs allowed at Presque Isle Park.