Presque Isle Park

If you are in Marquette during the summer, Presque Isle Park is non-negotiable. It’s easily one of the most beautiful city parks in the entire country. We drove the Peter White Drive loop, and every turn offers a new, incredible view of Lake Superior. The highlight of the summer, of course, is Black Rocks. Even if you don't have the nerve to jump off the cliffs yourself (the water is refreshing, to put it mildly!), it’s a blast just to watch the locals and brave tourists taking the plunge. As a photographer, this is a prime spot for action shots—the dark ancient rock against the bright blue water and the splash of the jumpers is iconic. We also walked out on the breakwall near the entrance. It’s a great, flat walk that gets you right out into the lake for a perfect view of the Ore Dock and the harbor lighthouse in the distance. Pro Tip: Keep your camera ready on the drive loop because the local deer herd is everywhere. They are incredibly calm and often grazing right by the road, making for some easy wildlife photography opportunities. Sunset Alert: Do not leave before sunset. Head to Sunset Point on the west side of the peninsula. Watching the sun dip below the horizon with the colors reflecting off the lake is the perfect end to the day. #MarquetteMI #PresqueIslePark #BlackRocks #CliffJumping #LakeSuperior #PureMichigan #SummerVibes #UpperPeninsula

Always worth a visit, no matter the season. This time it was winter. Beautiful scenery, relatively quiet on the side opposite of the pavilion. The pavilion side was fairly busy at mid day, but it would make for a nice shortcut if you don't want a longer walk. The bathrooms at the pavilion were open midday on Saturday in February. The Black Rocks are beautiful and otherworldly. Peaceful, serene.

Beautiful! For those not from the area, its located in Marquette which is a very cute town. Its the perfect mix of trails and downtown. The trails are very easy, not intense so good for beginner hikers. Beautiful views of the lake and the black rocks are very cool!

Absolutely spectacular! We always have our furbabies with us so we don’t stay for long but each time we come we discover something new and magical. Visitors beware there are certain hours the road is closed to vehicles to allow for bike and foot traffic, also that dogs are not allowed outside of the vehicle. An absolute joy to visit!

Stopped in over the Labor Day Weekend, my wife wanted to check out the Black Rocks. I knew nothing about them until we walked out and saw a large number of people jumping off into the water. We were not suited to indulge at this time, but it looked to be fun. Also, walked the breakwall near the ore dock. This looks like a great place to spend summer time when in the area again.

AMAZING VIEWS!!! We live by Lake Michigan and although it can be choppy and the waves are pretty rough, it does not compare to the power of Lake Superior! But the VIEWS are what is so awesome! Wonderful walking path to view all this beauty! If you go out to see the Black Rocks, BE SURE to wear appropriate shoes!!! Very rough terrain to reach them, but worth it if you are physically able. I would definitely come back here when in the area:)

Beautiful views of the lake and black rocks. A good mix of more fun and challenging hiking paths, as well as easier and serene ones through the woods. You can also drive through a one way that loops around the peninsula if you wish or walk along the road for a more direct path to the black rocks on foot. If you take some of the harder trails, be careful particularly on the side of some of the hills. Some are quite steep on the side of the path.

A must see when visiting Marquette. This beautiful park situated on Lake Superior has beautiful vistas, natural forested area and waters edge areas. I highly recommend Presque Isle Park.

Gorgeous views, breathtaking shoreline, perfect place for a picnic. So many spots to pull off and see a different type of view. From the cliff-like edges to the dark lava-like rock structures near Blackrocks, it's all a must-see. You could spend a whole day here in the summer no problem. Go hunting for beach glass along the rocky beaches, grab a bench and watch the waves, build a sandcastle on the beach, take a drive around the loop, there's endless ways to enjoy the park and all it has to offer. No hammocking, no dogs (from what I saw on the signage), and be prepared for wind while on the shorelines. Still a 10/10 and the best "park" I've been to.

What a great Urban Park! Presque Isle Park is a large public park that is a peninsula overlooking Lake Superior. The park is easily accessible by car, bike or foot. My dad and I walked around the whole thing and according to my fitbit I had 3.5 miles but we did a lot of side walking too. We parked in the front near the lighthouse alongside of an ore dock. The iron ore docks were cool to see as they are unique to this part of the country. From there we walked out to the lighthouse and checked it out before starting off on the trail. The cliffs over looking Lake Superior and black rocks along the route were really cool to take in. Be careful though as these cliff rocks are known to go crashing in to Lake Superior. I'd say it's almost 3 miles to walk all the way around. There were tons of picnic tables and pavilions but not sure for getting the pavilions work in terms of renting them or if it's 1st come 1st serve. I also saw 2 kayak/canoe vans with trailers but didn't anyone kayaking or canoeing so not sure if that's an option near by.

Great place to view sunrise. Views were great. Wear good shoes on the rock because it could be a little slippery. Parking - Available

One of the coolest "urban" parks I have ever visited. The park is a peninsula on Lake Superior with lots of paths through the woods and along the cliffs over the Lake. Beautiful views and very accessible by car or bike. We were blown away and glad we stopped by.

I'm on an adventure exploring the beauty of my state! Presque Isle is a magical place. I loved finding hiking paths but the greatest thrill is making your way to places that are hidden. There are so many beaches along the coastline. I found a place all to myself. The waters of Lake Superior can be very cold but the temps have been high 80s so taking a swim in the lake was so refreshing! Little Presque is my favorite spot.

We visited this park multiple times on our trip to Marquette. We went in early June and it was not busy and there are so many areas to explore. We stayed mostly around the Blackrocks. You can drive through the park or walk/bike through. Very easy to access. Beautiful views and would recommend to anyone! It was very clean and everyone around was friendly.

We were in the area, and decided to check out this little park. The park reminds me of belle isle park, only its smaller and has more woodland in it. We decided to just slowly drive through the scenic route. We saw a lot of people walking or on bikes. There were a lot of spots were you could pull over on the side to view the water. We stopped in a bigger section to look at the water. It was so beautiful. The scenic route was breathtaking. We would definitely love to come back another time and walk instead.

What a great park with awesome views of lake Superior. The park is on a peninsula that juts out onto lake Superior. To get to the black rocks which you can see in my pictures, you have to drive all the way to the tip of the peninsula there are trails back there but they are very precarious. It is not handicap friendly whatsoever. If you're a rock Hunter though that Rock Beach is excellent and can keep you busy for hours and hours. Another great Park that the Upper peninsula has to offer, cost nothing to get in so there's no reason you shouldn't stop by if you're in the area.

This park is pretty awesome, the only strange thing (maybe as a first time visitor) is that the road is a one way loop around the park so if you miss something or want to go back, you have to circle around again. I think it's a 2 mile loop. There are small parking areas along the way to see some of the lookouts, picnic or hop on a trail which also runs the perimeter of the park. When you first get into the park, there is plenty of parking and grill/table areas to hang out. On the way out of the park, there is a ice cream shop and of course bathrooms. I noticed there was no garbage anywhere in the park or the water which is awesome, kudos to the patrons and employees who keep it pristine! They have garbage cans located through out the park. The park must have deer because there is a sign saying not to feed them, but I didn't see any animals except for a squirrel and birds above. Blackrocks seems to be the main attraction here which is fairly easy to access especially if you get a parking spot in the lot closest. There's also a small beach right there where people like to collect stones or go in the water (it is cold!). It's also a popular spot for cliff jumping so if you're lucky enough, you may see people doing that off the blackrock cliff. A little tip, there are multiple areas with the blackrocks, one that is closest to the parking and then another section that expands along the coast south of there. Not many people go in that area so check it out if you want a more solo experience. A local favorite and a neat place to check out if you're in the area!

In the park there is a road that is about a mile long (estimate) that makes a circle up and down isthmus that juts out into Lake Superior. This drive, bike ride or hike is amazing! (Deer and other wildlife are abundant, and can be seen from your car or from the many benches available that lookout over the cliffs into the lake below. On a warm summer night (best) or any clear night, the sunset is a must see!

We took a winter visit to the UP with the hopes of snowshoeing and Presque isle was the perfect place! We were a little worried since it was pretty heavily snowing when we set out but we were by no means the only people in the park. My only complaint was sometimes it was hard to tell what was a trail with the new snow, but we followed other people's footprints and managed to make it around the peninsula ok. The views were beautiful! I loved the lake views and little coves and all the ice on the rocks and trees on the lakes was awesome! There were plenty of different trails with more woodsy walks or lakeside walks and nothing was too difficult but we managed to get in some solid distance. I would love to return in the summer!

Coming from the metro Detroit area, I super appreciate Presque Isle Park. I LOVE AN ISLE! Belle Isle is still superior (ironic heh) to Presque Isle, but Presque Isle offers so much totally unique to their park. While significantly smaller than Belle Isle, it is way more wooded, and has some unexpected elevation to the hike around the perimeter if you're interested in attempting it. Even if not, it's a very quick drive on a one-way road essentially throughout the entire park, with plenty of areas where you can pull out and park to appreciate the scenic views and special things available for you to do within the park. Presque Isle Park Loop: The hike along the perimeter of this park is about two and a quarter miles with over 100 feet in elevation. I REALLY enjoyed this hike and would strongly encourage everyone to do it. The hike takes right around an hour, so if you have the time, I truly believe this is the best way to experience the park. There definitely some points where you get really close to the cliff though, so tread carefully! I started the hike at the south end of the park, right where the gazebo / views out to the breakwater lighthouse and went to the right and counterclockwise around the isle. Sadly, walking out to the breakwater lighthouse in the harbor was not an option like I thought it would be according to the map. It is closed off to pedestrians, despite there being very calm waters, making me think that they probably just have it closed year round now. Only birds get to hang out on the breakwater lighthouse trail now. Notable points throughout Presque Isle Park: The trail leads you out at so many points to the rocks lining the edge of the park, giving you such beautiful views of the shoreline and Lake Superior. It is truly gorgeous. In addition to all these vantage points, my favorite spot that is a must-visit and honestly you should plan to spend a lot of time here is the Black Rocks all amongst Presque Isle Point! This place is wonderful. You'll hike to it or you can drive up to it and there's a whole parking lot. If this parking lot is full, drive a little further to Sunset Point and walk back along the shore. They're super close to one another. Black Rocks is SO FUN! Honestly, if you're feeling adventurous, bring a bathing suit! There is a small beach / cove that you can swim in and/or walk along the Black Rocks all the way to the edge near the beach and you can CLIFF DIVE! The water is more than deep enough, and we saw so many people of all ages doing it, it was awesome. We even saw a scuba diver swimming around below the surface as well at one point near the cliff divers, but further out from the beach area! There is so much to do here and honestly, just playing over the rocks, people watching, and if you time it out right and have some especially good weather, this is probably the best place to watch the sunset -- even better than Sunset Point! If you go all the way to the tip of the Black Rocks, at Presque Isle Point, it juts out further than Sunset Point, allowing you an uninterrupted view of the sun setting to the west. Unfortunately for my group, both days we went to Presque Isle Park at sunset were too cloudy to see much of any sunset, but when we were at Black Rocks, we did see the fog roll in, which was an equally super cool experience! :)

Loved it!! We headed here to do the Black Rocks cliff jump from 15 feet up and into Lake Superior! Morning on a sunny day gives a stunning view of Lake Superior!! Easy hike from the car (about 1/4 mile); follow the path along the rocks/shore side, in lieu of the road--better views! There is a shore spot near the Black Rocks jump off if you want to wade into the cold water, or have a gorgeous spot for a picnic.

My new favorite spot in Marquette. Here's what I recommend for your visit: +At the very least, drive through the park and enjoy the serene woods. +Watch iron ore boats loading up at the dock. +Walk out to the lighthouse. +Stop at Black Rocks and hop around the amazing black rock (hence the name) formations and - if you dare - hop off the cliff with the crazy kids.

One of the best places on earth!!!! This was amazing! Feeding the deer as a kid was one of the best things in life.... Wish more could experience this!

Great place to hike or ride a bicycle. There are beautiful views for photos. Watch out for the black flies.

This was so fun to revisit. Hadn't been since I was a kid. Jumping off the cliffs was just as exciting as I remembered. A Marquette MUST!

We had rented electric bikes from Marquette Outdoors and decided to check out the park. This little island was perfect for a easy cruise. We didn't jump in but we saw a lot of people jumping off the rocks into Lake Superior. Too cold for us but it looked like fun!

You have to check it out when in Marquette! Peaceful and tranquil. You can park in multiple stopping points within the park and walk to the lookout points.

I have been witness to decades of the evolution of this historic park. Not so much that changes the magic of this historic park.

Wow! This park is absolutely beautiful all throughout the year! In the warmer months you can park way down towards the black rocks, but in winter you can park by the little building up front. Jumping off the black rocks is such a surreal experience and I will definitely do it again. During the winter it is equally beautiful, with the paths mostly clear, just watch out for the ice as it gets very slippery. 10/10 I will definitely be coming back

Visited the park in June 2020. What a beautiful gem right in Marquette! Do go up and walk the hiking trails. There are breathtaking lake views high up in the cliffs and some lovely forest trails as well. I saw a lot of adorable chipmunks too.

What's cool about Presque Isle is that you can be active and hike and explore...or you can be lazy and drive around the park, stopping to take a picture here and there. No matter what you decide, you'll enjoy your time at Presque Isle Park.

What a gorgeous area! Cliff jumping, beautiful views - a great place to adventure!

Wow, enough said! If you're in the area, definitely visit the black rocks! This hidden gem was great and hardly any people were there when we were (Thursday afternoon). I can't imagine how gorgeous it would be to come here at sunset. Add that to my bucket list!

Beautiful park with lots of places to park and explore. Would love to come again sometime and spend more time. Tip - the only restrooms are at the beginning/end,

You absolutely have to see this place if you're visiting. Very cool, you have so much to explore and see and every bit of it is breath taking. All hail mother superior.

Take the loop! Go for a sunset!! Watch the ore dock boats getting filled! Have a picnic!!

Great place to visit for the day. You can dive off cliffs and swim in a lagoon or hike the paths or just enjoy the views of Lake Superior.

Along the shore of Lake Superior in the city of Marquette, Presque Isle runs several miles long, with both sandy and rocky beaches. There's a playground and a field house with concessions just as you enter Presque Isle. Often you will find public art on display in this area. The winding drive around Presque Isle takes you through some forest and beach. A dream come true for rock collectors, the beaches offer a vast array of green, reddish, blue and other colored pebbles and the highly sought after agates, beaten by the waves against the shore and roughly polished through the years. Some parts of the beach have reddish stone with white mineral veins, while others have black slate. With most of the UP having been mining areas for iron and copper, the colored stones containing traces of iron and copper serve as a reminder of the UP's history. There's some beautiful scenery to behold with old trees jutting out from cliffs overlooking the lake and occasional deer wandering by. Surfers in wetsuits swim out to ride the choppy waves of the cold lake. Some of the cliffs along the shore are downright treacherous. We visit Presque Isle in our travels every year and bring back a box of colorful stones to add to our garden's collection, a souvenir from one of our favorite places in Michigan.

Loved it. The black flies out on the black rocks were a pain to deal with but an excellent place to visit and enjoy for the day

A must do if visiting the area. Glad we rode our bikes around the park (no entry fee). Took us about an hour to ride at a leisurely pace with stops along the way to see wildlife and scenery. Was able to walk around the rocks a bit and stick my feet in Lake Superior. So clear and cold! This is a must do if visiting the area. Visited July 2015

Beautiful place. Fort as able to take my mo led there and cruise around. Nice places to stop and get out and check out the red rocks. Has a good time with my dad and buddy Cole

Loved walking through during fall colors. Minimal elevation climb so great for all levels and ages

Great place to visit in Marquette MI. The fall is one of the best seasons to visit this place. Make sure you bring warm clothes

Absolutely beautiful and peaceful place to visit. But why no dogs allowed? Marquette is such a dog friendly place, disappointed this isn't one of them. I have visited here all seasons and it's always wonderful and picturesque. Plenty of parking too.

Love this place. Wonderful views, good bike path, walking path or a short drive. Awesome in the snow. Walk out the the light house if it's open! Make sure the waves aren't too big.

Always beautiful, Presque Isle Park was a place where I spent my childhood. The wildlife and views definitely make it a place I try to visit when I'm back... But it has become overrun with cars. Walking around in the more wooded area is now far more dangerous as a result of teenagers driving far too quickly. I think it would be best if only handicapped visitors used the roads and everyone else had to walk around.

Excellent park from the views you get of marquette to the animals you will see in the park as well a the many people walking running and basically enjoying all the park has to give. Many places where you can access Lake Superior I you want to take a dip and sunset point is a nice area to view the sunset. All in all visited the park each day when we were in the area. Highly recommend.

Beautiful views! Both the drive & the hiking. Around every corner there was a more breathtaking view. We could have stared out over black rocks for hours... Bring some snacks and settle in for a while. It's rejuvenating! We saw several bicyclists on the paved trails. Looks like it's a nice ride as well. Easy trails so if you don't have time to picnic you can still visit & walk the loop and see the view in a couple hours... Totally worth it!

If you are in Marquette and the road is open to the park this is a great way to spend a day.

Was there just recently and really took Marquette for granted when I lived there. This area brings back lots of memories. All I can really say is get your butts out there to see. One of the top places to visit along with Sugar Loaf. Last time I was there I even made it all the way out to the lighthouse on the break wall, quite the calorie burner. Great place for cook outs or just enjoying nature. Go to Black Rocks and jump in.

Always liked either driving or walking around this place during college and it's one of the great landmarks of Marquette. It's a great place to take in the beauty of Lake Superior and see some great wildlife. Went up here in the summer of 2011, drove around it with my fiancee and we decided it'd be a great place to get married. The scenery is awesome from the isle in any direction: Partridge Island, Ore Dock or just out into the lake. We rented the Pavilion for our wedding this past September and it was a great location the overlooked the bay. The pavilion was reasonable, had good indoor space with fireplace, kitchen and a great outdoor space with a huge grill. The location was great for our wedding and all of our family and friends loved it. There's usually some art or trade festivals that take place throughout the summer that are fun to walk through.

Presque Isle park is one of Marquette's gems. A beautiful "almost island" that juts out into Lake Superior on three sides. Sheer rocky cliffs on one side and a more gradual yet still rocky other side with a nice Middle Bay beach. This is the perfect place for hiking, trail running, snowshoeing, XC skiing, cliff jumping at blackrocks, biking, and so much more. Personally I loved setting up my hammock and enjoying the warm summer breeze. Or practicing my balance on the slackline. The main park area would be great for a wedding. And the lighthouse is fun to boulder hop to. Make sure to visit the breakwall in the winter too. Although you can't go past the gate, the ice formations are neat. There are a couple indoor gathering spaces, as well as an ice cream store that sells Jilbert's. Presque Isle is an amazing place in Marquette and has recreation options for all four seasons.

Fantastic! Gorgeous! Wonderful! Awesome! Superb views of Lake Superior all around! It's very nice to go visit and spend a few minutes or a few hours by the lake! The views on every side are magnificent in their own way. We stopped at the lighthouse and took a walk around, it was beautiful. There is a cute little park off the center of one of the first parking areas and it was great for our daughter to play for a while and get some steam off so we could walk and explore! We had a fantastic few days in Marquette and visited Presque Isle every day and one day went twice! It's gorgeous at sunrise or sunset! Very well maintained grounds and did i mention it was gorgeous all around! We will be back!

Beautiful little park right in the middle of Marquette. Every year I'm back in the UP, I always make a stop to take in the view. Along with that, I always make sure to stop by the little ice cream shop they have at the other end of the trail. They sell Jilbert's ice cream, which is easily some of the best ice cream I've had. Really, what's not to love?

Best place to go when you have family in town and want to give them some scenic views.

Amazing park! Especially when there are little ice floes out on the water. There's tons of cute trails and black rocks that people can jump off of apparently. I went when it was freezing but it was still a great time hiking around in the snow.

I can't believe I almost didn't go to this park! I wanted to stop at every pull off and explore! A different view and experience at every turn! Love!