LAKE SUPERIOR

Marquette County's crowned jewel, the pristine Superior, is the largest fresh water lake in the world, spanning 31,700 square miles and outlining Marquette County with 80 miles of shoreline.

Comb the fine sand beaches for gemstones such as agates, amethyst and greenstone or venture onto the lake on a charter fishing boat, sailboat, or sea kayak; just a few of the ways to witness nature's awesome wonder in Superior.

Lake Superior Marinas
The city of Marquette supports two marinas on Lake Superior, the Presque Isle Marina off Presque Isle Park and the Cinder Pond Marina adjacent to the Ellwood Mattson Lower Harbor Park and downtown.

The Presque Isle and Cinder Pond Marinas offer VHF radio, gasoline and diesel fuel, water, electricity, restrooms and showers, holding tank pump-outs, launch ramps and combine for 198 slips for transient and seasonal dockage. Both are commercially available. The Cinder Pond also offers laundry facilities.

A harbormaster is on duty from 7 am to 10 pm May through October.

Access to Lake Superior can also be obtained in Big Bay via a public launching dock located off County Road 550. Protection from the large break wall makes anchoring possible.

Regattas on Superior
Marquette County sailboat enthusiasts take to the waters of Lake Superior every Wednesday evening and some weekends in the summer for hotly contested races near the Lower Harbor Park. Amateur sailors maneuver around the buoyed course for a five-mile race competing for traveling trophies. The 20-year tradition offers spectators some two hours of unique excitement.

Lake Superior Fishing
Anglers taking to the waters of Lake Superior -- the greatest of the Great Lakes -- have the opportunity to reel in native lake trout, Chinook, salmon, coho salmon, whitefish, steelhead, splake and Menominee.

Those looking for a guide may call upon several charter fishing services operating out of Marquette.

Lake Superior Sea Kayaking
You haven't been kayaking until you've experienced the waters of Lake Superior and taken in the breathtaking view from its shoreline off Marquette County. Countless inland lakes and rivers also lend themselves to kayakers.

Draft your own tour or take a guided adventure along Superior's southern shore. Glide through the clear water past waterfalls, rocky cliffs, abandoned caves and beautiful sand beaches.

Experienced kayakers are waiting to share points of interest, directions to public launch sites, current paddling conditions and local forecasts. Rental equipment is readily available.

See Downwind Sports for demos and information.

Hiawatha Water Trail
Running 120 miles from Big Bay to Grand Marais Michigan on Lake Superior’s south shore, the Hiawatha Water Trail (HWT) follows a shoreline paddled by Native Americans, Voyageurs and early European explorers. Experience some of the most scenic paddling available in the Midwest at places such as Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Island National Recreation Area, Hiawatha National Forest and other public lands. Stopping in at the communities of Big Bay, Marquette, Munising and Grand Marais, a paddler finds places filled with history and friendly people.

Lake Superior Beaches
The city of Marquette maintains lifeguarded beaches along Lake Superior June through Labor Day. With miles of shoreline, opportunities for splendid walks in the the sand and other recreational opportunities abound.

South Beach is located off Lake Street and offers restrooms, volleyball courts and playground equipment.

McCarty's Cove on scenic Lakeshore Drive has park benches, picnic tables, cooking grills, restrooms and playground equipment.

Sandy beaches can also be found along M-28 east of the city of Marquette where state highway M-28 winds along Lake Superior.

On County Road 550 heading to Big Bay, public beach areas are found at Little Presque Isle and Wetmore's Landing. At Big Bay, take in the breath taking view of the Big Bay Harbor at Squaw Beach.

Marquette Underwater Preserve
Explore Lake Superior shipwrecks while scuba diving off the shores of Marquette.

The Marquette Preservation Unit includes some 24 miles of shoreline around Marquette and extends to the 200 foot depth contour. Explore the wrecks of wooden schooners, steamers and commercial fishing vessels downed by Superior's gales and fog, and unique geological formations.

Access to the dive sites is available by boat from launch ramps at Marquette's upper and lower harbors. Small boats can also be launched at the Chocolay Township launch ramp on the Chocolay River where you can reach the Charles J. Kershaw and Queen City wreck sites by navigating the shallow channel at the river mouth.

The Huron Islands Unit encompasses some of the most impressive coastline in Michigan. The shore ranges from sandy beaches to towering cliffs, backed by the scenic Huron Mountains. Much of the diving is done in the clear waters surrounding the Huron Islands, a group of rugged granite knobs rising out of Superior's depths. Boaters can reach the Huron Islands from the Big Bay Harbor of Refuge at Big Bay or from Witz's Marina at Skanee in neigboring Baraga County.