Dead River - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Presque Isle Park, serves as a popular tourist spot for outdoor recreation. The coastal park is home to stunning white sand beaches and rugged trails for mountain biking and hiking. Visitors can explore the geologic past of Presque Isle Park at the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center, which showcases shoreline rocks and explains their formation processes. Adventurous souls can canoe or kayak along the coast or trolling for salmon along its rocky jetties.

The Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Light provides a unique glimpse into maritime history. Commissioned to be built in the late 18th century, the light stands as an impressive reminder of the need for lighthouse technology to guide sailors safely around the Great Lakes. Featuring red brick construction and a unique skeletal design, it offers a look at one of the most unusual lighthouses ever constructed. At night, its bright beacon guides ships through treacherous straits.

Presque Isle is a picturesque peninsula surrounded by the waters of Lake Superior. This area is filled with many activities to do such as exploring its forests and sandstone cliffs or partaking in water sports like canoeing, kayaking and fishing. A lighthouse on the tip of the lake creates a stunning backdrop to explore nature's beauty while the nearby Presque Isle River provides the perfect opportunity to take a leisurely float.

Saint Peter Cathedral is an inspiring example of 19th century church architecture. This extraordinary building was constructed from 1854 to 1863 out of sandstone quarried from nearby Negaunee. The impressive three-story structure is highly visible on the Marquette town skyline and features stunning interior architecture that includes several stained glass windows, a wooden balcony, and ornate stone carvings.

Ellwood A Mattson Lower Harbor Park is a favorite spot among locals and visitors alike. Situated on the serene shores of Lake Superior, the park offers something for everyone! Spend a morning exploring miles of trails perfect for hiking and biking. Afterwards, relax with a picnic lunch along the beach. After dark, find a spot near the lake shore to watch the beautiful Northern Lights or hunt for agates washed ashore from centuries-old Lake Superior shipwrecks.

The Marquette Maritime Museum, celebrates the area's deep maritime history and highlights its ongoing relationship with the Great Lakes. Visitors are able to explore a variety of exhibits highlighting early Native American life, lumber schooners and freighters that have navigated the Great Lakes for over 100 years, and learn about the Lightkeepers who took on the great responsibility of maintaining lighthouses throughout Michigan.