BIG BAY LOOP
County Road 550, located just north of Marquette off Wright Street, is an
impressive drive through cut rock harboring a beatiful array of fall color.
This 35 minute ride to Big Bay takes you winding past Sugarloaf Mountain,
Hogsback Mountain, past the Yelow Dog River and Lake Independence into Big
Bay. While there, you can see a historic hotel where the filming of the
movie "Anatomy of a Murder" took place and where Henry Ford spent much of
his time while supervising his lumber mill which manufactured the sideboards
for the early Ford station wagons. Just take in the view of the Big Bay
Harbor from Squaw Beach! On your way, you may want to stop and climb
Sugarloaf (20 minute hike) or venture off the route to Wetmore's Landing
and Little Presque Isle or take a 2.5 mile unchartered hike on the Little
Garlic River to see the falls. The return trip from Big Bay along County
Road 510 will take you through the majestic Huron Mountains and past tress
which arch over the roadway to form a tunnel of color. Approximate tour
distance: 75 miles.
MARQUETTE LOOP
Another scenic fall tour is to drive south from Marquete on US-41 and turn
in at the entrance of the Tiroler Hof Motel. Stay to your left on the
Cliff Tower Road and follow the signs up Mount Marquette for a panomaric
look of Marquette. The road comes out on County Road 553, where you turn
left and travel past Marquette Mountain Ski Resort to the intersection of
County Roads 553 and 480. Turn right on County Road 480 and drive west to
Business M-28 in Negaunee. Turn left on Business M-28 and continue west
through the historic iron mining regions of Negaunee and Ishpeming to
US-41. Turn left onto US-41 and travel west approximately three miles to
Wawonowin Road (County Road 478) and continue past the golf club and the
Greenwood Reservoir. County Road 478 takes you west 10 miles into Republic. Turn right on M-95 and travel north to US-41. Turn left on US-41 and drive west through Champion and Michigamme. In Michigamme, see craft shops and a historic log restaurant where the movie "Anatomy of a Murder" was filmed. If you would like to stretch your legs, hike on the Lookout Trail located approximately one mile north on the Peshekee Road. On the return trip to Marquette along US-41, side trips include the Moose Lift Kiosk at Van Riper State Park, the National Ski Hall of Fame in ishpeming, and the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee.
Approximate tour distance: 100 miles.
|
