Reservations for the 2026 camping season are open as of Monday, January 5th, 2026.

The 2026 camping season will be May 22 to October 18. Hiawatha Music Festival July 17-19, 2026.

Please disregard this alert on your reservation confirmation: Unit # is subject to change. We do not use this aspect of the booking software. You will be in the site you have selected as indicated on your reservation.

General Information

The City-owned and operated Tourist Park is located approximately 1/2 mile north of Wright Street on Sugar Loaf Avenue on the north edge of the City. Fronting the Dead River, the nicely wooded 40-acre park provides visitors with a clean, pleasant and convenient place to camp in the immediate Marquette area. There are approximately 20 acres of campground space with 110 camping sites. One hundred sites provide electrical hookups to accommodate RVs and trailers with the remainder sites designed for primitive style tenting. Each camping site has a picnic table and fire pit as well as its designated hook-ups. There are 38 sites with water and sewer service. Campground facilities also include hot showers, restrooms/flush toilets, sanitary dump stations and paved roads. The campground has a small playground, grills, grassy open space, hiking trails, bike pump track and a large day-use area with three bookable picnic sites. It is one mile from Lake Superior beaches, next to the City multi-use bike path, and connects to the Noquemanon Trail Network–miles of unpaved access to hikers, mountain bikers and runners. Tourist Park is the site of the annual Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival.

There is a $7.00 reservation fee. There is a 14-night limit on reservations, and reservations may be made after January 5nd, 2026 at 8:00 am Eastern Time. Online reservations must be made at least two days in advance of camping date. The camping season begins May 22nd, 2026 and ends October 18th, 2026 depending on weather. There is a $20.00 cancellation fee.

2026 Rates: $30 primitive/tent site, $45 electric, $55 full hook-up. $10 early check-in as available.

Professional staff are able to assist with questions and provide brochures for your needs. Office Hours are 8am-10pm daily. 9:00am-7:00pm after Labor Day. Office Phone (906)228-0465. We ask all campers to please abide by the Tourist Park rules and policies.

Cancellation and Refund Policy for Campsites:

Changes or cancellations to your permit must be made 72 hours in advance of check-in time (3 p.m.) and will be granted a refund minus the $20 cancellation fee. After arrival there will be no refunds. To make a cancellation, please call the park office.

General Campground Policies

– Online booking for 2026 opens Jan 5 at 8:00am. Please be aware that reservations cannot be made for more than 14 consecutive days. Patrons must leave the park for 48 hours before they may return. Changes or cancellations to your permit must be made 72 hours in advance of check-in time (3pm) and will be granted a refund minus the $20 cancellation fee. After arrival there will be no refunds.

– Check-in time is 3:00pm.

· $10 early check-in may be available but not guaranteed.

– Check-out time is 12:00pm.

– Quiet hours are from 10:00pm – 8:00am.

– Maximum of 2 vehicles per site and no more than 8 people per site. One RV and one tent or two tents are permitted at each site. No vehicles permitted on tent sites.

– Hammocking or slacklining on trees is not permitted. Hammock stands can be rented from the park office.

– All visitors must check in at the office for a pass and need to leave the site by 10:00pm – no exceptions.

– Please keep dogs quiet and leashed at all times. Doggie bags are provided outside the office and campsites 12 and 70 for your convenience.

– Bathroom cleaning hours during the summer are as follows: 10 am-12 pm; 7-9 pm.

– Up to $120 fine for leaving refuse behind at site or in fire pit.

– Please do not bring firewood into the campground – we sell firewood on site.

– Limit stay on all sites: 14 nights. You may return again after 48 hours.

-Campsite reservation address must match individual occupying a site. Staff may request ID upon check-in. An individual making a reservation shall include a permanent residence. No third-party reservations unless permitted for special events.

– Firewood, ice, and Yooper Fire Starters are for sale from the main office.

– Please lock up all valuables – Tourist Park is not responsible for losses.

Beach at Tourist Park

The beach at Tourist Park will be open for the 2026 camping season.

Campground Layout & Virtual Tour COLOR MAP link to PDF map Virtual Tour- Click the yellow person in the lower right corner; drag/drop on the map to the location you would like to view. Link to google maps

Picnic Areas:

Each picnic area can be reserved for a fee of $25.00 per hour. A refundable security deposit of $100.00 is required. Vehicles enter picnic areas from the new entrance on Cty Hwy 550. Area A, situated as an open field, accommodates up to 400 participants. Area B located closer to the beach behind the bathrooms can accommodate up to 200 participants. Area C situated in the inner loop of the new day-use area accommodates up to 100 participants. No loudspeakers or amplifying equipment is permitted except with a Special Event Permit. The Community Fire Pit can also be rented hourly for $25 per hour with $100 refundable deposit.  See Schedule for picnic sites.

City Facilities & Grounds (Tourist Park Picnic Sites) Cancellation Policy:  If a reservation is cancelled 10 days or more ahead of event date, a full refund will be made to the renter less $20. If reservation is cancelled between 2 and 9 days ahead of event date, a 50% refund will be made to the renter. If reservation is cancelled within 24 hours of the event date, there will be no refund.

Public Skating ends Friday, May 29th, Drop-in Curling ends May 24th. 

Cinder Pond Marina Office Hours/Fuel Dock Hours:  9am-5:30pm.  Extended hours Memorial Day to Labor Day 9am-6:30pm. (906) 228-0469.

Open for the 2026 season May16 – October 31.

Cinder Pond Marina is home to 104 seasonal and transient slips located in the lower harbor.  The facility provides fuel, launching, docking and other support facilities for recreational boats.

Transient Reservations can be made by visiting https://www.midnrreservations.com/ or by calling Cinder Pond Marina directly during business hours.

Cinder Pond Marina Map

Cinder Pond Marina Waiting Lits Application

Presque Isle Marina Office Hours:  On call at Cinder Pond Marina (906) 228-0469.

Open for the 2026 boating season May 1 to October 31

Presque Isle Marina is home to 38 seasonal and transient slips located adjacent to Presque Isle Park.  The facility provides launching, docking and other support facilities for recreational boats.  Reservations can be made by visiting https://www.midnrreservations.com/ or by calling Cinder Pond Marina directly during business hours.

Presque Isle Marina Map

Presque Isle Marina Waiting List Application

Mooring Field

The mooring field is home to 21 seasonal and transient mooring buoys.  It is located in the safe harbor area between Frazier’s Yacht Yard and the United States Coast Guard Station Marquette.  Dinghy storage is available on the adjacent beachhead.

Mooring Field Map

Mooring Field Waiting List Application

Parks and Recreation Policy 9.1 – Harbor Slip Management Policy

Marina Rules

Marina Policy and Procedures

Winter Boat Storage (Mattson Park parking lot, north side):

Storage Information/ Application

Nautical Flag Guidelines as posted in Chapman Piloting & Seamanship 66^th Edition, Charles B. Husick

Background

Considered Marquette’s recreational crown jewel, the popular regional facility is located on Presque Isle (“almost” an island), a 323-acre forested oval-shaped headland/peninsula which juts into Lake Superior in the northern tip of the City. Presque Isle is known throughout the United States for its natural beauty.

The “Island”, as it is referred to by locals, has had many visitors starting with the prehistoric people 3,000 to 7,000 years ago. Early residents of Marquette traveled there by boat as no bridge existed over the Dead River. Originally, it was designated as a government lighthouse reservation. Through the efforts of Peter White, a bill was passed on July 12, 1886, by the United States Congress, deeding the Island to the City of Marquette. White built a road from the City to the park and planted the tall Lombardy Poplar trees which line Lakeshore Boulevard. Today, Presque Isle Park is Marquette’s most beloved attraction, offering residents year-round outdoor recreation, serene settings for nature observation and education.

Situated at the end of Lakeshore Boulevard, the showcase park is easily accessible by either the City multi-use pathway or automobile. The park supports over 100 species of native plants and diverse landscapes including pebble beaches, rocky cliffs, bogs, and forest. Major facilities at the Island include picnic areas, concession facilities (the Island Store), hiking trails, playground facilities, three drinking fountains, grassy open areas, a wood bandshell for concerts, multiple restrooms, two open air park shelter, indoor small event space and a custom-designed timber gazebo. Park Map

Picnic Areas and Facilities

Picnic tables and cooking grills dot the southern entrance area of the park. A playground area with merry-go-round, swings, slide, and climbing apparatus can be found in the greenspace on the southeast part of the island. The park also contains numerous park benches. A stone and log pavilion was constructed in 1999 to replace an old structure that was razed in 1986. The building contains a kitchen, storage area, restrooms, a 1400 square foot deck, and large interior open area designed for community events, small receptions and other gatherings. The approximately $200,000 project was funded to a large extent by donations and in-kind services and a loan by the City of Marquette. Presque Isle is also the site of the City owned Presque Isle Marina as well as the Upper Harbor light beacon and a long breakwater (or “breakwall”). Park Map

Trails and Fauna

The park is served by the John B. Anderton Trail System, winding through the interior and Peter White Drive covering the narrow outer perimeter of the Island. The scenic roadway was improved and repaved in 1999. Turnouts are provided at intervals for those wishing to stop and travel by foot on a portion or simply enjoy the scenery. The eastern coastline, filled with coves and ancient rock outcroppings, is best viewed from the outlook platform just north of the graves of Charlie Kawbawgam, the last chief of the local Chippewas, and his wife, Charlotte. Another attraction on Presque Isle Park is the white-tailed deer. This free-roaming band at times contains albino deer whose snowy-white coat dramatically contrasts with the typical brown coloring of the species. In recent years, because of artificially-provided food by park visitors and lack of predation and hunting, overpopulation of the deer, raccoons, and Canada geese have required culling, removal, and other measures to prevent over browsing and waste accumulation.

Fishing

Fishing opportunities are available at several spots in the park. As with most other fishing areas in the City, fishermen concentrate on spring and fall catches of native lake whitefish, lake trout and brook trout which were introduced for sport fishing. Most of the park’s man-made facilities are concentrated near the park’s entrance (a narrow area of land connecting the park to the mainland). Despite the seemingly large number of facilities described above, most of the Island has been kept out of development to preserve its natural beauty.

Peter White Drive

Peter White Drive meanders through Presque Isle Park offering access to the many features of the park.

The drive is open through park hours 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily in summer months. However, during this time, the seasonal portion of Peter White Drive closes to vehicular traffic during Walking Hours to allow for foot traffic. Presque Isle Park seasonal loop is open for the 2026 summer season. The park is on summer hours as of May 25, 2026.

Winter hours at Presque Isle Park are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The seasonal portion of Peter White Drive closes to vehicular traffic when snow accumulation begins. The seasonal drive remains closed through the winter months. The south portion of Peter White Drive is plowed and open during park hours throughout the winter months.

Bikes are welcome on Peter White Drive year-round. Please use paved pathways only when biking at Presque Isle Park.

Walking Hours

Below are the days and times the seasonal portion of Peter White Drive will be closed to allow for walkers. All motor vehicles are prohibited from traveling around the back portion of the Island at the following times:

• Monday and Wednesday 6:00 pm to park close
  • Tuesday and Thursday 7:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Saturday and Sunday 7:00 am to 10:00 am

The seasonal portion of Peter White Drive will remain on this schedule through November 30, unless closed early due to accumulation of snow on the road. The seasonal portion of Peter White Drive is open for summer 2026. Please note that as the days get shorter in October and November, the loop will close to vehicular traffic at dusk.

Animals

Section 28.10 *Animals Prohibited*. Animals are prohibited at the City’s Presque Isle Park, unless confined to a motor vehicle, at all public bathing beaches, at Park Cemetery, and at any special events where signs are posted specifically prohibiting animals with the exception of service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Presque Isle Facility Rentals

Bookings for summer 2026 are now open. Please call our office or stop by to book your event.

Click on each link to see information about each veune:

Presque Isle Pavilion information  View Schedule

Bandshell information View Schedule

Gazebo information View Schedule

Senior Pavilion information View Schedule

Island Store Pavilion information View Schedule

Tourist Park Picnic Site information View Schedule

No private bookings permitted at: Black Rocks, Black Rocks cove, Sunset Point pavilion, general greenspace, or beach areas.