Echo Lake Nature Preserve – Marquette Area

This 480 acre natural area is located 10 miles northwest of Marquette. Featured at the preserve are impressive exposed granite rocks that sit above a majestic 70-ft deep lake. Impressive views from the top of an overlook trail give sightlines to Lake Superior, Little Presque Isle and the peaks of Hogsback and Sugarloaf mountains. It’s a wonderful place to spend a quiet morning or afternoon.

 

Trail Length:

2.5 miles out and back (1 – 1.5 hours)

 

Difficulty:

Easy/ Moderate

There is a gradual climb up to the overlook (Point 3 on Map), but otherwise the trail is flat and easy to navigate.

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Trail Head Directions:

Drive 10 miles west on Big Bay Road (550) out of Marquette. Take a left on an unnamed dirt road located just south of Eagles Nest Rd. If you go past Eagles Nest Rd you went too far. Follow the dirt road straight until you end at the small parking area. The trail starts just beyond the red gate.

Google maps link.

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Trail Description:

Start from the red gate (P) and follow a 2-track road until you arrive at Echo lake (1). Take the trail to your right (North) and continue until you see another sign (2). Head right to go up to the awesome overlook (3). Continue straight to explore the peninsula (4). For experienced hikers keen at navigation, you can traverse off trail (5) which rewards views of the “finger lakes” and other balds to the south.

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Printable Map and Guide:

Echo Lake Map and Guide

Echo Lake GPS Track (GPX)

 

.Additional Resources:

Echo Lake Nature Preserve (The Nature Conservancy)

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Pictures:

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*Hiawatha Hiking Company provides these maps and resources for free using open source software. Those utilizing these hiking resources do so at their own risk. Any damages due to the use of these resources is not the liability of Hiawatha Hiking Company, LLC