Wetmore Landing beach, along the North Country Trail, just off Big Bay Road/County Rd 550.Wetmore Landing, on the North Country Hiking Trail is a local favorite in the Marquette area. A popular hiking route is from Little Presque Isle Point to Wetmore Landing (approximately 1.6 miles), with parking at both locations. It hugs the shoreline of Lake Superior through trails surrounded by huge pines and sweeping views of Lake Superior in all its glory. It’s also a starting point for a hike to Rum Runner’s Cove, an abandoned dock for bootleggers during Prohibition (you can still see the metal docking loops and cement landing.)
This short path through the woods leads to the beach at Wetmoor Landing.You’ll need a Michigan Recreation Pass to park in the Wetmore Landing parking lot, which is a very short hike to the beach. Country Road 550 is a gold mine for other local hotspots such as Hidden Beach, Little Presque Isle, Hogback Mountain, Echo Lake and Wetmore Pond. It’s gorgeous if you love lichen or mushrooms, in fact it’s where NMU takes their biology students for their lichen and mushroom labs. The paths have soft pine needles and are easy to walk on. Once you hit the beach there’s lots of rocky structures to hike on and it’s a great place to take your dog.
Tips from Rhianna:
During winter, paths can be slippery; wear good winter boots with lots of grip.
The wider paths are farther from the beach and make for an easier trek.
The paths closer to the beach are narrower and more rugged (but entirely doable).
If you don’t have a Michigan recreation pass, you can park along the side of the road on Country Road 550 for free.
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