Hi there!
The Sugarloaf Mountain hike in Marquette is around 1.5 miles round trip.
The best part is the hike up to the top to the Sugarloaf Mountain overlook.
It will depend on how fast or slow you are walking, but it will be around 20 minutes to hike to the top of the Sugarloaf Mountain trail.
If you’re doing a Michigan road trip in the Upper Peninsula, Sugarloaf Mountain is a top consideration for a stop to make!
The views are incredible, possibly some of the best in all of Michigan!
Side note! Check the reviews at partner websites included below!
How to save money on your trip
I use hotels.com to look for the cheapest hotels. You can also try the expedia hotels site (good for car rentals too) or see if you like any of the vrbo vacation rentals or cottages.
Munising is the major gateway town of Pictured Rocks. Look at Boarders Inn and Suites that has very good reviews, or the Au Train Motel that has okay reviews but is cheaper.
In Marquette, take a look at the Days Inn Wyndham.
Or, go camping in Pictured Rocks (book early!) or look for more Upper Peninsula campgrounds.
Empire is the small gateway town for Sleeping Bear Dunes, and Traverse City is "big" city nearby. (Look for hotels near Sleeping Bear Dunes.)
Or, go camping in Sleeping Bear Dunes.
/end side note
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To get these Lake Superior views, you will be hiking up to the overlook, and there are stairs involved.
There’s a memorial at the overlook too.
Sugarloaf Mountain is located a little outside downtown Marquette.
So it’ll be ideal to do this hike if you’re staying in Marquette.
You can also make a little detour and make this a stop on the day you drive from Pictured Rocks to the Keweenaw Peninsula or to the Porcupine Mountains.
In all, you might give yourself about an hour at Sugarloaf Mountain. It is possible to do it more quickly.
More hiking in Michigan (with views!)
See below for more pictures from Sugarloaf Mountain Natural Area!
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Now…
PHOTOS!
And getting there
Your destination for google maps can be Sugarloaf Mountain or the Sugarloaf Mountain trailhead parking.
Sugarloaf Mountain Natural Area, Marquette County
Right off the main road, you’ll see a parking lot with the sign Sugarloaf Mountain Natural Area.
There’s also a small picnic area off to the side of the parking lot if you want to eat your packed food after the hike.
From the parking lot, you’ll see the hiking trail, and then you can get started!
You will see signs for the “easy trail” and “difficult trail.”
Either way, you will need to go UP. I guess the easy trail is more gradual, or is meant to not be as strenuous. If you are somewhat active back home, you will likely be fine on either trail.
Eventually both trails will merge. The final part of the trail to the overlook is a whole bunch of stairs.
And… you’ve made it to the overlook!
It might take around 20 minutes to hike to the Sugar Mountain overlook from the parking lot.
Explore the Sugarloaf Mountain overlook area and enjoy the views of Lake Superior!!
And then once you’ve taken in the Lake Superior views, you can head back down!
And that’s a bit of what it’s like to hike to the Sugar Mountain overlook!
See more beautiful places to visit during your circle the Upper Peninsula road trip!
- Best hikes in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
- Best hikes in Pictured Rocks
- Pictured Rocks waterfalls
- Best hikes in Porcupine Mountains State Park
HAPPY HIKING SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN IN MICHIGAN!
Top places to visit in Michigan:
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
- Upper Peninsula Michigan
- Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
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