It was mid-afternoon when I made it to Sugarloaf last week, about seven miles outside of Marquette, Michigan.
The weather had changed from the bright sunny skies earlier in the day to a gray covered sky, with the prospect of rain and storms coming soon.
Everyone I met in town said I shouldn’t miss the view of the area from Sugarloaf. But could I make it to the top before the rain came down? I hoped so!
The parking lot was about 3/4 full, and I could see plenty of people starting the hike up the trails.
Yes, there are two trails to the top: one marked “difficult,” the other marked “easy.” I had no idea what to expect, so I chose the “easy” trail.
Winding through the birch and maple woods, I saw little wildlife. No birds flying in the tree canopy nor squirrels scrambling up the trees.
But I couldn’t spend much time looking up; I had to concentrate on a rock-filled trail with roots sticking out of the ground every couple feet.
The trail became steeper as I saw a boardwalk with several flights of stairs ahead of me. Not sure how anyone could easily climb the sharp elevation without those stairs!
After reaching the top of numerous flights of stairs, I kept looking around the corner, wondering when they would end. I asked the family coming down the stairs, “How many more stairs to the top?”
“A few more,” the mother replied. “It’s worth it!”
I smiled, said thanks, took a gulp of water from my water bottle, and kept climbing the stairs.
Finally, I reached the top.
I could only stare in awe at the autumn colors I saw.
Nestled on the central southern shore of Lake Superior, Marquette has a beautiful harbor surrounded by northern forests. Oranges, reds, yellows, and greens from the pine trees made a stunning patchwork of color everywhere I looked.
From the top of Sugarloaf (called a mountain, but it’s more like a hill at just over 1,000 feet), you can see the limestone shoreline of Lake Superior as well as the maple, pine, and birch forest surrounding Marquette.
Three observation decks at the top of Sugarloaf offer different views of the area, facing the city of Marquette, Wetmore Landing, and Hogsback Mountain. I was impressed with the decks, and am still wondering how they managed to get all that lumber up Sugarloaf.
After about 20 minutes, I saw more gray clouds moving in, and decided it was time to head back down Sugarloaf. I took the difficult trail for my descent, and soon discovered why it was named difficult.
The walk is shorter, but the elevation is steeper on the difficult trail. Add almost 75 percent of the trail covered in rocks and roots, and you have a more challenging hike.
If you live in Michigan, you know the state is ablaze with gorgeous fall colors this month.
Whether you’re in the Lower Peninsula or the Upper Peninsula, you’ll find brilliant reds, gorgeous coppers, and bright yellows dotting the roads, landscapes, and vistas throughout the state.
I hope you can get out and enjoy the colors!
