Marquette Michigan: Home to the U.P's best Longboarding
The Marquette area offers riders a variety of terrain to longboard from casual beach side riding, campus cruising or bombing long downhill runs. For skaters from outside of the Upper Peninsula, it can be difficult to find the sweet places to drop your board and put your wheels to the pavement. The following information will provide you the best and most fun places to bring a board and bomb hard, or take a leisurely cruise to enjoy the amazing sights of Marquette.
Marquette City Bike Path
One of the most well-known places to longboard in Marquette is on the city bike path. For those learning on a longboard, the bike path is 19 miles of paved trail that circles the city from Presque Isle Park in the north, to the town of Harvey in the south. Relatively flat, the bike path is perfect for cruising on, with miles of coastline and smooth paths with beautiful views of Lake Superior. During the ride, cool off at one of the many sand beaches located next to the trail.
NMU Campus
Once classes end for the day and the sun goes down, it’s a perfect time to grab your board and skate the deserted sidewalks and roads around campus! Smooth pavement, interesting curves, and many hills makes this a great place to hang out for a quick session.
Iron Ore Heritage Trail
The Iron Ore Heritage Trail is a 47-mile, multi-use, interpretive trail that crosses the Marquette Iron Range. Newly paved and all downhill to Marquette it is a great cruiser ride with no vehicle traffic! Hitch a ride up to Northwoods Drive where it will connect with the trail. Hang on as it is down hill the entire way to downtown Marquette!
CR 550
Unlike the bike path or campus riding, most downhill skaters use the open road and it can be dangerous or even fatal if you’re not safe. If you choose to ride the wilderness road of CR550 keep in mind it is an active road with heavy truck traffic. Characterized by brand new pavement, long gradual downhills, 550 is a long boarders dream! Utilizing spotter cars and communications is highly recommended on these long winding cruiser hills.
CR 553/Silver Creek Road
If long, straight, steep rides are your thing, grab your helmet and head on out to Silver Creek Road! This open road is fun to skate, but always remember that it’s not made for skaters, it’s made for cars; fast, and potentially deadly cars.
The Upper Peninsula is the perfect place to enjoy cruising on a longboard! Stop by the Marquette store to see our large selection of decks, wheels, bearings, tools and protection!
