Marquette County High Point Trip Report
Date: June 27, 2001
Author: Richard L. Carey
Marquette County is in the center of the northern Michigan peninsula and the high point is an unnamed peak
in the northwestern part of the county not far from Mt. Arvon, the state high point. The high point is a
bump of 589 meters on the Summit Lake topo and is in the lower right corner of section 11. The 1985 map
doesn't show that the area surrounding the high point is now in the McCormick Wilderness, a part of the
Ottawa National Forest. This 16,850 acre wilderness was established in 1987.
I did this peak the day after doing Mt Arvon and my initial thought after looking at the map was that it
might be a difficult bushwhack cross-country from the road to White Deer Lake. After getting to the
trailhead (see driving directions below), I found that the road to White Deer Lake is closed at highway 607
and the area is now wilderness. Also, the Forest Service map at the trailhead showed a trail that went over
close to the high point called the North Country Trail. I was happy to see that!
There is a bridge at the trailhead crossing the combined Peshekee River and Baraga Creek. About 100 feet
east of the bridge the trail takes off on the right. There is no sign to mark it. The trail is little used and easy
to loose so one must pay attention. It is hard to follow particularly in areas of thick ferns. I reached the
small ridge with the high point in about 1 1/2 hours. The whole route is in forest with no views and the high
point is not in the clear either. I found what looked to be the highest spot and left a register by a tree.
There were no signs of anyone having been there. The GPS was handy to make sure I was at the right spot.
It was a pleasant hike, although unusually warm at that time, and the ticks and mosquitoes were out too.
Allow about 3 hours round-trip on this trail which is about 2 miles each way.
Elevation gain is minimal at maybe 300 feet.
Driving / Hiking directions
To reach the trailhead, take highway 41 west for 5.1 miles from its junction with route 95. Route 95 goes
north from the Wisconsin/Michigan border at Iron Mountain. After the 5.1 miles turn right (north) onto
route 607 toward Lake Arfelin. After 9.2 miles on this paved but rough road turn right to the White Deer
Lake trailhead which is just off the road a short distance. The Forest Service has a self-issue wilderness
permit that you should fill out. Start the hike heading east across the bridge and then in about 100 feet look
for the North Country Trail on your right. There is no sign. About 100 feet past a rock clearing the trail makes
an "S" bend, a sharp right heading back west before turning east again. Eventually leave the trail and
head SE up and along a NW/SE running ridge for about 300 feet to the high point.