Experiences

Explore Marquette County through guided outdoor experiences, local history, and private adventures.

Start Your Next Adventure

Wintergreen Guiding offers both scheduled public experiences and private custom trips throughout Marquette County. Whether you’re visiting for a guided walking tour, planning a full day outdoors, or looking for an Outdoor Activities Program, each experience is designed around honoring the history, respecting the land, and feeding the curiosity.

Historic Downtown Marquette Walking Tour

Explore the history, culture, and waterfront of downtown Marquette on a guided walking experience through the heart of the city. Beginning near Lower Harbor and following the Lake Superior shoreline, this tour weaves together local history, maritime stories, architecture, industry, and the people who helped shape Marquette into the community it is today. Along the way, we’ll visit the harbor and ore docks, Founders Landing, historic Front Street, and several of downtown’s most recognizable landmarks while discussing everything from shipping and mining to recreation, tourism, and everyday life along the lakeshore.

Designed for visitors and locals alike, this relaxed walking tour offers a deeper connection to Marquette through storytelling, conversation, and a slower look at the places many people pass by every day. The route follows sidewalks, paved pathways, and downtown streets at an easy pace with frequent stops along the way, making it an accessible and engaging way to experience the city.

Dates: Every Wednesday in June, July, and August

Time: 4:30 PM

Price: $25 for adults, $15 for anyone under 18

Outdoor activities program

The Outdoor Activities Program is designed to help young people develop confidence, curiosity, and a lasting connection to the outdoors. Rather than simply going for a hike, participants explore forests, shorelines, and trails through guided discovery, learning to ask questions, solve problems, and notice the stories written into the landscape. Every activity blends adventure with hands-on learning, encouraging participants to better understand the natural and cultural history of the places they visit.

Each program is built around emergent learning, with small group sizes that allow every participant to engage, explore, and contribute. Whether identifying plants and wildlife, investigating geological features, uncovering local history, or building outdoor skills, the emphasis is on creating meaningful experiences that inspire stewardship and a sense of place. By the end of the program, participants leave with new knowledge, stronger outdoor confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the landscapes of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Dates: August 10, 11, 13, and 14th

Time: morning session (9 AM - 12 PM) or afternoon session (1 PM - 4 PM)

Price: $180

Half/full day Custom Trips

As part of our core experiences, we offer custom outdoor guided trips designed around your interests, pace, and curiosity. Browse the landscape categories below to learn more about the different places where we operate in and around Marquette.

The Lakeshore

Explore Lake Superior’s historic harbor, rugged shoreline, hidden coves, and beautiful beaches. Locations include:

  • Downtown Marquette Historic District

  • Presque Isle Park

  • Little Presque Songbird Trail

  • Wetmore Landing & Little Presque Isle

  • Marquette City Loop

Forests & Rivers

Dive into old growth pine stands, quiet trails, waterfalls, and rivers, only found in the interior landscape of Marquette County. Locations include:

  • Chocolay River Bayou

  • Lower Dead River Falls

  • North Trails

  • South Trails

  • Yellow Dog River

Ridges & Summits

Traverse the panoramic viewpoints, exposed ridges, and guided summit climbs in the most rugged landscape in the Michigan. Locations include:

  • Sugarloaf

  • Mt. Marquette

  • Hogback

  • Greywalls Ridge

  • Kona Hills

Backcountry skiing

Tour the wild backcountry of the central UP on cross country skis. Locations include:

  • McCormick Tract

  • Rock River Canyon

  • Greywalls Ridge

  • Presque Isle

  • Lake LeVasseur

Ready to build your custom trip?

Private guided trips are fully customizable and can include multiple locations, pacing options, local history, scenic overlooks, and more. Click the button below for information on how to plan your day.