Presque Isle Park

Presque Isle Park is a forested peninsula covering 323 acres that juts north into Lake Superior, lined with sandstone cliffs, walking trails, and natural beaches. The shoreline features several lookout points and quiet rest areas, while the forest behind maintains thick tree cover and underbrush throughout.

Native communities lived on this land thousands of years ago and left traces of their presence behind. In 1891, Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect of New York's Central Park, visited and urged the city to keep the peninsula unchanged.

The name comes from French and means "almost an island", perfectly describing this wooded promontory's shape. Visitors today can walk open forest paths and spot white-tailed deer that roam freely, animals that have long inhabited this land.

The park is open daily and offers picnic spots, restrooms, and marked trails suitable for different fitness levels. Wear comfortable shoes since some paths can be uneven, and arrive early on nice days when parking fills up quickly.

The forest is home to a white-tailed deer population that includes rare pale or whitish individuals visible on forest walks. These light-colored animals carry a genetic difference that sets them apart from their darker relatives.