DITA-2022VisitorGuide FINAL-WEB

The sun peeks above the horizon…shadows give way and
daylight begins its long westward trek across Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula. Weathered gray cliffs of limestone, located
at the far eastern end of Drummond Island, are the first to feel
the warmth of day. Standing over 100’ above the waves of
the great North Channel of Lake Huron the cliffs command
a sweeping view to the east. This is Marblehead.
Marblehead has a geographic and geologic history that far
outshines its diminutive size. The limestone that comprises
the bluffs here was laid down in the early Devonian Period.
To most this means nothing but trust me this is a long, long,
looong time ago…on the order of 400 million-plus years.
You see, at that time much of today’s Midwestern region lay
beneath the warm waters of a huge, shallow sea. Over time
the sediments which would one day be the
limestone of Marblehead was laid down and as
the sea retreated this rock became exposed. As
it turned out Marblehead would mark the edge
of this relatively weather-resistant limestone
layer. I was shocked to discover that the cliffs I
would be standing on are in fact part of a
larger limestone entity famously known as the
Niagara Escarpment. Marblehead sits at the apex of this
900-mile long escarpment which is more commonly known
for the huge water fall at its east end but also extends to
east-central Wisconsin in the west. In Michigan, Marblehead
is the only place the escarpment shows its face in any
remarkable form.
A Jeep Trail…
The path to Marblehead is quite well travelled. The roads
leading out to and surrounding Marblehead are popular offroad
destinations. In fact, Drummond Island is frequently the
site of Jeep Jamborees. As such, the drive out to Marblehead
is not for the faint-of-heart, or at least not for those
without a four-wheel drive they don’t mind giving a good
workout.
From Sitgreaves Bay the trail briefly passes along the lakeshore
with nice views of the Great North Passage to the east.
Soon, though, the trail tackles the escarpment climbing from
the conifer lowlands to the mixed hardwoods above. The
trail is rocky but, as it doubles as a road, is clear and wide.
Once atop the escarpment the path levels off passing
Marblehead is the easternmost
point in the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan and favorite destination
for off-road enthusiasts.
Niagara Escarpment
Generally referred to as the Niagara Escarpment, this natural wonder can
be traced almost continously along the eastern part of Wisconsin, Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula, and New York State to the famous flowing waters of
Niagara Falls. The Escarpment is a United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Biosphere Reserve and has
the oldest forest ecosystem and trees in eastern North America.
Background photo: Brette Crane
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