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Visit & FAQ

Getting here, and good to know

We’re 12 miles north of downtown Marquette on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, at the end of a mile of gravel off County Road 550. Follow the orange arrows; your phone’s map may try to send you down a logging track.

Map of the area around Tamarack Pines County Road 550 runs north-west from Marquette along the Lake Superior shore, past Sugarloaf Mountain and Little Presque Isle, to Kivi Lake Road and the campground. Big Bay is further north. Sawyer International Airport is south of Marquette. LAKE SUPERIOR Granite Island CR 550 Marquette Presque Isle Park Sugarloaf Mtn Little Presque Isle Kivi Lake Rd Tamarack Pines ← Big Bay Airport & US-41 south ↓ N

Directions

Finding us

Tamarack Pines Campground & Cabins
2150 Kivi Lake Road
Marquette, MI 49855

From downtown Marquette · 25 min

Head north on Presque Isle Avenue and pick up County Road 550 toward Big Bay. Go 11 miles, past Sugarloaf Mountain and Little Presque Isle, then turn right on Kivi Lake Road at our orange sign. We’re a mile down the gravel, on the left.

From the south · Green Bay 3 hr, Chicago 6 hr

US-41 north to Marquette, then follow the directions above. Fill up in town: there’s no gas on County Road 550 until Big Bay.

Flying in

Sawyer International Airport is about 45 minutes away, with car rental at the terminal.

Big rigs

County Road 550 is paved but winding, with steep grades north of town; take it slow. Kivi Lake Road is graded gravel with no low branches or bridges, and our turn is wide enough for a 45-foot rig with a tow.

Arriving

The first ten minutes

Stop at the office by the entrance. We’ll hand over your site tag, a trail map and the paddling flag forecast, and point out where the firewood is.

Check-in
From 3 pm
Check-out
By 11 am
Office
8 am – 9 pm in season
Quiet hours
10 pm – 7 am
Gate
Always open

Pack these

  • Layers: nights on the lake drop to the 40s°F, even in July
  • Bug spray and a head net for June
  • Water shoes for the stony beach
  • A headlamp with a red setting
  • Groceries from Marquette: the store is snacks and basics

Nearby

Worth the drive

FAQ

Questions we hear at the office

Something else? Send us a message or call (906) 555-0182.

Is there cell service?

Patchy. Most phones get a bar or two at the office and the beach; down on Pine Loop it comes and goes. There’s free Wi-Fi on the office porch, and our landline works when nothing else does.

Can we swim in the lake?

Yes, if you’re brave: the water is in the 50s°F most of the summer and low 60s in a warm August. There’s no lifeguard. Watch the flag by the beach stairs; red means rip currents or big waves, so stay out.

Are there bears?

Black bears live in these woods and very occasionally walk through camp. Keep food, coolers and trash in your vehicle or the cabin overnight, and use the bear-proof bins by each bathhouse.

How bad are the bugs?

Blackflies peak from late May to mid-June, mosquitoes after rain. A breeze off the lake keeps the tent sites on the bluff clear most evenings. By August it’s mostly fine, and September is bliss.

Can I bring my own firewood?

Please don’t. Firewood carries forest pests like emerald ash borer. Buy it here (pre-order it and it’ll be at your site) or from a seller within a few miles.

Which sites are quietest?

T1 and T3 at the far end of the bluff, E2 in the hemlocks, and F5 by the creek. Families with young kids tend to like E8 by the playground. Tell us what you’re after when you book.

Can we launch our own boat?

Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards launch from the beach by the kayak rack. There’s no ramp for trailered boats; the nearest is in Marquette.

Are you open in winter?

The campground closes after the third weekend of October and the road isn’t plowed. The office answers the phone and email on weekdays all winter, and you can book next season online any time.