4.5Mission Point Lighthouse(916 reviews) - Nice drive to see the lighthouse Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses
Mission Point Lighthouse has been a Traverse City and Old Mission Peninsula icon for decades. Located at the north end of a picturesque drive along M-37 through cherry orchards and vineyards, Mission Point Lighthouse stands as a classic piece of Michigan history. While it no longer guides mariners through West Grand Traverse Bay as it did from September 10, 1870 until it was decommissioned in 1933, Mission Point Lighthouse now offers visitors a peek into what life was like around the turn of the century for lighthouse keepers and for others who lived and worked in the area at the time. Self-guided tours of the lighthouse museum for daily visitors in May-October, and weekends in November.See more..
4.5Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse(694 reviews) - This site was my first taste of Mackinaw City. Temporarily closed - Closed until May 11, 2023 Spent 1-2 hours Lighthouses • History Museums
Made to be Seen. A point in the storm and a guiding beacon since 1889, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse helped passing ships navigate through the treacherous waters of the Straits of Mackinac. There's just as much to see from the top of the tower as inside the original buildings. Authentically restored quarters and exhibits, including the original lens and the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Museum, this "Castle of the Straits" is a true gem of the Great Lakes. This is Mackinac.See more..
I arrived in Southhaven early and was able to find a parking place right downtown. And I walk to the lighthouse which was about a mile round trip. Really nice Beach area. The lighthouse is at the end of the boat Marina so it was fun to watch the boats go through the channel. The town itself was full of restaurants and little beach shops. Once you get out of the lighthouse area the rest of the town is pretty run down. So the concentrated area where it would be considered the tourist area is very small parking is definitely at a premium.See more..
This is a great place to walk the pier and watch the sunset, even on a cold fall day. I suppose that could be said of any lighthouse/beach on the Michigan side of Lake Michigan, but it holds true here. Right now the lake water level is high, so be prepared to get your feet wet if you go to the far side of the outer light. We parked for free, but I doubt you could during the peak tourist season.See more..
Emmet County owns the historic McGulpin Point Lighthouse, which protected shipping on the Straits of Mackinac against storms, fog and rocks between 1869 and 1906. It was purchased by the county in 2008, which reopened McGulpin to the public with a gala celebration on May 30, 2009. The site is approximately 10 acres and is a half mile north of the Headlands. It includes 336 feet of shoreline on the Straits with a commanding view of the Mackinac Bridge. Trail to the Straits includes new interpretive signage coming in Summer 2015! Beautifully maintained grounds and interior. There is always something new at McGulpin Point!See more..
I came to Michigan to visit lighthouses. This one was on my list south of Ludginton. Since I visited Big Sable, my visit would not of been complete without seeing Little Sable. The beach is very nice here. The view is even better. I like the fact the lighthouse is now back to its original brick form. At one time it was a white lighthouse. There is an $8 fee per person to go up. Coupons/discounted passes can be found to lighten the cost. Either way your cash goes to a good cause. Enjoy the adventure, it was sure worth it for me!See more..
4.5Big Sable Point Lighthouse(393 reviews) - Well Worth the Effort to Reach The Impressive Big Sable Lighthouse Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Lighthouses
Though it is a nearly 2 mile walk down a soft sand road, it is well worth the effort to see this impressive historic lighthouse on a beautiful stretch of Lake Michigan. Fortunately on the day we were there, there was an overcast sky and temps were in the low 70’s so it was a pleasant walk. There is no shade on the walk, so be aware that on a sunny, warm day it may become quite uncomfortable particularly if humidity is high. Bring water, a hat, and wear sunscreen! A few days in the summer there is a bus that ferries visitors back and forth so for those who cannot make a 2-mile trek it is worth checking into. The lighthouse is closed on Mondays.See more..
4.5St. Joseph Lighthouses(344 reviews) - Gorgeous day for a stroll on the north pier — leading out to both the Inner and Outer Lighthouses. Lighthouses
When the weather is good and you can safely walk out onto the North Channel Pier — you’ll be rewarded for a scenic panoramic view of Lake Michigan and up close images of the two lights that comprise the Saint Joseph Lighthouses. Silver Beach Park is nearby and of course the quaint community of downtown St. Joe with shops and eateries is within walking distance back up on the bluff. Sunsets are spectacular. And the lifestyle of a beachfront town like St.Joe is very addictive.See more..
You are able, for a fee, to get a guided tour of the house and lighthouse and then able to climb to the top to see the great view. They have a cute gift shop with a few things to see and things to buy. You park at the end of the road on the sides of the road. Make sure you don't block any driveways to the private residences there.See more..
4.5Fort Gratiot Lighthouse(262 reviews) - 92 Steps to a Great View Spent 1-2 hours Lighthouses
The Fort Gratiot Light Station is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, 2nd oldest on the Great Lakes. The current tower was erected in 1829 and has helped guide mariners and ships for over 187 years between Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. Deeded to St. Clair County Parks & Recreation Commission in 2011, this 5 acre campus has already seen restoration of several of the seven buildings on site, with more improvements planned every year. The Port Huron Museum operates the activities at the site. Various programs include "Overnight at the Light, where groups of 20 - 40 people can spend the night in the remodeled, 1872 Duplex. A beautiful gift shop, guided tours for only $7.00, spacious grounds, programming and exhibits go on throughout the season (May - December). Also available for special events: weddings , reunions, parties and professional & social events. OPEN: Now through November 13,2016: Sat./Sun. only, 11 am - 5 pm November 19 - December 18, 2016: Sat. 11 am - 8 pm for Candlelight Tours;Sundays 11 am - 5 pm December 27-29, 2016 11 am - 5 pm December 30: CLOSED UNTIL MAY 4, 2017, except for special events and Overnights. Looking forward to welcoming you!See more..
My husband and I were in Livingston for one night on our travels around Lake Michigan. This is an unusual looking lighthouse that is well worth the visit. I can’t swim so it made me a bit nervous walking the concrete pier out into the lake, but I am really glad that I did it. We climbed to the top. It was a cloudy day so we couldn’t see very well but the guide at the top was very nice and informative.See more..
We enjoy lighthouse tours, and even in this pandemic where warnings are everywhere about not touching anything, Grand Traverse was not a disappointment. Only small groups can go through at one time, and everyone must be masked and gloved. The volunteers at the door provide plastic gloves and signs throughout warn people to keep masks and gloves on because failure to do so means shutting down and cleaning. This results in a three-day shut down, so if you visit, follow directions. Also, because the tower is so tight, it is impossible to go up inside, but the rooms are interesting to see. The fog horn building was open and an intern mans it, waiting to answer questions about the shipwreck artifacts or procedures used to explore shipwrecks. Again, you'll have to wait in line because only five are allowed in the building at one time. Views of the bay are beautiful. We saw three swans drifting by on our visit.See more..
We weren't able to tour the lighthouse, but it's still a very nice place to visit. You can park in the lot and can easily walk to the lighthouse as well as the beach. The entire area is very pretty and it was very fun for my 4 year-old son! Definitely a must-stop if you are in the area.See more..
Absolutely beautiful views! Get to the beach off 5th street before 11am and find plenty of parking. The lighthouse is painted perfectly and the pier is nice and wide to stroll on. **beware of some wet spots that can be slippery probably from algae growth** Better than most for families with small children, or strollers, etc. The 5th Street beach had a concession stand that opened around noon, and clean bathrooms. See more..
5.040 Mile Point Lighthouse(120 reviews) - Working 4th order fresnel lens! Sunday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses
Don’t miss this lighthouse and park. The grounds are beautiful and consist of lighthouse keeper’s house (museum), tower to the lens, gift shop, pilot house of a Great Lakes Freighter, fog signal building and a shipwreck from 1905. The buildings and gift shop are staffed by wonderful, knowledgeable and friendly volunteers. The 4th order fresnel lens is still owned by the Coast Guard and is the only one still working on Lake Huron. Just 53 steps to the top! Since this is a county park you can swim, kayak and have a picnic. It is possible to kayak to the wreck of the Fay or even scuba dive/snorkel as it is about 600ft from shore. Part of it is on shore. The gift shop has nice things but no food or drinks so bring water and food. Admission is free but donations are welcome. A great place to visit!See more..
Sail the Straits of Mackinac! Sixteen historic lighthouses lie within easy cruising distance of Mackinaw City. Travel in comfort and safety on Shepler's spacious vessels during these fascinating tours. For close to three centuries, the Straits of Mackinac has been a vital nautical thoroughfare, providing passage between Lakes Huron and Michigan. But traveling its famed blue waters has not come without risk. Over the many decades, lighthouses were built to protect mariners from dangerous shoals and reefs. Each has a story to tell. Shepler's exclusive Lighthouse Cruises are voyages of discovery. Guests are treated to awe-inspiring views and the fascinating history surrounding these Great Lakes guardians.See more..
We visited the keepers house first and was given a tour by Carl who was fantastic and really knows the history of the lighthouse keepers and Coast Guard that took over. The “new” lighthouse next door has 138 steps and is the tallest in the Great Lakes that is open to the public to climb. The 3rd order fresnel lens is on display at the bottom by the gift shop. It is $5 to climb this lighthouse and price includes the old Presque Isle lighthouse. You can go outside on the catwalk; most Great Lakes lighthouses you cannot go on the catwalk. Views are beautiful.See more..
On our tour of Lake Huron lighthouses, stopped to see this one. The lighthouse had a small museum that was a few dollars and TOTALLY worth it. Steve gave a great history lesson of the Lake, wrecks, and lighthouse. While you could not go up into the light, the artifacts and literature were fantastic. Steve is a wealth of knowledge and fun to talk to!See more..
4.5Sturgeon point lighthouse(71 reviews) - Sturgeon Point lighthouse park is a hidden gem. A Fritomann review. Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses
We came on a Saturday afternoon, coming from the Tawas Point lighthouse on the way back to our hotel in Alpena. Just follow the signs, and call ahead to ensure they will be open. Sturgeon lighthouse is being restored inside the residence, so on this day no one could go upstairs to see the old living quarters. But we went right up to the top of the tower and there was a young woman waiting there to answer questions etc. She was a lot of fun in her serious demeanor. We hung around for awhile, then we left to make way for a young family that was waiting, we could hear their excitement all the way down there. I got my passport stamped and even bought a Sturgeon Point tee shirt. So this was Fritomann's last lighthouse stop on a whirlwind tour of Lake Huron attractions in July, 2022. Full speed ahead captain.See more..
The walk out to the lighthouse gives a great view of Lake Michigan. The beach was clean. There was a swing set and a slide on the beach. To swing on the beach was awesome! even for a 60 yr old! We enjoyed Charlevoix.See more..
National Historic Register! This was a very quiet spot where you can climb up the lighthouse (not very tall but its only $5 for both this one and New taller lighthouse mile down the road), and its right on the beach that you can just sit and enjoy the sound of the waves or if its hot you can wade out into the water. The kids enjoyed seeing the old light house and being able to climb up. You can also ring the old bell!See more..
We drove all the way from the airport to see this lighthouse. You can get all the way up to see beautiful views. Kids loved it. Also took small path leading to lakefront beach- great viewsSee more..
4.5Harbor Beach Lighthouse(22 reviews) - “A Nice Trip Back in History” Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses
July 18, 2015 marked the 130th Birthday of the Harbor Beach Lighthouse and the day was filled with celebratory events. Tours of the lighthouse through out the day, a quilt show, guest speakers, a parade, musical entertainment and a wonderful dinner to cap off the celebration. A tour of the lighthouse begins with a 10 minute water trip by launch from the marina which, as you approach by water you get to appreciate the value of the location and position of the 130 year old structure. It is fun to climb the round steps and view the living quarters of the Keeper and his assistants, & also to climb to the top and stand on the Gallery to appreciate the wonderful views. As you wander through the lighthouse, you will notice even the doors to the living quarters were “rounded” to fit the “rounded” walls. Harbor Beach, Michigan is on the west coast of Lake Huron about an hours drive north from Port Huron on US 25. Enjoy !See more..
Historic lighthouse that was restored and is a popular tourist attraction.See more..
4.5Muskegon South Pierhead Lighthouse(15 reviews) - Great experience at South Pierhead Lighthouse and South Breakwater Light Spent 1-2 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Lighthouses
I visited both of the South Pierhead Lighthouse and the South Breakwater light during my stay in Muskegon in early October 2020. I visited the South Breakwater light first and due to the off season (and possible covid-19) there was barely anyone on the beaches or at the light houses, which was ideal for me. The South Breakwater light is about a mile round trip and gives you beautiful views of Lake Michigan and of the other light houses surrounding the area. The breakwater light itself is a very interesting sight, but there are no rails on the concrete pad where it sits and when wet it can become slippery so be careful when visiting. The South Pierhead Lighthouse was much easier to get to and just as interesting although between the two the breakwater light was more fun to visit. I definitely recommend visiting both in the early morning to avoid a rush of people if you want to get good pictures. See more..
The visit out to the lighthouse is one of the best excursions we have taken. The history, seeing the renovation in progress, enjoying the beautiful view from the lighthouse is well worth the $50 price - which I call a donation. Absolutely a must do when in the area!See more..
4.0Peche Island Rear Range Light(1 review) - Nice light that was relocated from the river to the shore Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Lighthouses Peche Island Light was one of the lighthouses on my list to see on my Michigan Shoreline Road Trip. It isn't the tallest light, or the most impressive, but it's a good one to see. You get the bonus of watching Lake Freighters and Barges on the St. Clair River, which is really impressive. The parks along the river seems to be the popular hangout area as there were lots of groups all spread out in the parks with chairs and blankets watching the ships pass by.See more..
