There are roughly 700 lighthouses in the United States, and Michigan is home to more than 120 (more than any other state). Our love for Michigan travel started in the 1990s as we traveled all over the state with our Dad tracking down Michigan’s Great Lakes beacons. The Michigan Lighthouses list below showcase the lighthouses we have featured at Travel the Mitten, giving you a location (when not obvious), construction year, link to a longer post, tower height, and accessibility. We have included only lighthouses we have visited or viewed ourselves, and have not included ones that we have only seen from a distance far enough to not result in good photographs. At the bottom of this page you will also find a list of the few Michigan lighthouses we still need to visit. To maintain consistency, tower heights reference on this list we used the guide on Seeing the Light/terrypepper.com when available. If you’re looking for some fun and spooky stories you might like our Haunted Lighthouses of Michigan post. Be sure to check out our post about the United States Lighthouse Society’s passport program to get some rewards for the lighthouses you visit!
Our Ultimate Michigan Lighthouse Road Trip: Upper Peninsula
and Ultimate Michigan Lighthouse Road Trip: Lower Peninsula
will also be helpful for planning purposes.
Alpena Light
Lake Huron
1914
34 feet
on LaFarge private property; easily viewed from the pier at Bayview Park
Au Sable Pierhead Light (Oscoda)
Lake Huron
1912
34 feet
easy to visit on east side of U.S. 23, north of E. River Rd. in Oscoda
Au Sable Point Light Station (Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore)
Lake Superior
1874
87 feet
reached after a 1.5 mile hike from the Hurricane River parking area
open as a museum and for tower climbs in the summer
Beaver Island Head Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1858
46 feet
on the southern end of the island, grounds open
tower occasionally open in summer months
Beaver Island Harbor Light (St. James Harbor Light)
Lake Michigan
1870
41 feet
easily viewed from Beaver Island Ferry, grounds open
Big Bay Point Lighthouse (north of Marquette)
Lake Superior
1896
64 feet
grounds open, lighthouse operates as a bed & breakfast
Big Sable Point Lighthouse (Ludington)
Lake Michigan
1867
107 feet
reached after a 1.5 mile hike in Ludington State Park
open for tower climbs in summer months
Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse (Straits of Mackinac)
Lake Huron
1867
44 feet
privately owned; best viewed from Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise
Charity Island Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1857
45 feet
lighthouse tour and dinner cruise offered out of Au Gres
Charlevoix South Pierhead Light
Lake Michigan
1948
44 feet
easy to visit from Michigan Beach Park
Cheboygan Crib Light
Lake Huron
1884/moved to current location 1984
25 feet
easy to visit at Gordon Turner Park
tours occasionally available when the Front Range Light is open
Cheboygan Lighthouse (ruins)
Lake Huron
1859
33 feet (only foundation remains today)
reached after a 1.5 mile hike in Cheboygan State Park
Cheboygan River Front Range Lighthouse
Lake Huron/Cheboygan River
1880
44 feet
grounds open, also open for tours through GLLKA
Copper Harbor Range Lights
Lake Superior
1869
34 feet (rear) and 21 feet (front)
used as MIDNR worker housing, can be seen from road across from Fort Wilkins
Copper Harbor Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1866
42 feet
best views from Astor Shipwreck Park across from Fort Wilkins;
there are hopes that Copper Harbor Lighthouse Tours may resume in coming years
Crisp Point Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1904
58 feet
reached after roughly 18 miles of back road driving from M-123
grounds open, also open for tower climbs in summer months
DeTour Reef Light
Lake Huron
1931
78 feet
easy to view from the Drummond Island Ferry or Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise
tours and stays available through DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society
Detroit River Light
Lake Erie
1885
49 feet
distant views possible from Pointe Mouillee State Game Area
Eagle Harbor Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1871
44 feet
part of a museum complex operated by the Keweenaw County Historical Society
Eagle River Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1857
24 feet
privately owned; available for rentals on Vrbo.com
Escanaba Crib Light
Lake Michigan
1938
40 feet
easy to view from Ludington Park near the Sand Point Lighthouse
Fort Gratiot Lighthouse (Port Huron)
Lake Huron
1829 (oldest in Michigan)
85 feet
grounds and tower open through Port Huron Museums
40 Mile Point Lighthouse (Rogers City)
Lake Huron
1896
52 feet
grounds and lighthouse open as a museum
Fourteen Foot Shoal Light
Lake Huron
1930
36 feet
distant views from the Cheboygan Crib Light and Cheboygan State Park
best views come from Sheplers Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise
Frankfort North Breakwater Light
Lake Michigan
1912
67 feet
easily visited at Frankfort Public Beach and Playground
Frying Pan Island Light (Sault Ste. Marie)
St. Mary’s River
1882 (moved in 1988)
18 feet
can be easily viewed in front of the Coast Guard station
on Water St. in Sault Ste. Marie
Gladstone Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
2010
30 feet
easily viewed at Van Cleve Park
Grand Haven South Pier Lights
Lake Michigan
1905
42 feet (entrance) and 52 feet (inner)
easily visited at Grand Haven State Park
Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1868
48 feet
distant views from Sand Point Beach in Munising
best views come from Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises or Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tours
Grand Island North Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1867
40 feet
privately owned; best viewed from Riptide Ride
Grand Island Range Lights (Christmas)
Lake Superior
1914
24 feet (front) and 60 feet (rear)
easily viewed on M-28 near “Welcome to Christmas” sign
Grand Marais Range Lights
Lake Superior
1895
43 feet (front) and 62 feet (rear)
Grand Traverse Lighthouse (Leelanau State Park)
Lake Michigan
1858
41 feet
grounds open, lighthouse open as a museum
Grays Reef Light Station
Lake Michigan
1936
77 feet
best viewed from Shepler’s Westbound Lighthouse Cruise
Gull Rock Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1867
42 feet
we visited with Sand Point Charters out of Lac Labelle
Harbor Beach Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1885
50 feet
easily viewed from Lincoln Park, tours also available
Holland Harbor Lighthouse (Big Red)
Lake Michigan
1907
42 feet
easily visited at Holland State Park
HURON Lightship
St. Clair River
1921
97 feet long
easy to visit at Pine Grove Park, open as a museum
Jacobsville Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1869
51 feet
privately owned; former bed and breakfast currently for sale
Kalamazoo River Lighthouse replica (Douglas)
Kalamazoo River
2002
30 feet
easily viewed from the parking area near the Tower Marine marina
Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light (Jacobsville)
Lake Superior
1920
62 feet
easy to visit at White City Park in Jacobsville
Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Light (Hancock)
Lake Superior
1950
70 feet
easy to view at F.J. McLain State Park
Lansing Shoal Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1928
59 feet
best viewed on a Shepler’s Lighthouse cruise
Little Sable Light (Mears)
Lake Michigan
1874
107 feet
easy to visit at Silver Lake State Park
tours available in summer months
Ludington North Pierhead Light
Lake Michigan
1924
55 feet
easy to visit at Stearns Park in Ludington
tower open in summer months through SPLKA
Manistee North Pierhead Light
Lake Michigan
1927
39 feet
easy to visit at Fifth Avenue Beach in Manistee
Manistique East Breakwater Light
Lake Michigan
1916
38 feet
easy to visit at from Manistique Boardwalk parking area off of U.S.-2
Manitou Island Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1861
78 feet
we visited on a charter fishing trip with Sand Point Charters of Lac LaBelle
Manning Memorial Light (Empire)
Lake Michigan
1990
38 feet
easy to visit at Empire Beach
Marquette Breakwater Light
Lake Superior
1985
36 feet
easy to view from many locations in Marquette, can walk out on breakwater
from parking area near Maritime Museum
Marquette Harbor Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1866
40 feet
can be viewed from many locations in Marquette including McCarty’s Cove
tours available through the Marquette Maritime Museum
McGulpin Point Lighthouse (Mackinaw City)
Lake Michigan
1869
38 feet
open for tours as an Emmett County museum
Mendota (Bete Grise) Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1895
42 feet
can be viewed from across the Mendota Ship Canal
Menominee North Pier Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1927
34 feet
easy to visit at Lighthouse Ann Arbor Park, and occasionally open
to the public in the summer months
Middle Island Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1905
76 feet
trips and overnight stays used to be offered through the Middle Island
Lightkeepers Association, all websites and pages have been inactive
since 2017 or have disappeared (best bet – private charter)
Mission Point Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1870
36 feet
easy to visit at Lighthouse Park north of Traverse City
the Keeper Program allows guests to stay at the lighthouse while
welcoming visitors, leading tours, and running the gift shop.
Munising Front Range Light
Lake Superior
1908
55 feet
grounds open, lighthouse owned by National Park Service
Munising Rear Range Light
Lake Superior
1908
31 feet
easy to view at the end of Hemlock St., three blocks from the Front Range
Muskegon South Pierhead Light
Muskegon South Breakwater Light
Lake Michigan
1903 (South Pierhead) and 1930 (South Breakwater Light)
48 feet (South Pierhead) and 53 feet (South Breakwater)
South Breakwater Light is easy to reach from Pere Marquette Park
South Pierhead Light can be reached from Pere Marquette Park by
following the path through the Coast Guard Station
both lighthouses open for tours in the summer
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1892
56 feet
easy to visit at Alexander Henry Park
open for tours as part of Mackinac State Historic Parks
Ontonagon Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1866
45 feet
open for tours through the Ontonagon County Historical Society
Ontonagon West Breakwater Light
Lake Superior
1900
31 feet
can be seen from Ontonagon Lighthouse Tours or Ontonagon Township Park beach
Peche Island Rear Range Light
St. Clair River
1908
60 feet
easy to visit at Lighthouse Park in Marine City
Peninsula Point Light
Lake Michigan
1865
38 feet
easy to visit in the Hiawatha National Forest at the end of the Stonington Peninsula
Pentwater Pier Lights
Lake Michigan
1937 (South Pierhead) and 1987 (North Pierhead)
25 feet (South) and 17 feet (North)
easy to visit at Charles Mears State Park in Pentwater
Petoskey Pierhead Light
Lake Michigan
2009
30 feet
easy to view from Bayfront Park, can walk out on pier from marina
Poe Reef Light
Lake Huron
1928
56 feet
can be seen from Cheboygan State Park and Cheboygan Crib Light
best views come from Shepler’s Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise
Point Betsie Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1859
37 feet
easy to visit at Point Betsie Lighthouse Beach in Empire
tours and rentals also available
Point Iroquois Lighthouse
Lake Superior
1870
62 feet
easy to visit on the Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway
open for tours through the U.S. Forest Service
Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1857
85 feet
easy to visit at Lighthouse County Park in Port Hope
open for tours as part of a museum complex
Port Austin Reef Light
Lake Huron
1878
60 feet
distant views available from the breakwater at Veterans Waterfront Park
tours offered through Port Austin Reef Light Association
Port Sanilac Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1886
59 feet
easy to view from the east end of Cherry St. in Port Sanilac, or from the marina
tours are offered in summer through Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum
Portage Lake Pierhead Light (Onekama)
Lake Michigan
1930
32 feet
easy to visit at the MIDNR boat launch site on Lake Park Dr. in Onekama
Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Light (Marquette)
Lake Superior
1941
55 feet
easy to view and visit from Presque Isle Park in Marquette
Presque Isle Front Range Light
Lake Huron
1870
21 feet
easy to visit at a small park on Grand Lake Rd. as you drive to the
Old Presque Isle and New Presque Isle lighthouses
Presque Isle Lighthouse (Old)
Lake Huron
1840
30 feet
open as a museum, grounds open all year
Presque Isle Lighthouse (New)
Lake Huron
1870
113 feet
open as part of a museum complex; grounds open year-round
Rock of Ages Light
Lake Superior
1908
130 feet
can be viewed on ferry boat from Grand Portage, MN to Isle Royale NP
may someday be open to the public through the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society
Round Island Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1895
53 feet
easy to see from ferry boat trips to Mackinac Island
Round Island Passage Light
Lake Huron
1947
71 feet
easy to see from ferry boat trips to Mackinac Island
Round Island Lighthouse (ruins)
St. Mary’s River
1856
30 feet
Soo Locks Boat Tours’ Lighthouse Cruise passes by this site
Saginaw River Rear Range Lighthouse
Saginaw River/Lake Huron
1876
59 feet
open for tours on rare occasions through Saginaw River Marine Historical Society
Sand Hills Lighthouse (Ahmeek)
Lake Superior
1919
91 feet
open as a bed and breakfast for many years; currently closed for renovations
Sand Point Lighthouse (Baraga)
Lake Superior
1878
35 feet
grounds open to public at KBIC Ojibwa Recreation Area
Sand Point Lighthouse (Escanaba)
Lake Michigan
1867
44 feet
open to the public as part of Delta County Historical Society museum
Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse (Gulliver)
Lake Michigan
1892
77 feet
open as part of a museum complex run by Gulliver Historical Society
Six Mile Point Front Range Light
St. Mary’s River
1907
20 feet
located on the grounds of the DeTour Passage Historical Museum
Six Mile Point Rear Range Light
St. Mary’s River
1907
45 feet
located on the grounds of the Les Cheneaux Historical Museum in Cedarville
Skilagalee (Ile Aux Galets) Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1888
48 feet
some Shepler’s tours go by this lighthouse
South Haven South Pierhead Light
Lake Michigan
1903
35 feet
easy to visit at South Beach Park in South Haven
South Manitou Island Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1872
99 feet
part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
reached by Manitou Island Transit boat
open for tours in summer months through the NPS
Spectacle Reef Light
Lake Huron
1874
80 feet
best viewed from the Shepler’s Eastbound Lighthouse Cruise
Squaw Island Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1892
53 feet
best viewed on a Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise
St. Clair Flats Canal Range
St. Clair River
1990s?
40 feet
privately owned; can be seen from the river or S. Channel Dr. on Harsens Island
St. Clair Flats Range Lights
St. Clair River
1859
17 feet (front range) and 40 feet (rear range)
distant views possible from the southern end of Harsens Island (S. Channel Dr.)
St. Helena Island Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1873
63 feet
distant views possible from US-2 rest area
best views come from Shepler’s Westbound Lighthouse Cruise
volunteer opportunities available through GLLKA
St. Joseph Pier Lights
Lake Michigan
1906
31 feet (Outer) and 53 feet (Inner)
easy to visit from Silver Beach Park or Tiscornia Park in St. Joseph
open for tours in summer months
Sturgeon Point Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1869
71 feet
open as a museum at a Michigan State Historic Site in Harrisville
Tawas Point Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1877
67 feet
easy to visit at Tawas Point State Park
open for tours in summer months, volunteer keeper program available
Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse
Lake Huron
1832
62 feet
tours may be available through the Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse Preservation Society
Alpena Shipwreck Tours cruises sometimes go out to the island
Tri-Centennial Light
Detroit River
2003
63 feet
easy to visit at Milliken State Park in Detroit
Waugoshance Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1851
63 feet
distant views possible from Wilderness State Park
best views come from Shepler’s Westbound Lighthouse Cruise
Wawatam Lighthouse (St. Ignace)
Lake Huron
2006
52 feet
easy to visit at Wawatam Park and the St. Ignace Boardwalk
White River Lighthouse (Whitehall)
Lake Michigan
1875
38 feet
easy to visit at White Lake pier (public access)
open as a museum through Sable Points Keepers Association
White Shoal Lighthouse
Lake Michigan
1910
124 feet
tours and overnight stays available through WSLHPS
views also available on Shepler’s Westbound Lighthouse Cruise
Whitefish Point Light Station (Paradise)
Lake Superior
1861
78 feet
open as part of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
grounds open to the public, fee to enter museum buildings
William Livingstone Memorial Light (Detroit)
Detroit River
1930
52 feet
reached after a short hike at Belle Isle Park (eastern end)
Windmill Point Light (Detroit)
Detroit River
1933
42 feet
easy to visit at Mariner Park in Detroit
Lighthouse we still need to visit include Poverty Island Lighthouse,
South Fox Island Lighthouse, St. Martin Island Light, Fourteen Mile Point Lighthouse,
Stannard Rock Light, Rock Harbor Lighthouse, Isle Royale Lighthouse,
Round Island Lighthouse (St. Mary’s River), Neebish Island Light,
Passage Island Lighthouse, Huron Island Lighthouse,
Minneapolis Shoal Light.
We’d love to get closer views of: Detroit River Light, DeTour Reef Light,
Port Austin Reef Light, Martin Reef Light, Gravelly Shoal Light,
Granite Island Lighthouse, North Manitou Light