Top 5 Michigan Lower Peninsula Lighthouses
All the light houses on this list are accessible via land and you don’t need a boat. Michigan lighthouses are special given the unique qualities of the Great Lakes. The lighthouses were built help navigate ships through the rough waters of the Great Lakes.
Little Sable Point Light
This lighthouse is in the sand dunes of Lake Michigan. This lighthouse is one of the most beautiful lights in Michigan. The brick tower stands over 100ft tall. Little Sable Point Light in located in the Silver Lake State park with beautiful sand dunes surrounding the light. You can spend a day hiking the dunes and swimming in Lake Michigan. Bring a cooler, blanket and plan on spending the day at the beach with this beautiful Light.
To see photos of Light Sable Point light, the beautiful brick tower, visit https://rachelleparteeimage.squarespace.com/config/pages/5fb0884316932f1df515ff2d
Some fun facts about Little Sable Point Light
The house that was built with the tower was torn down in 1958
The tower was sandblasted in 1974 so the tower wouldn’t require paint.
Built in 1874 after a ship wreck in 1866, public outcries for a light at this location were finally heard.
Big Sable Point Light
This lighthouse is beautiful and one of the most beautiful in the state of Michigan. In order to reach this lighthouse there is about a 2 mile walk out to the lighthouse from the Ludington State Park campground. The path out to the lighthouse is bike friendly. Its an easy yet beautiful walk along the sand dunes and Lake Michigan. This 112ft black and white tower is a must see Michigan Lighthouse.
Within the Ludington State Park there are great hikes. The trails are marked. The best hike within the park is Lost Lake. It’s about a 2 mile hike with slight elevation change. The trail runs along Lost Lake and including hiking on an island.
To see photos of Big Sable Point light, the beautiful tall black and white lighthouse visit: https://rachelleparteeimage.squarespace.com/config/pages/5fb0884316932f1df515ff2d
Some fun facts about Big Sable Point Light:
This lighthouse was constructed in 1867
Construction materials were brought up by ships. The first road to the site was not completed until 1933.
Buildings at the light station included the tower and dwelling, fog signal building, boat house, barn, three oil houses, two privy’s and a diaphone fog signal. The fog signal building fell into the lake due to erosion in 1943.
Grand Traverse Lighthouse
What I love about this lighthouse is that you travel through cherry tree orchards and then when you reach the end of the Leelanau peninsula you have lovely Lake Michigan with a lighthouse on the point. There are beautiful hiking trails near the lighthouse. There is a campground right at the point of the Leelanau peninsula with the lighthouse. At the campground there are ruins of the old lighthouse. Now these ruins are in deed ruins and there isn’t much left of the old foundation of the lighthouse.
Pictured on this site as the introduction pictured to the blog.
Some fun facts about Grand Traverse Lighthouse:
Grand Traverse lighthouse was built in 1851.
Grand Traverse lighthouse is also known as Cat’s Head.
The lighthouse isn’t operational anymore but is a museum. The museum and gift shop are normally open May1 through October noon through 5pm. However with Covid the museum maybe closed.
Forty Mile Point Lighthouse
This square white tower with beautiful brick house is located on Lake Huron approximately 40 miles southeast of Mackinaw City. There is a short trail leading down to Lake Huron where if you walk along the coast you will find remains of an old ship wreck. When visiting this lighthouse bring a camera and water shoes the coast is rocky. You may find a special Petoskey stone along the shore.
Some fun facts about Forty mile point lighthouse:
Originally built in 1897 and rebuilt in 1935
Point Betsie Lighthouse
After driving down a long road you will reach the end which is Lake Michigan along with a Lighthouse. The lighthouse is surrounded by private property so don’t plan on hikes. But bring your camera, bathing suit, towels and enjoy swimming with the lighthouse in the background. This lighthouse is another Michigan beauty with a bright red barn style roof and bright white tower. There is a significant breaking wall with a large cement foundation to protect the lighthouse from erosion. The lighthouse has commanding views of Lake Michigan.
Some fun facts about Point Betsie Lighthouse:
Built in 1858
Total cost to build Point Betsie was $5,000.
“The name Point Betsie originates from the Native American people who were in the area and communicating with the French at the time. The French "Pointe Aux Bec Scies" comes from the Indigenous word "Ug-Zig-A-Zee-Bee" which People of the Three Fires [Tribal] Council gave to a river flowing into Lake Michigan just a few miles to the south, where sawbill or Merganser ducks thrived. Translated, Point Betsie means Saw Beak Point.” Credit pointbetsie.org