At the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association, we love our Michigan Lighthouses! Every year, we highlight them in our blog articles- talking about our favorites, creating Michigan Lighthouse Road Trips, and highlighting the lighthouses near our #MichBnB members. For this article, we thought discussing how to experience Michigan Lighthouses would be fun. Some are only available to walk by, others are bed and breakfasts, and some are open for tours. Some you can only reach by boat, and others require a hike to reach these beloved beacons of history.
We are dividing our Michigan lighthouses into different experiential groups so that you can choose how you would like to experience them. Whether you want to enjoy a hike to reach the lighthouse or climb up a Michigan Lighthouse, we are giving you all the details on how to Experience fourteen different Michigan Lighthouses during your next Pure Michigan getaway.
Touring inside a Michigan Lighthouse
There is something unique when you climb the stairs of a historic lighthouse and then witness the panoramic views that can be had from the top. Here are some Michigan Lighthouses that organize interior tours:
- Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, 2802 Omar St, Port Huron Northeast Michigan
This is the oldest Lighthouse in Michigan and the second on the Great Lakes. This restored 82-foot-high Lighthouse has 94 iron stairs leading to the top, giving those willing to climb an amazing vantage point!
Weather permitting, the Fort Gratiot Light Station is one of the few operating lighthouses that allow visitors to climb the tower and step out onto the catwalk for a breathtaking view. From the gallery, visitors can view the Blue Water Bridge, the mouth of the St. Clair River.
For more information, check out this link.
Climb the Light: $10.80
- Big Sable Point Lighthouse,8800 W M-116, Ludington Northwest Michigan
The Big Sable is part of SPIKA, a lighthouse preservation society that maintains the Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Little Sable, Ludington North Breakfast, and White River Light Station & Museum.
Nestled among jack pines, Big Sable’s noble black-and-white tower is just a two-mile walk along a breathtaking trail in Ludington State Park.
Seasonal hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Climb the Light: $8.00
- North Breakwater Light—The lighthouse is located on the north breakwater pier at the end of Main Street in Ludington. Northwest Michigan
Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Ludington’s North Breakwater Light does lean a bit, about 4 degrees. After the crib on which the tower sits shifted slightly during a 1994 renovation, the Army Corps of Engineers determined it was safe to leave it that way. This 1924 light boasts a vibrant green light from its tower.
Seasonal hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
Climb the Light: $8.00
- East Tawas Point Lighthouse– 686 Tawas Beach Road East Tawas Northeast Michigan
In operation from 1876 to 2016, Tawas Point Lighthouse is a fascinating attraction for maritime buffs. Tawas Point is a destination for birdwatchers; it also offers spectacular views of sunrises over Lake Huron and sunsets over Tawas Bay.
Seasonal hours are noon to 4 pm.
Climb the Light: $5.00
Staying at the Michigan Bed and Breakfast
Staying at a Michigan Lighthouse is a bucket-list experience. Often, your lodging was where the lighthouse keeper initially stayed.
- Big Bay Point Lighthouse 4674 County Road KCB, Big Bay Upper Peninsula Michigan
The Big Bay Point Lighthouse B&B is a member of the Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association. Innkeeper Nick is also a lighthouse preservationist and offers comfortable lodging and a keeper’s breakfast that is hearty and freshly made. Tours of the lighthouse are for guests staying at the inn. For more information and to book your stay, check out this link.
Hiking to experience a Michigan Lighthouse
- Little Sable Point Lighthouse- Northwest Michigan
Located one-half mile south of Golden Township Park at Lake Michigan.
Walk from a large parking lot on a concrete walkway up to Little Sable Point Lighthouse, a beautiful red brick lighthouse built in the late 1870s. Tours of this lighthouse are available daily.
From the lighthouse, it’s just a short walk down to our most spectacular expansive beach along Lake Michigan — perfect for watching a sunset! A Michigan Passport pass is required to enter the park. Restroom facilities are available on-site.
how about a boat ride to see a Michigan Lighthouse
- Westbound Lighthouse Tour- 311 S. Nicolet Street
Mackinaw City Northeast Michigan
Book a Shepler’s Westbound Lighthouse Cruise and enjoy water views of five spectacular Lake Michigan lighthouses while taking in the stunning coastline views of Wilderness State Park and beyond. Learn lighthouse history and maritime lore via our expert guide with the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association.
Included Lighthouses:
- Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
- White Shoal
- Gray’s Reef
- Waugoshance
- St. Helena Island Lighthouse
Tickets- Adult- $78
All Lighthouse Cruises depart from and return to Mackinaw City. For more information, check out this link.
- Harbor Beach Lighthouse– 1 Ritchie Dr, Harbor Beach Northeast Michigan
Experience a harbor boat ride and learn about the history of this community’s cherished landmark. Run by the Preservation Society, tour guides provide a glimpse of the life of a lightkeeper and answer questions. There are huge photo opportunities during this tour on the gallery level. Tours do sell out, so call ahead for tickets.
Walking near a Michigan Lighthouse
Many of our Michigan Lighthouses have been preserved but are not set up for tours. Visitors can view these icons from the beaches and boardwalks surrounding them. Here are some of our favorites:
- Grand Haven South Pier and Lighthouses Grand Haven Southwest Michigan
Established in 1839, two lights on the south pier, both painted red, are connected by a lighted catwalk that also connects them to the shore and the Grand Haven Boardwalk. The inner light is cylindrical, and the foghouse outer light stands on a huge concrete foundation. People often enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk that borders the Grand River channel and the pier, making the Grand Haven lighthouses one of the most photographed lighthouses in the Midwest. The Grand Haven pier is also popular for fishing and catching the sunset.
- Big Red Lighthouse-2215 Ottawa Beach Rd, Holland Southwest Michigan
Holland’s beloved and popular “Big Red” lighthouse, which stands proudly on the south side of the Holland Channel, has a long and rich history dating back to the first structure built on that site in 1870. The lighthouse is owned and maintained by a non-profit lighthouse commission and is Michigan’s most photographed lighthouse.
For the best view of Big Red, visit Holland State Park, where you can walk along the boardwalk to the north pier (wheelchair accessible). You can also view Big Red from Mt. Pisgah, where the dune staircase takes you 157 feet above sea level.
- Port Sanilac Lighthouse- 81 South Lake Street Port Sanilac Northeast Michigan
This historic lighthouse in Port Sanilac is now privately owned, but you can walk by. Visitors are encouraged to visit the lighthouse from the sidewalk and other public viewing spaces outside the fence.
Staying at a Michigan Bed and Breakfast for your Michigan Lighhouse Experience
The Michigan Bed and Breakfast Association is a curated collection of quality-assured Michigan boutique inns, small hotels, and bed and breakfasts—all privately owned with experiential hospitality. Each member is inspected every three years, and with your room rate, you will enjoy a bountiful breakfast, often locally sourced and homemade.
After your good night’s sleep and nourishing breakfast, explore some Michigan Lighthouses. Our MichBnB website was created to allow many different search options- including searching by area. If you are thinking of heading up to the Upper Peninsula, scroll down to the “Get to Know Michigan” section and click on the area you would like to visit. There, you will find all of our quality-assured members in that area, detailed information about the property, and different links to book your stay.
Your innkeeper is a treasure trove of local knowledge, ready to guide you to where to dine and share insider tips on immersing yourself in “Living like a Local” in beautiful Pure Michigan.
Check out this link for all our Michigan Bed and Breakfasts, many near these amazing sentinels.
