Lake Huron Lighthouses: My Guide to Michigan’s Most Beautiful Beacons

Last Updated: March 2026

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state — and Lake Huron’s coast holds some of the best. I’ve been visiting these beacons for years, working my way south to north along US-23 from Port Huron to the Straits of Mackinac. Some you can drive straight to. Others require a boat. A few can be climbed. This guide covers all 14 on the route, with access type and visiting details so you can plan without guesswork.

Quick Comparison: Lake Huron Lighthouses at a Glance

Lighthouse	Access / Key Feature
Fort Gratiot, Port Huron	Drive-to; Michigan’s oldest (1829); tower climbs seasonal
Port Sanilac	Drive-to; exterior viewing year-round; limited summer tours
Harbor Beach	Boat tour from marina; summer only; sparkplug design
Pointe aux Barques, Port Hope	Drive-to; museum on-site; limited summer tower climbs
Port Austin Reef	Boat access only; summer; “Castle on the Lake”
Charity Island	Boat access only; dinner cruises available; rentable keeper’s house
Tawas Point, East Tawas	Drive-to (state park); tower climbs; beach and camping
Sturgeon Point, Harrisville	Drive-to; maritime museum; grounds open year-round
Middle Island, Alpena	Boat access; tours suspended — check for updates
Thunder Bay Island, Alpena	Boat access only; view from water; no tours
Old Presque Isle	Drive-to; museum; 30-ft tower; mid-May to mid-October
New Presque Isle	Drive-to; tallest climbable on Great Lakes (108 ft); seasonal
40 Mile Point, Rogers City	Drive-to; year-round grounds; volunteer keeper program
Poe Reef, Cheboygan	Boat or shore view only; not open to visitors
Cheboygan Crib Light	Drive-to; river location; weekend tours Memorial Day–Labor Day
Round Island, Mackinac Island	Ferry view; no tours currently; National Register of Historic Places
Bois Blanc Island	Boat view only; privately owned; not open to public
Mackinac Point, Mackinaw City	Drive-to; daily tours in season; fog signal demo; state park
DeTour Reef, Drummond Island	Boat access; guided tours; overnight stays available

Lake Huron Lighthouses: The Thumb Coast

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse — Port Huron

Fort Gratiot is the right starting point for any Lake Huron lighthouse road trip — Michigan’s oldest lighthouse, built in 1829, standing 82 feet tall on a public beach in Port Huron with a direct view of the Blue Water Bridge and international freighter traffic passing through the Straits. The 94-step tower climb delivers one of the best waterway views in the state. The beach here is also one of the best spots for Michigan rock hunting — plan extra time for both.

• 📍 2802 Omar St, Port Huron, MI 48060
• ⏰ 2026: Weekends only starting May 2; open 7 days starting May 25 — confirm before you go
• 💰 Admission fee [VERIFY current rate]
• 📞 (810) 982-0891
• 🌐 phmuseum.org
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on grounds on leash
• ♿ Accessible parking and grounds; tower stairs are not wheelchair accessible

Pro Tip: Arrive before 8am for sunrise photos from the beach — the freighter traffic and light on the water are spectacular and the parking lot is empty.

Port Sanilac Lighthouse

• 📍 81 S Lake St, Port Sanilac, MI 48469
• ⏰ Exterior viewing year-round; limited summer tours — check schedule before visiting
• 💰 [VERIFY tour fee]
• 📞 (810) 622-9946
• 🌐 portsanilaclighthouse.com
• 🐾 Grounds viewing from outside fence — no confirmed dog policy for tour days [VERIFY]
• ♿ Viewable from public road; no accessible tower access

Port Sanilac Lighthouse is worth a stop for the exterior alone — this 60-foot white tower built in 1886 is still active and sits right in town along M-25. It’s privately owned and only opens for guided tours a few days per year, but the grounds are always visible from the street. A virtual tour is available on their website if you can’t time a visit to a tour day.

Harbor Beach Lighthouse

• 📍 1 Ritchie Dr, Harbor Beach, MI 48441
• ⏰ 2026: Summer boat tours starting June 13 — viewable year-round from Trescott Pier
• 💰 [VERIFY boat tour fee]
• 📞 (989) 479-9707
• 🌐 harborbeachlighthouse.com
• 🐾 [VERIFY]
• ♿ Pier viewpoint accessible; boat tour access [VERIFY]

Harbor Beach Lighthouse is the one to book a boat tour for — its distinctive sparkplug shape sits inside the largest man-made freshwater harbor in the world, and you can only fully appreciate it from the water. Guided boat tours depart from Harbor Beach Marina in summer and include a history of the lighthouse from volunteer guides. Year-round, it’s visible and worth a photo stop from Trescott Pier.

Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse — Port Hope

• 📍 7320 Lighthouse Rd, Port Hope, MI 48468
• ⏰ 2026: Tours starting May 22 on select days — grounds accessible year-round
• 💰 [VERIFY current admission]
• 📞 [VERIFY]
• 🌐 michigansthumb.com/pointeauxbarques
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on grounds on leash [VERIFY]
• ♿ Accessible grounds; tower stairs not wheelchair accessible

Pointe aux Barques rewards the drive off the main highway — one of Michigan’s ten oldest lighthouses (built 1848), still remotely operated by the US Coast Guard, with a maritime museum packed with artifacts from Lake Huron’s shipwreck history. The rocky beach here is excellent for beachcombing. Tower climbs are available on select summer days — check the schedule before making the trip specifically for the climb.

Pro Tip: Stop at Grindstone General Store nearby for homemade ice cream. The annual Heritage Festival at this lighthouse — music, food, tower tours — is one of the best small events on the Thumb.

Port Austin Reef Lighthouse

• 📍 Approximately 2 miles offshore from Port Austin, MI 48467
• ⏰ Boat-access tours in summer — not accessible from shore
• 💰 [VERIFY current boat tour rates]
• 📞 [VERIFY]
• 🌐 portaustinreeflighthouse.com
• 🐾 N/A — boat access only
• ♿ Boat access; contact operator for accessibility details [VERIFY]

Port Austin Reef Lighthouse is the one that earns its nickname — “Castle on the Lake” — a striking six-story brick Queen Anne structure sitting 2 miles offshore in Saginaw Bay, accessible only by boat. Built in 1878, it’s one of the most architecturally distinctive lighthouses in Michigan. Summer boat tours depart from Port Austin; no shore access exists.

Charity Island Lighthouse

• 📍 Big Charity Island, Au Gres, MI (10 miles offshore from Caseville)
• ⏰ Seasonal boat cruises — dinner cruises, birding cruises, day tours available
• 💰 Cruise rates vary — see website
• 📞 [VERIFY]
• 🌐 charityisland.net
• 🐾 [VERIFY boat/island policy]
• ♿ [VERIFY boat accessibility]

Charity Island is the most complete experience on this list — the boat ride out to the island is 10 miles from Caseville, followed by a walk through forest to the lighthouse. The island has bald eagles, rare shoreline plants, an archaeological site, a rentable lighthouse keeper’s house, and a dinner cruise option with wine and beer available. Spring birding cruises are particularly good here. If you’re planning a date night on Lake Huron, this is the one.

Lake Huron Lighthouses: The Sunrise Coast

Tawas Point Lighthouse — East Tawas

• 📍 686 Tawas Beach Rd, East Tawas, MI 48730
• ⏰ Grounds open daily; tower climbs Memorial Day through Labor Day — confirm current hours
• 💰 Michigan Recreation Passport required for state park entry
• 📞 (989) 362-5041
• 🌐 Michigan.gov — Tawas Lighthouse Keeper Program
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on leash in state park [VERIFY beach-specific policy]
• ♿ Accessible parking; tower stairs not wheelchair accessible

Tawas Point is the lighthouse that earns you a full beach day at the same time — the 1876 tower sits inside Tawas Point State Park on a narrow spit of land with bay water on three sides, calm shallow swimming, and camping within walking distance. It’s one of my favorite stops on the whole Sunrise Coast. Climb the tower for sweeping views of Tawas Bay, then walk the beach and stay for sunset. The volunteer lighthouse keeper program here is one of the few in Michigan that offers hands-on stays.

Pro Tip: Spend time in both East Tawas and Tawas City after your lighthouse visit — East Tawas has a charming downtown shopping area, and Tawas City’s Shoreline Park has one of the best dog-friendly public beaches on Lake Huron.

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse — Harrisville

• 📍 6071 E Point Rd, Harrisville, MI 48740
• ⏰ Grounds open year-round; museum open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 7 days a week
• 💰 Small fee for museum [VERIFY current rate]
• 📞 (989) 724-6297
• 🌐 algercounty.com — Sturgeon Point
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on grounds on leash
• ♿ Accessible grounds; tower stairs not wheelchair accessible

Sturgeon Point is the best lighthouse on the Sunrise Coast for combining history with a beach day — a classic Cape Cod-style tower built in 1869 to mark a dangerous reef 1.5 miles into Lake Huron, still maintained by the Coast Guard, with its original Paris-made Fresnel lens on display inside the maritime museum. The keeper’s house museum is open all summer, the grounds are open year-round, and Oscoda, Harrisville, and Greenbush are all within minutes. Bring water shoes for the rocky shoreline below the lighthouse.

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Lake Huron Lighthouses: Alpena and Presque Isle

Middle Island Lighthouse — Alpena

• 📍 Middle Island, Alpena, MI 49707 (15-min boat ride from Rockport Harbor)
• ⏰ Tours currently suspended — check for updates
• 💰 [VERIFY if tours resume]
• 📞 [VERIFY]
• 🌐 visitalpena.com — 7 Lighthouse Adventure
• 🐾 [VERIFY island policy]
• ♿ Boat access; contact operator for details [VERIFY]

Middle Island is worth watching even with tours suspended — this 78-foot tower built in 1905 sits on a privately managed island with a 10-bed overnight lodge in the historic keeper’s duplex. An overnight stay here when tours resume will be one of Michigan’s great lighthouse experiences. The boat departs from Rockport Harbor, an abandoned limestone quarry worth exploring on its own before you head out.

Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse — Alpena

• 📍 Thunder Bay Island, Alpena County, MI (13 miles offshore)
• ⏰ No public tours — viewable by boat only
• 💰 N/A
• 📞 N/A
• 🌐 thunderbay.noaa.gov — Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• 🐾 N/A
• ♿ N/A — boat access only

Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse is the one to see by boat while you’re in Alpena — built in 1832 from local limestone, one of Michigan’s oldest, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and sitting adjacent to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. No tours are offered, but glass-bottom boat tours from Alpena’s city marina pass near it and include shipwreck viewing — one of the best afternoon activities on the entire Sunrise Coast.

Old Presque Isle Lighthouse

• 📍 5295 E Grand Lake Rd, Presque Isle, MI 49777
• ⏰ Mid-May through mid-October, daily 10am–7pm
• 💰 Small admission fee for tower climb [VERIFY current rate]
• 📞 (989) 595-9917
• 🌐 presqueisletownship.org
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on grounds on leash [VERIFY]
• ♿ Accessible grounds and gift shop; 30-ft tower stairs not wheelchair accessible

Old Presque Isle is the lighthouse with the most personality on this route — built in 1840, one of the oldest surviving accessible lighthouses on the Great Lakes, said by some to be haunted, and home to the 3,500-pound bell from Lansing’s Old City Hall (heavier than the Liberty Bell). The 30-foot tower offers panoramic harbor views, and the keeper’s house is a hands-on museum where you can blow foghorns and try the stocks. Plan at least 90 minutes here — there’s more to do than at most Michigan lighthouses.

New Presque Isle Lighthouse

• 📍 4500 E Grand Lake Rd, Presque Isle, MI 49777
• ⏰ Memorial Day through Labor Day; tower climbs available — confirm hours before visiting
• 💰 Admission fee [VERIFY current rate]
• 📞 (989) 595-9917
• 🌐 visitalpena.com — 7 Lighthouse Adventure
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on grounds on leash [VERIFY]
• ♿ Accessible grounds; 130-step tower not wheelchair accessible

New Presque Isle is the lighthouse to climb if you only climb one — at 108 feet, it’s the tallest lighthouse tower accessible to the public on the entire Great Lakes. Built in 1870 and fully restored, the 130-step climb delivers views of Lake Huron that stretch to the horizon. It sits one mile north of Old Presque Isle, so visiting both in the same trip is easy and worth the full afternoon.

Lake Huron Lighthouses: Northern Michigan

40 Mile Point Lighthouse — Rogers City

• 📍 County Park Rd, Rogers City, MI 49779
• ⏰ Grounds open year-round, 8am to sunset; museum and tours Memorial Day through mid-October
• 💰 Free grounds access; [VERIFY museum admission]
• 📞 (989) 734-4500
• 🌐 40milepointlighthouse.org
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on grounds on leash [VERIFY]
• ♿ Accessible parking and grounds; tower stairs not wheelchair accessible

40 Mile Point is the best lighthouse on this list for people who want to stay a while — the grounds are open year-round including winter, there’s a volunteer lighthouse keeper program that includes overnight stays, and the park is set on a stretch of northern Lake Huron shoreline that stays quiet even in summer. Named for its location exactly 40 miles south of the Mackinac Straits — not for any distance to a destination — it’s a genuinely interesting stop in Rogers City, worth combining with the Lakeside Beach nearby.

Poe Reef Lighthouse — Cheboygan

• 📍 Viewable from Huron Shores Roadside Park, US-23, Cheboygan, MI 49721
• ⏰ Shore view only; not open to visitors
• 💰 Free
• 📞 N/A
• 🐾 Dogs allowed at roadside park on leash
• ♿ Roadside parking with lake views

Poe Reef is a shore-view-only lighthouse — a 71-foot white-and-black square tower built in 1928 sitting on a dangerous passage off Cheboygan, accessible only by private boat. It’s worth knowing it’s there as you drive through, and the Huron Shores Roadside Park nearby is a good stop for Petoskey stone hunting.

Cheboygan Crib Light

• 📍 606 Water St, Cheboygan, MI 49721
• ⏰ Weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day; volunteer tours available
• 💰 Free [VERIFY]
• 📞 (231) 627-5455
• 🌐 gllka.com — Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association
• 🐾 Dogs allowed on grounds on leash [VERIFY]
• ♿ Riverside location; accessible grounds [VERIFY interior access]

Cheboygan Crib Light is the most distinctive-looking lighthouse on this entire route — a square red-and-white tower built in 1880, beautifully restored in 2004, sitting right along the Cheboygan River rather than on open lake. Weekend tours run Memorial Day through Labor Day. Volunteer opportunities are available through the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association for anyone who wants behind-the-scenes access.

Lake Huron Lighthouses: The Straits Area

Round Island Lighthouse — Mackinac Island

• 📍 Round Island, Mackinac Island, MI 49757 (viewable from ferry)
• ⏰ No tours currently available — view from ferry
• 💰 Ferry ticket to Mackinac Island required
• 📞 N/A
• 🐾 N/A — no shore access
• ♿ Ferry accessible; no island access

Round Island Lighthouse is one of Michigan’s most photographed beacons for good reason — you see it automatically on every ferry crossing to Mackinac Island, a classic red-and-white three-story tower built in 1895 on National Register of Historic Places, with a cameo in the film “Somewhere in Time.” Tours remain on hold. The ferry view is genuinely worth having your camera ready.

Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse

• 📍 Bois Blanc Island, MI 49775
• ⏰ Privately owned — not open to public; viewable by boat
• 💰 N/A
• 📞 N/A
• 🐾 N/A
• ♿ N/A

Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse is a boat-view-only stop near Mackinac Island — privately owned and restored, not open to the public. It’s clearly visible from the water and worth seeing if you’re already doing a lighthouse boat tour in the northern Straits area.

Mackinac Point Lighthouse — Mackinaw City

• 📍 526 N Huron Ave, Mackinaw City, MI 49701
• ⏰ Daily tours in season — confirm 2026 opening dates
• 💰 Admission fee; Michilimackinac State Park pass [VERIFY]
• 📞 (231) 436-4100
• 🌐 mackinacparks.com
• 🐾 Dogs allowed in state park on leash [VERIFY lighthouse grounds policy]
• ♿ Accessible grounds and some exhibits; tower stairs not wheelchair accessible

Mackinac Point is where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet — and this lighthouse marks it — a 49-foot limestone tower built in 1892 inside Michilimackinac State Park, with daily guided tours, a fog signal whistle demonstration offered several times a day, and a “Shipwrecks of the Straits” film. The Native American Cultural History Trail runs through the park if you want more depth after the lighthouse tour.

DeTour Reef Lighthouse — Drummond Island Area

• 📍 Light House Rd, DeTour Village, MI 49725 (1 mile offshore)
• ⏰ Guided boat tours available in season; overnight stays available
• 💰 [VERIFY current tour and overnight rates]
• 📞 [VERIFY]
• 🌐 detourreef.org
• 🐾 [VERIFY]
• ♿ Boat access; harness required for tower entry [VERIFY accessibility details]

DeTour Reef is the most adventurous lighthouse experience on this list — an 83-foot Classical Revival tower sitting atop a massive crib in 23 feet of water, marking the gateway between Lake Huron and Lake Superior via the St. Mary’s River. Ferry from Drummond Island, strap into a safety harness, and climb the tower for views of both Michigan and Canada. Overnight stays are available, making this a genuine bucket-list Michigan experience.

Planning Your Lake Huron Lighthouse Road Trip

The full route from Port Huron to Mackinaw City covers about 270 miles along US-23 and M-25 — plan at minimum three days to do it properly, with overnights in Tawas or Oscoda and Alpena or Rogers City. Two days is doable if you focus on the Thumb and Sunrise Coast only. Start in Port Huron and head north: the route flows naturally south to north and ends at the Mackinac Bridge, which makes a logical turnaround point.

Most lighthouse towers open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Early fall — late September and October — is worth considering: the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival in Alpena opens private lighthouses to the public, fall color along the drive is excellent, and the crowds are gone. Several lighthouses (Fort Gratiot, Sturgeon Point, 40 Mile Point) have year-round grounds access for off-season visits.

For overnight stays at a lighthouse, the strongest options on this route are 40 Mile Point (volunteer keeper program), DeTour Reef (boat access overnight stays), and Middle Island near Alpena (10-bed lodge when tours resume). See our full guide to Michigan lighthouses you can spend the night in for details and booking.

Lake Huron Lighthouses FAQ

Can you climb Lake Huron lighthouses?

Several Lake Huron lighthouses offer tower climbs, typically Memorial Day through Labor Day. The best climbs are New Presque Isle (tallest climbable tower on the Great Lakes at 108 feet), Fort Gratiot in Port Huron (94 steps, views of the Blue Water Bridge), Tawas Point (bay views), and 40 Mile Point in Rogers City. Always confirm tower access before visiting — hours vary and some lighthouses only open towers on certain days.

What is the oldest lighthouse on Lake Huron?

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron, built in 1829, is Michigan’s oldest lighthouse and the oldest on the Michigan side of Lake Huron. Old Presque Isle (1840) and Pointe aux Barques (1848) are the next oldest. Thunder Bay Island Light (1832) is one of the earliest built but is not open to the public.

When is the best time to visit Lake Huron lighthouses?

Late May through early September for the broadest tower access — most lighthouses open Memorial Day and close Labor Day. October is excellent for the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival in Alpena, fall color along US-23, and smaller crowds. Several lighthouses have year-round grounds access (Fort Gratiot, Sturgeon Point, 40 Mile Point) for off-season visits.

More Lake Huron Michigan Guides

• 20 Best Lake Huron Beaches — full Quick Facts, addresses, dog and ADA access
• Lake Huron Michigan Travel Guide — full regional overview, drive times, planning tips
• Lake Huron Beach Towns — what to do and eat in each town along the coast
• Michigan Lighthouses You Can Spend the Night In — booking details for overnight keeper stays