In July 2024 we spent three weeks traveling throughout Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.). During our final week we stayed at a campground on the eastern end of the U.P. in St. Ignace. During our travels to other sites we made stops to see some lighthouses that were in the area. Some of the lighthouses were included in previous posts. The rest are included here.
Crisp Point Lighthouse
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| Crisp Point Lighthouse |
We topped off a day of visiting the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Tahquamenon Falls (see our previous blog entries), with a visit to Crisp Point Lighthouse on the shore of Lake Superior between Whitefish Point to the east and Grand Marais to the west. This was one adventure where the journey was every bit as memorable as the destination.
Crisp Point Lighthouse actually lies about 13 miles west of Whitefish Point as the crow flies. But seeing as we are not crows and had to rely on roads to get to the remote location, we had to drive 37 miles from Paradise, Michigan. While it would appear that reaching it would be an easy 45-minute drive - it's definitely not.
You have to follow a maze of dirt, gravel and sand forest roads used by logging trucks, ATVs and side-by-sides for the last 18 miles of the route. We have all had occasion to ride on a wash boarded road, but this one went on for 10-15 miles. It definitely takes longer than you think. It took us about an 1.25 hours to get there in our 4 wheel drive truck, rocking, rolling and rattling the whole way! We were grateful the road was mostly dry - it would have been easy to get stuck on a wet road, especially during the last 5-6 miles where the road was extremely narrow, hilly and with very few places to pull to the side when someone approached from the opposite direction. We have to admit, there were times during the journey when we considered turning around, but we persevered and finally made it to the lighthouse reservation. In case you think we are exaggerating, the road is so famously bad that you can purchase a sticker at the Crisp Point gift shop celebrating the fact that you survived the drive! And we had to do it all over again on the return! It was certainly a journey we won't soon forget!
Once we finally reached the end of the road we were amazed to see some fairly large campers parked here and there between the trees. We learned later that the Crisp Point Light Historical Society allows volunteers to camp at the point. The society maintains the grounds, operates the gift shop and opens the lighthouse to climbers. There were a lot of other people who braved the drive out to the point. The beach there was clearly a popular spot.
After parking, we followed a boardwalk along the dunes to the lighthouse. The tower, constructed in 1903, is 59 feet tall and has a small attached service building. Inside the service building we viewed some maritime artifacts displayed there before climbing the 62 metal steps to the top of the tower. The tower actively serves as a private aid to navigation from May 1 to November 1 each year and displays a 300 mm lens in the lantern room.
We climbed out on the lantern gallery and were treated to spectacular 360 degree views of Lake Superior, miles of beaches and the surrounding forest. We were amazed to be able to clearly see the bottom of the lake through the Caribbean blue water.
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Was the nerve-wracking journey out to the lighthouse worth it? Absolutely! And with memories of the views fresh in our minds, the journey back didn't seem quite as bad.
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| Crisp Point Lighthouse |
Click here to view a YouTube video of our visit to Crisp Point Lighthouse.
Six Mile Point Rear Range Light
Six Mile Point Rear Range Light is an unusual-looking white steel light that was once used as the rear range light in the channel between lakes Superior and Huron on the St. Marys River. The light was built in 1907 and moved to the grounds of the Les Cheneaux Maritime Museum in Cedarville sometime after being replaced with a modern light in 1933.
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| Six Mile Point Rear Range Light |
We didn't expect the Maritime Museum to be open when we arrived because it has limited hours. However, it had been opened for a school group planning to visit and we were invited to take a look inside before the students arrived. It was an unexpected treasure, filled with antique boats, motors and other maritime exhibits. Unfortunately, we didn't take any photos, but in retrospect, we wish we had. If you're ever in the area and have an interest in antique boats, stop in to see this free museum. You won't be disappointed!
Six Mile Point Front Range Light
The Six Mile Point Front Range Light is similar to the Rear Range Light, above, but much shorter. Built in 1907, it served as the front range light in the channel between lakes Superior and Huron on the St. Marys River. Mariners needed to line up the rear light with the front light in order to find the safe passage in the channel. When the front light was replaced in 1933 it was moved to the grounds of the Detour Passage Historical Museum, within walking distance of the Drummond Island Ferry in the village of Detour. There were also some other navigational aides on display on the grounds.
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Pipe Island Light
Pipe Island Light is a privately owned lighthouse on Pipe Island in St. Marys River, Michigan. We were able to view it at a distance across the water from the village of Detour at the easternmost tip of the U.P. The lighthouse was lit in 1888 and was used to aid ships heading from Lake Huron into St. Mary's River and on toward the Soo Locks. The tower was also used along with the Frying Pan Light, once located 2 miles away, to form a range for entering and leaving the DeTour Passage.
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| Pipe Island Light |
Originally 32-1/2 feet tall, the height of the octagonal buff brick tower was increased in 1920 by removing its lantern room and installing a light from a 15 foot skeleton tower mounted on top. At some point the island was sold into private ownership. Currently the tower is operational as a daymark.
Detour Reef Lighthouse
The village of Detour lies at the easternmost point of the Michigan's Upper Peninsula. After visiting the previous two lights, we decided to take a chance on possibly finding a place to view the DeTour Reef Lighthouse from land. The lighthouse is best viewed by boat, but after doing some exploring on Google Maps, we thought we just might be able to see it by parking at the Detour Peninsula Nature Preserve and following a trail out toward where we thought the lighthouse might be located out in the water. It should be mentioned that we have been known to go above and beyond in our quest to photograph a lighthouse!
After following the trail for some distance we found a small opening in the trees that led to the rocky shore. We picked our way over the rocks and boulders until we rounded a bend, and there, a mile across the water, was the lighthouse. Success!
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| Detour Reef Lighthouse |
DeTour Reef Lighthouse marks the southern entrance of the DeTour Passage between the eastern tip of the U.P. and Drummond Island. First lit in 1931, the 83-foot tall Classic-Revival style lighthouse sits on a concrete crib and marks a dangerous reef. The light helps guide ship traffic between Lake Huron and Lake Superior via the St. Marys River.
The lighthouse was automated in 1974 and declared excess property by the U.S. Coastguard in 1997. In 1998 the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society was formed by civic leaders from Detour Villange and Drummond Island. The non-profit society completed major restoration of the structure in 2004 and has offered guided tours and an overnight keepers program since 2005.
Point Iroquois Light Station
The Point Iroquois Light Station is located in the Hiawatha National Forest at the western end of the St. Marys River. It marks the beginning of the passage between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes as navigators head east to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie.
Point Iroquois derives its name from the Iroquois warriors who were massacred at the point in 1662 by the Ojibwa.
The first wooden light tower and keeper's dwelling were built in 1855. The tower was lit for the first time in 1857, just two years after the opening of the Soo Locks. In 1870 the structures were both replaced by the brick buildings that continue to stand today. The tower stands 65-feet tall. The light was discontinued in 1963, after being replaced by an automatic light in the channel off of Gros Cap, Ontario. The tower's 4th order Fresnel lens was shipped to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and the lighthouse was declared excess property by the U.S. Coastguard. The U.S. Forest Service was awarded the property in 1965. The lighthouse was later restored and a museum opened in the keeper's dwelling.
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The museum and tower are open to the public at limited times. Unfortunately, it wasn't open at the time of our visit due to a lack of volunteers. Instead we roamed the grounds and followed a trail down to the shore where we enjoyed some beautiful views out over the water and back toward the lighthouse.
Click here for a short YouTube video of our visit to Point Iroquois Light Station.
Frying Pan Island Lighthouse
Frying Pan Island is a tiny 3.42 acre isle 2 miles north of the mouth of the St. Marys River, just offshore from DeTour Village. In 1882 an 18-foot circular tower made of steel plates first exhibited a red light using a 6th order Fresnel lens. The light was replaced by a structure on a coal tower in 1935, and abandoned in 1937. A light atop a pole marked the island in 2016. In 1988 the U.S. Coastguard moved the abandoned 1882 tower from the island to its base in Sault Ste. Marie where it was restored before being placed on display outside their headquarters.
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| Frying Pan Island Lighthouse |
We were able to get a decent photo of the small tower from atop Sault Ste. Marie's "Tower of History" when we visited the area.
* All photos and videos are the property of the owners unless otherwise noted. *
