Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the United States. Of the approximately 125 lighthouses still standing in Michigan, a few of them are located in some of Michigan’s State Parks. Here is a list of parks you will want to visit to see the lighthouses that call these parks home.
Ludington State Park
Big Sable Point Lighthouse stands in the dunes along Lake Michigan. It is a few miles from the campground and parking lot but well worth the hike to visit it.
Belle Isle State Park
The only light tower constructed for navigation is the Livingstone Memorial Light that proudly stands on the east end of the Island.
Tawas Point State Park
The park is home to one of the most visited lighthouses in the state. While you are camping you can see the light shining at night.
Leelanau State Park
The Grand Travers Lighthouse stands at the lip of the Leelanau Peninsula and is a popular destination for tourist visiting the peninsula. They say the old lighthouse is haunted and tours on the weekends in October are a popular event.
Grand Haven State Park
The beach at the Grand Haven State Park is one of the most popular beaches in Michigan. The bight red Grand Haven Lighthouse stands on the pier separating the channel from the beach.
Fort Wilkins State Historic Park
The Copper Harbor Lighthouse is part of the state park. You can see it from a parking lot on the west side of M-41 that faces the harbor. The lighthouse is separated by private property and the road to the lighthouse is not open. Unfortunately the ferry service that took visitors to the lighthouse is no longer operating but hopefully, the state will be able to find a contractor to start the service again.
Sturgeon Point State Park
The small state park on Lake Huron near Harrisville is home to the lighthouse maintained by the Alcona Historical Society.
Holland State Park
The lighthouse is known as “Big Red” guides sailors into the channel next to the state park beach. You can not access the lighthouse from the state park but you can get a good view and photographs of it from the park.
William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor
One of the newest lighthouses in Michigan stands on the Detroit River at the state harbor near the DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center.
McLain State Park
The state lists a lighthouse at McLain State Park in the Keweenaw near Hancock. It’s more of a beacon that stands on a breakwater than a lighthouse but I figured I better include it on the list.
Silver Lake State Park
The park is most noted for the sand dunes and ORV area but it does have a lighthouse. The Little Sable Point Lighthouse stands along Lake Michigan in the park and is open to visitors.
Colonial Michilimackinac Historic State Park
If you have ever driven across the Mackinac Bridge you have probably seen the Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse that stands on the shoreline in Mackinaw City. It is one of the most popular places to stop and take a pic of the bridge.
Cheboygan State Park
You probably won’t find a lighthouse listed at the state park probably because it is no longer standing. The foundation can be found off the hiking trails and is still worth visiting. From the shoreline where the old lighthouse once stood you can see the Poe Reef Lighthouse in Lake Huron.
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