Point Iroquois Light Station: Beautiful Views And Michigan History

Take a stroll in the freshwater-sea breeze

From the paved parking lot, guests can head straight for the museum or take a more circuitous route and follow the boardwalk path. This nature trail runs only 0.2 miles, and is a great way to stretch the legs and view local wildlife. The woodland pathway opens onto the bluff, covered in sandy soil and dotted with various shrubs and trees. The boardwalk protects the delicate turf and winds casually toward the water. Eventually, the path branches; one way offers stairs leading down to the white sand beach, the other takes you on to the lighthouse from the lake side.

Great photo opportunities

The Point Iroquois Light Station is arguably one of the lovelier of Michigan’s lighthouses. It sits on well-kept grounds, and the 19th-century house and tower have been carefully maintained. The park offers plenty of places to stop and admire, or capture keepsake photos. Birch trees and beach vistas are just waiting to pose for the camera. The house itself has an antique charm that serves well for a back-drop at any angle. The low stone fence around the lawn would make a great place to line up squirmy kids for a family shot. And the views from the top of the 65 foot tower, well, they really speak for themselves.

Play and lounge on the white sand beach

Michigan’s beaches are some of the finest, and the stretch at Point Iroquois is a prime example. Clean, white sand nearly squeaks underfoot as you comb the beach for rocks, driftwood, and the occasional small shell. Stone enthusiasts will be pleased to know they can hunt here for banded agates. Canada is visible across the bay, and freighters are frequently spotted coming and going from the nearby Soo Locks. On rare days, the water laps gently at the shore. But it’s more common to see small waves that break over the beach and rush up over unsuspecting toes.

The tower is open to the public

Not many of Michigan’s lighthouse towers are open for visitors to climb. The stairs at Point Iroquois Light Station offer a rare opportunity to get up into the tower and look out from above. Whitefish Point, another famous lighthouse, has also been opened up for climbing in recent years, but requires a fee. Crisp Point Lighthouse allows visitors to climb, but the trek over miles of narrow, modestly-maintained, sandy roads makes getting there a little more of a challenge. Point Iroquois, on the other hand, is easy to get to and it’s free.

Brave the heights for these stunning views

While the tower itself reaches 65 feet high, the viewing deck sits at 51 feet. From this vantage, it’s possible to see almost all of Whitefish Bay to the north and west, and to overlook, to the northeast, where the bay narrows into St. Mary’s river. The entirety of the park is visible as well as much of the landscape to the south. It’s easy to get lost in your own thoughts as you gaze out over some of Michigan’s beautiful coastline.

Visit the Lighthouse Museum

Attached to the tower are the keepers’ houses. Several rooms have been decorated to reflect the building’s history, and to make it look like the keepers are living there and have only just stepped away. Guests can walk through and get a sense of what life was like here in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Informative signs throughout the rooms offer historical background information. During the summer, it’s not uncommon to find docents in period costume on the grounds, ready to explain the property’s history.

While the keepers’ houses have been converted into a museum, there is also a small gift shop, featuring books and lighthouse-inspired memorabilia.

Helpful information

Point Iroquois Light Station is easy to find, as it’s readily visible from W Lakeshore Drive. The lighthouse is roughly 7.5 miles from Brimley, the closest town, and it’s about 25 miles from Sault Ste. Marie, the closest city of size. There are quality campgrounds nearby: Monocle Lake is less than 2 miles away; Bay View is just 8 miles to the west, along W Lakeshore Drive.

At Point Iroquois, there is no charge for admission; the trail, grounds, beach, museum, and tower are all free to the public when the park is open.

Summer hours, May 15th through October 15th: 9am to 5pm, all week long.

Winter hours, Oct 16th through May 14th: 10am to 3pm, Saturday and Sunday.