Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state, and many of them are open today for public visits. Five of those lighthouses have towers taller than 100 feet, and the two tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes are also found here in the Mitten State. Today we will take a look at the 10 Tallest Lighthouses in Michigan and tell you how you can visit each of them. For the purposes of this list, we are mostly using the tower heights found on the Seeing the Light website (run by the late Terry Pepper), which measures tower height as the distance between the base of the structure to the top of the vent ball. Six of these lighthouse towers can easily be entered and climbed for amazing views, while others require a bit more work to visit as they are offshore or on an island.

10. Fort Gratiot Light, Lake Huron (85 feet) – Michigan’s oldest lighthouse is also one of its tallest. Dating back to the 1820s, this tower was 65 feet tall until its height was increased in the 1860s. The Fort Gratiot Light marks where Lake Huron and the St. Clair River meet. This is one of the busiest shipping lanes on the Great Lakes. This lighthouse is easy to visit from Lighthouse Park in Port Huron, and guided site tours (that also include the other buildings on the property) with tower climbs are offered during the summer months.

9. Au Sable Light Station, Lake Superior (86 feet) – A walk along the beach on the way to the Au Sable Light Station shows why its construction was necessary. Several wooden shipwrecks can be found here in the shallow waters of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. A walk of a mile and a half from the Hurricane River day use area leads visitors to this light station, which is open for tours in summer months when park rangers are present. The more than 80 foot tall tower here was one of several on this list designed by Orlando M. Poe, who served as chief engineer for Great Lakes lighthouses. In addition to the lighthouse tower, other surviving buildings here include the attached keeper’s dwelling, an additional keeper’s house, oil house, boat house, garage, a brick outhouse, and other storage buildings. It is a beautiful walk to reach the Au Sable Light Station, and the views once you arrive make the journey more than worthwhile.

8. Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, Lake Huron (89 feet) – Marking a reef that extends up to two miles out into Lake Huron, the Point Aux Barques Lighthouse is the second tower to stand on this site and it dates back to the 1850s. Attached to a keeper’s dwelling, this white conical tower is 89 feet tall and part of a museum complex. Lighthouse tours and tower climbs start in May and continue into September.

7. Sand Hills Lighthouse, Lake Superior (91 feet) – The uniquely constructed Sand Hills Lighthouse near Ahmeek would have at one time been one of the easiest to visit on this list. It used to operate as a bed and breakfast, but it has been closed to the public for a few years now as it was sold to a private owner who is doing extensive renovations. This lighthouse first entered service in 1919 and was active until the 1950s. Its square tower rises more than 90 feet from the middle of the dwelling part of the structure, which could house three keepers. To best respect private property, the only current way to see this lighthouse is from the water.

6. South Manitou Island Lighthouse, Lake Michigan (99 feet) – Another lighthouse designed by Orlando M. Poe, the South Manitou Island Lighthouse can be found within the boundaries of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It is possible to visit this lighthouse and even enter it by taking a trip with Manitou Transit during the summer months. Day trip and overnight camping options are both available. Dating back to 1840, the South Manitou Island Lighthouse marks the Manitou Passage shipping lane. This route is used by ships to avoid rough weather conditions out in Lake Michigan, and many shipwrecks found in the shallow waters near the island show why this lighthouse was needed. As you can see from the picture above, it’s been more than a few years since we’ve visited this lighthouse. We look forward to returning soon and seeing more of the island as well as the improvements that have been made to the lighthouse and historic district.

5. Little Sable Point Light, Lake Michigan (107 feet) – Last year saw the Little Sable Point Light celebrate its 150 year anniversary. This beautiful brick tower stands above sand dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan, the only structure that remains of what was a typical Great Lakes light station. The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association takes care of this light, and offers tower climbs during the summer months. The views from 100 feet above the sand are quite spectacular!

4. Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Lake Michigan (112 feet) – The Big Sable Point Lighthouse is located within Ludington State Park. The 112 foot tall tower here stands tall above a sandy Lake Michigan shoreline and dates back to 1867. The tower is constructed of Cream City brick, but after weather took a toll it was covered with the black and white boiler plate that is seen today. You can hike to this lighthouse (almost two miles) once Ludington State Park re-opens in July, and thanks to the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association you can tour the lighthouse and climb the tower!

3. New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Lake Huron (113 feet) – The tallest lighthouse tower on the Michigan mainland is the New Presque Isle Lighthouse, which replaced the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse (38 feet tall, built in 1840) in 1870. This is another beautiful lighthouse designed by Orlando M. Poe, and it marks the safe harbor at Presque Isle where ships were able to wait out storms. Connected to a two story keeper’s house, this tower is part of a light station complex that is now open to the public as a museum. You can visit the lighthouse and climb the tower during the summer months, thanks to the Presque Isle Township Museum Society.

2. White Shoal Light, Lake Michigan (124 feet) – Quite possibly the most recognizable lighthouse in Michigan, the White Shoal Light can be found in Lake Michigan 20 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge. Constructed in 1910, its unique “candy cane/barber pole” red and white paint striping ensure maximum visibility during the daytime. Warning of a shallow shoal, construction of this light was quite the engineering feat. You can view this beautiful lighthouse from a Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise or from a private boat. Now privately owned by the White Shoal Light Historical Preservation Society, it is possible to visit this light for an overnight stay ($$$).

1. Rock of Ages Light, Lake Superior (130 feet) – The best views of the Rock of Ages Light come from the Voyageur II or Sea Hunter III Isle Royale National Park passenger ferries. The Sea Hunter III makes day trips from Grand Portage, Minnesota to the western end of the park, while the Voyageur II stops at Windigo before continuing on to Rock Harbor. The Rock of Ages Light sits atop a small rock outcropping three and a half miles off of Isle Royale and marks a dangerous rocky area that claimed several ships in the late 1800s. The Rock of Ages Light was constructed from 1908-1910 and is still an active aid to navigation. Since 2014, the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society has been caring for and restoring the light; it is possible to volunteer for a work week at the lighthouse.