Huron Islands Lighthouse: Visiting a Historic Light Station on Lake Superior

13 hours ago

4 min read

About three miles off the Upper Peninsula's Lake Superior shoreline, between Skanee and Big Bay, sits a chain of eight rocky islands most Michiganders have never heard of. At the top of one of them stands the Huron Island Lighthouse, guiding ships since 1868, a remote light station that few people ever see up close. Over Labor Day weekend I rode out by Sea-Doo, hiked the island's two trails and had the whole place to myself. Here's what it's like and how to plan your own trip.

Quick facts

Location: Huron Islands, Lake Superior, about 3 miles offshore between Skanee and Big Bay, Michigan
Getting there: Private boat only. There's no ferry. I rode about 13 miles by Sea-Doo from Skanee.
Open to visitors: Lighthouse Island only, for day use. No camping, fires or hunting.
Hiking: About a half mile to the lighthouse, plus a little over a mile to the fog signal building
Time needed: A full day, including the boat ride
Best season: Summer, on a calm day. I went over Labor Day weekend.

Where the Huron Islands are

The Huron Islands sit in Lake Superior just east of the Keweenaw Peninsula, offshore from Huron Bay. As you approach, the Huron Mountains rise on the mainland behind them, which is where the islands get their name. The lighthouse at the top of the main island is visible from well out on the water.

The islands are part of the Huron National Wildlife Refuge. Of the eight islands, only one is open to visitors: Lighthouse Island. The rest are bird sanctuaries, so you can look but you can't land.

Getting there

There's no ferry and no tour boat. You need your own boat to reach the Huron Islands. I launched from Skanee and made the roughly 13-mile ride on my Sea-Doo Explorer Pro 230. Big Bay is the other common starting point.

Kayaking out isn't recommended. Three miles of open Lake Superior is a long way to paddle, and conditions can change quickly. Even by motorboat, watch the marine forecast and pick a calm day.

The landing is a small dock on the island's sheltered side, next to an old boat launch. Look for the refuge sign near the water. It lists what's allowed: hiking, wildlife viewing and enjoying the historic buildings. Hunting, fires and camping are not allowed, so plan this as a day trip.

Hiking to the lighthouse

From the dock it's about a half-mile hike up to the lighthouse. I expected a dirt path, but most of the way is an old concrete sidewalk, narrow and still in surprisingly good shape. Along the way you cross a small footbridge and pass moss-covered rock that would make a great picnic spot.

Then the lighthouse appears at the top of the granite, surrounded by lilies and ivy. It was built in 1868 from stone blocks that were once just rock in the ground. Next to it is a second building that I think may have housed the assistant keepers, plus a small outbuilding marked for authorized personnel only.

The view from the top is the reward: open Lake Superior in one direction and the Huron Mountains on the horizon in the other.

The trail to the fog signal building

Lighthouse Island has only two hiking trails. The first is the short walk to the lighthouse. The second continues a little over a mile beyond it to the old fog signal building near the shore, and it's much rougher. When I hiked it, it was overgrown and full of cobwebs. I joked that I should have brought a machete.

Old electrical poles along the way, some with the hooks that once held the power cable, tell you you're on the right track. Near the end the path drops down a cliff on a set of 16 steps, changing from dirt to rock to aging concrete.

At the bottom is a cluster of historic buildings: the fog signal building, an old flagpole, a large tank that was probably for fuel, and a rail track running toward the water that likely worked with a hoist to haul supplies up from boats. Some of it shows damage that looked like someone had tried to break in. Even so, it was one of the most memorable spots on the trip.

Map and directions

Get directions to the Huron Islands in Google Maps. Want to see where else I've been? Check out the CDR Adventures Travel Map.

Tips for visiting the Huron Islands

Plan this as a full-day trip. Between the ride out, both trails and the ride back, give yourself plenty of daylight.
Wear real hiking boots. The second trail is overgrown and uneven.
Pack food and water, and carry out everything you bring in. There are no services on the island.
Stay on the trails and off the bird-sanctuary islands.
Respect the historic buildings and leave everything as you found it.
Late summer, around Labor Day, worked well for me: warm, calm and quiet.

Is the Huron Islands trip worth it?

If you have a boat and a calm Lake Superior day, absolutely. Very few people make it out here, the lighthouse is beautifully preserved, and the hike to the fog signal building feels like real exploration. It's a rugged, rarely visited corner of Michigan, and one of my favorite adventures so far.

This trip inspired the CDR Adventures Lighthouse tee. For more remote Great Lakes lighthouses, subscribe to CDR Adventures on YouTube.