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Spend a day along a shoreline of activities at Ludington Park
If you’re looking for a lot of activity in one spot, Ludington Park in Escanaba can keep you itinerary hopping for hours.
From historic towers that guided Great Lakes shipping to a modern beacon overlooking Little Bay de Noc, Delta County’s lighthouses tell stories of life along the water.
2-20 Beaumier Way Rd., Escanaba
Tour the restored lighthouse, explore exhibits from the Delta County Historical Society and climb the tower for views overlooking Little Bay de Noc.
3722 County 513 T Rd., Rapid River
Climb the tower, explore the rocky shoreline or bring a picnic and enjoy the surrounding Hiawatha National Forest.
1224 Lake Shore Dr., Gladstone
Set along the waterfront at Van Cleve Park, Gladstone Lighthouse is both a working navigational aid and an easy stop while exploring Little Bay de Noc.
Standing along Escanaba’s waterfront, Sand Point Lighthouse offers a window into the city’s early days as a busy Great Lakes shipping port. Tour the restored lighthouse, explore exhibits from the Delta County Historical Society and climb the tower for views overlooking Little Bay de Noc.
Sand Point Lighthouse was completed in 1868 as Escanaba’s shipping industry grew alongside the Upper Peninsula’s iron mines and railroads. Its unusual design—with the tower facing land rather than the water—has long inspired questions about whether the orientation was intentional or a construction error.
The lighthouse was electrified in 1913 and later occupied by the U.S. Coast Guard before being deactivated. The Delta County Historical Society restored it to its historic appearance, reopening the lighthouse to visitors in 1990. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Follow the Stonington Peninsula to its southern tip to find Peninsula Point Lighthouse, overlooking Lake Michigan and the entrance to Little Bay de Noc. Climb the tower, explore the rocky shoreline or bring a picnic and enjoy the surrounding Hiawatha National Forest.
The shoreline is a fascinating place to explore, and you may find fossils estimated to be 400–500 million years old. In fall, Peninsula Point becomes a gathering place for thousands of monarch butterflies resting before continuing their migration across Green Bay.
Peninsula Point Lighthouse was built in 1865 to help ships navigate the shoals and shallows along an important route to the ports of Escanaba and Gladstone. The lighthouse guided vessels carrying iron ore, lumber, fish and other goods until an automated light replaced the keeper-operated lamp in 1922.
The light was discontinued in the 1930s after the Minneapolis Shoal Light Station took over its navigational role. A fire destroyed the keeper’s dwelling in 1959, but the lighthouse tower survived. Today, visitors can climb the spiral staircase to the cast-iron lantern room and take in expansive views of the surrounding water.
Set along the waterfront at Van Cleve Park, Gladstone Lighthouse is both a working navigational aid and an easy stop while exploring Little Bay de Noc. The lighthouse stands near Gladstone Beach and the bronze sculpture The Captain and the Kid by local artist Andy Sacksteder.
Make a day of your visit with a walk along the waterfront or time at the beach. Van Cleve Park also offers opportunities for fishing, paddling, biking, picnicking and other seasonal recreation.
Built in 2010 as part of a harbor improvement project, Gladstone Lighthouse replaced an earlier metal tower light and is one of the Upper Peninsula’s newer lighthouses. The 30-plus-foot structure houses an automatic electric marine lantern with a U.S. Coast Guard Class C green light that continues to guide boaters into Gladstone Harbor.
If you’re looking for a lot of activity in one spot, Ludington Park in Escanaba can keep you itinerary hopping for hours.
Explore the rich maritime heritage of Escanaba, Michigan, at the Sand Point Lighthouse. Step back in time, discover captivating stories of lighthou...
