Big Sable Point Lighthouse

Big Sable Point is for people who like their lighthouse with a walk and a beach attached. There is no road to the door: you walk or bike 1.8 miles from Ludington State Park, climb the tower, then finish on the sand. You need a Recreation Passport to drive into the park.

The path is sand and gravel with little shade, and it can be tiring on hot days. On a summer afternoon, bring water and take your time, and if you ride, know that the path can be hard going on a road bike. On the way back you can return along the Lake Michigan shore when the weather allows. The lighthouse waits among jack pines at the northern end of the park.

At the end, the first floor holds a gift shop and the tower is open for climbs. Volunteer keepers lead tours as part of the park’s interpretive programs, and the beach is right there.

The tower was completed in 1867 and rises 112 feet, with its light 106 feet above the water. The original brick was encased in steel plates in 1900, which is where the black-and-white bands come from. The light was automated in 1968, is still an active aid to navigation and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lakeshore Keepers has operated the lighthouse since 1987. The chimney and north porch were repaired in fall 2026, ahead of a larger restoration of the keepers’ quarters and the clad tower planned for 2027, the lighthouse’s 160th year.