Ludington & Manistee
Manistee
A Lake Michigan port city where the river meets the lake, with a historic downtown riverwalk, three city beaches and a pierhead light to climb in season.
About 1 miles away (straight line)
Lighthouse · Ludington & Manistee
Manistee North Pierhead Light
Manistee's 38-foot pierhead light at the end of the north pier. Tower climbs began in 2026; the tower is now listed as closed until May 21, 2027.
The Manistee North Pierhead Light is an easy walk with a payoff: about a quarter mile out the north pier from Fifth Avenue Beach to where the Manistee River enters Lake Michigan, and a tower that opened for climbs in 2026.
2026 was the first year the light opened to the public, and the tower is now listed as closed for the rest of the 2026 season, with a reopening scheduled for May 21, 2027. In a normal season it opens from late May: buy a ticket in the small gift shop at the base and climb for views over the lake and the river channel.
Park at the Fifth Avenue Beach lot; the restrooms are at the beach concession stand, not at the light. On days when the tower is closed, the pier walk still gets you up close to the harbor entrance.
The 38-foot tower dates to 1927 and is owned by the City of Manistee. Lakeshore Keepers took over its operation and restoration in January 2025, making it the fifth light in the group’s care along this stretch of shore.
Two seasonal webcams on the pierhead look east toward the historic downtown and west over Lake Michigan toward the south pier light.
Practical information
- Managed by
- Lakeshore Keepers (operation and restoration), for the City of Manistee
- Season
- The light is usually listed as open seasonally from late May, but it is closed for the 2026 season. It is scheduled to reopen May 21, 2027; check before you go.
- Official website
- lakeshorekeepers.org
Location
Map of Manistee North Pierhead Light
4 places on an OpenStreetMap map
Nearby towns
Also nearby
Straight-line distances, not driving distances.
Beach
Fifth Avenue Beach
One of Manistee's three city beaches on Lake Michigan, with a beach house, a playground and the north pier walk to the Manistee North Pierhead Light.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Beach
First Street Beach
One of Manistee's three city beaches on Lake Michigan, with sugar sand, a free family disc golf course and parking for the riverwalk.
Under a mile away (straight line)
Museum
Manistee County Historical Museum
Manistee's history museum in a downtown drugstore building on River Street, with period rooms, a log cabin replica and maritime exhibits.
About 1 miles away (straight line)