Forty Mile Point Light

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse stands on a quiet, wooded stretch of Lake Huron shore north of Rogers City in Presque Isle County, named for its position roughly forty miles from the old lighthouse at Mackinac. Built in 1896, the handsome brick tower and keeper’s dwelling filled a dark gap on the shipping route, guiding vessels along an otherwise unlit stretch of the northeastern Lake Huron coast.

Preserved within a county park and operated as a museum, the lighthouse sits on a scenic shore where the weathered timbers of the shipwreck Joseph S. Fay — lost in an 1905 storm — lie preserved on the beach, a tangible reminder of the dangers the light was built to prevent. With its tower climbs, museum, beach and shipwreck remains, set in a peaceful lakeside park, Forty Mile Point is a rewarding stop on the Sunrise Coast.

Visitors tour the restored light station and museum and, in season, climb the tower for Lake Huron views. The surrounding county park offers a beach, picnic areas and shoreline walks, with the preserved timbers of the shipwreck Joseph S. Fay on the beach a highlight for those drawn to maritime history. The quiet park is a fine spot for beachcombing, picnicking and taking in the Lake Huron shore on the Sunrise Coast.

Summer brings the fullest museum and tower-climb hours, warm beach days and calm Lake Huron waters. Late spring and fall offer pleasant weather and quiet visits, with fall color along the coast. The lighthouse museum operates seasonally; winter closes it but leaves the shore and historic tower. Summer is best for combining the tower climb, the beach and the shipwreck timbers in good light.

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse was built in 1896 to fill a long dark stretch of the Lake Huron shipping route between Mackinac and Presque Isle — its name marks the distance from the old Mackinac light. The brick tower and dwelling guided vessels past this remote shore for decades. Preserved within a county park and museum, the station tells the story of the keepers and the ships lost nearby, including the steamer Joseph S. Fay, whose timbers rest on the beach.

The lighthouse stands on a low, wooded point of the limestone-influenced Lake Huron shore of the northeastern Lower Peninsula. The rocky, sometimes fossil-bearing beach is characteristic of this coast, shaped by Lake Huron’s waves. The remote, unlit stretch of shore that demanded the lighthouse reflects the geography of this quiet, scenic section of the Sunrise Coast north of Rogers City.

The Lake Huron shore, beach and surrounding forest host gulls, waterfowl, shorebirds and migrating birds, with white-tailed deer and woodland species in the woods behind the shore. The Sunrise Coast is part of the Lake Huron migratory route, and the clean waters support the fish of the lake. The quiet county park and its shore make for pleasant, peaceful wildlife watching.

Forty Mile Point sits on a quiet, limestone-influenced Lake Huron shore of beach, forest and rocky shoreline. The clean, cold waters and the wooded shore support their own aquatic and shoreline life. The relatively undeveloped county park preserves a peaceful, scenic stretch of the northeastern Lake Huron coast, a pocket of habitat and public shoreline on the Sunrise Coast.

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse is a beloved Sunrise Coast landmark, its preserved tower, museum and the haunting shipwreck timbers on its beach keeping alive the maritime history of the northeastern Lake Huron shore. Together with the nearby town of Rogers City and the other lighthouses of Presque Isle County, it anchors the rich lighthouse-and-shipwreck heritage of this quiet, scenic coast.

Forty Mile Point Lighthouse is reached via US-23 north of Rogers City in Presque Isle County, within a county park on the Lake Huron shore. Operated as a seasonal museum, it offers parking, grounds, a beach and tower climbs, often with admission. The town of Rogers City and the other Presque Isle County lighthouses are nearby. Check current museum hours before visiting this stretch of the Sunrise Coast.

The historic lighthouse is preserved and operated as a museum within a county park, with the county and a lighthouse society maintaining the structures and the shipwreck timbers. Visitors help by treating the historic buildings, artifacts and shipwreck remains with care, staying on paths and the beach, and respecting the quiet shore. Preserving the lighthouse and the rare beached shipwreck remains keeps this maritime history accessible.

Lake Huron can build waves and currents along the shore — supervise swimmers and heed conditions. The tower stairs are steep. Watch footing on the rocky beach and around the shipwreck timbers, which can be slippery. Protect against sun on the exposed shore. Respect the historic structures and the fragile shipwreck remains, and follow all posted safety signs in the county park.

The lighthouse museum and tower operate seasonally with admission — respect posted hours, barriers and climb rules. Do not remove artifacts or disturb the shipwreck timbers on the beach. Pets may be restricted in buildings. Camp and picnic only in designated county-park areas. Check the operating county park / museum for current hours, fees and any seasonal closures before visiting.

The town of Rogers City, with its Lake Huron harbor and the world’s largest limestone quarry, lies nearby, with the Old and New Presque Isle lighthouses, Ocqueoc Falls, Black Lake, and the Sunrise Coast’s beaches all close. The Thunder Bay shipwreck preserve off Alpena and the broader northeastern Lake Huron shore surround the area, making it a hub of maritime history and shoreline recreation.

Climb the tower in season for Lake Huron views, and walk the beach to see the preserved timbers of the shipwreck Joseph S. Fay — a rare, tangible piece of Great Lakes history. Visit in summer for full hours and good light. Pair a visit with the Old and New Presque Isle lighthouses, Ocqueoc Falls and Rogers City for a full Sunrise Coast day of lighthouses and shoreline.