New Presque Isle Light

The New Presque Isle Lighthouse rises from the wooded Presque Isle peninsula on Lake Huron in Presque Isle County, near Rogers City. Built in 1870 to replace the shorter Old Presque Isle Light nearby, its soaring white tower stands roughly 113 feet tall — the tallest lighthouse tower accessible to the public on the Great Lakes, throwing its beam far out over the lake.

Climbing the tall tower’s spiral stairs rewards visitors with one of the most expansive lighthouse views in Michigan, over the forest, the harbor and the broad expanse of Lake Huron. Set within a scenic park with the keeper’s dwellings preserved as a museum, and paired with the historic Old Presque Isle Light a short distance away, the New Presque Isle Lighthouse is a centerpiece of the Sunrise Coast’s rich lighthouse heritage.

The signature experience is climbing the tall tower — the highest accessible lighthouse on the Great Lakes — for sweeping Lake Huron views. Visitors also tour the keeper’s dwellings, now a museum, and explore the scenic park, harbor and shoreline of the Presque Isle peninsula. Beachcombing, picnicking and shoreline walks round out a visit, with the historic Old Presque Isle Light a short distance away for a full lighthouse experience.

Summer brings the fullest museum and tower-climb hours, warm shoreline days and calm Lake Huron waters. Late spring and fall offer pleasant weather and quiet visits, with fall color along the peninsula. The lighthouse operates seasonally; winter closes the tower but leaves the dramatic shore. Summer is best for the tower climb and pairing the new and old lighthouses on the same peninsula.

The New Presque Isle Lighthouse was built in 1870 to replace the shorter Old Presque Isle Light of 1840, whose low tower no longer met the needs of growing Lake Huron traffic. At roughly 113 feet, the new tower threw a far brighter, higher beam to guide ships past Presque Isle. It served for over a century before automation, and is now preserved within a park and museum — together with the old light, telling the full story of navigation on this stretch of the Sunrise Coast.

The lighthouse stands on the Presque Isle peninsula — ‘almost an island’ — a low, wooded point sheltering a natural harbor on the limestone-influenced Lake Huron shore. The peninsula and harbor made Presque Isle a natural navigation landmark, and the flat, forested point and protected harbor reflect the glacial and limestone geology of the northeastern Lower Peninsula and the Sunrise Coast.

The wooded peninsula, harbor and Lake Huron shore host white-tailed deer, woodland birds, gulls, waterfowl and migrating birds, with the harbor and shoreline drawing waterbirds. The Lake Huron coast is a migratory route, and the clean waters support the fish of the Sunrise Coast. The quiet peninsula and its forest and shore make for pleasant wildlife watching around the historic lighthouses.

The Presque Isle peninsula protects a quiet stretch of Lake Huron shoreline, harbor and northern forest, a peaceful pocket of habitat on the Sunrise Coast. The sheltered harbor and limestone-influenced shore support their own aquatic and shoreline life. The relatively undeveloped, historic setting around the two lighthouses preserves a scenic and natural slice of the northeastern Lake Huron coast.

The New Presque Isle Lighthouse, as the tallest accessible lighthouse tower on the Great Lakes, is a proud landmark of the Sunrise Coast, and together with the historic Old Presque Isle Light forms one of Michigan’s richest lighthouse pairings. The two towers on one peninsula draw photographers, history lovers and tower-climbers, anchoring the maritime heritage of Presque Isle County on the Lake Huron shore.

The New Presque Isle Lighthouse is on the Presque Isle peninsula north of Rogers City and Alpena, in Presque Isle County, reached via Grand Lake Road and Presque Isle area roads off US-23 along the Lake Huron shore. Preserved within a scenic park with a museum, it offers parking, grounds and seasonal tower climbs, often with admission. The historic Old Presque Isle Light is a short distance away. Check current hours before visiting.

The historic lighthouse is preserved and operated within a park and museum, with care taken to maintain the tall tower and keeper’s dwellings. Visitors help by treating the historic buildings and artifacts gently, staying on paths and grounds, and respecting the quiet peninsula and harbor. The peaceful, scenic setting shared with the old light is part of what makes Presque Isle special — tread lightly.

The tall tower’s spiral stairs are long, steep and narrow — climb carefully and know your limits. Lake Huron can build waves and currents along the shore; supervise swimmers and heed conditions. Watch footing on the rocky shoreline. Protect against sun and insects on the wooded point in warm months, and respect the historic structures and any barriers. Follow all posted safety signs.

The lighthouse museum and tower operate seasonally with admission — respect posted hours, barriers and climb rules; the tall tower may have age or height guidance for climbers. Do not remove artifacts. Pets may be restricted in buildings. Respect the separate operation of the nearby Old Presque Isle Light. Check the operating park / museum for current hours, fees and seasonal closures.

The historic Old Presque Isle Light lies a short distance away on the same peninsula, with Grand Lake, the town of Rogers City and its Lake Huron harbor, Forty Mile Point Lighthouse, Ocqueoc Falls and Black Lake all close. The Thunder Bay shipwreck country off Alpena and the broader northeastern Lake Huron shore surround the area, rich in lighthouses, shipwrecks and natural attractions.

Climb the tall tower — the highest accessible on the Great Lakes — for an unmatched Lake Huron view, then visit the historic Old Presque Isle Light nearby for the full pairing. Visit in summer for full hours, and bring a camera for the soaring tower. Pair a visit with Forty Mile Point Lighthouse, Ocqueoc Falls and Rogers City for a complete Sunrise Coast lighthouse day.