Lake Huron Leg

Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead, Ohio, United States, is the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the American side of the Great Lakes.^[3][4][5] It has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822, and is an active aid to navigation.

Fort Gratiot Light /ˈɡræʃɪt/, the first lighthouse in the state of Michigan, was constructed north of Fort Gratiot in 1829 by Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan’s first U.S. Senators.^[8]The Fort Gratiot Light marks the entrance to the St. Clair River from Lake Huron (going south) in the southern portion of Michigan’s Thumb. The light is still active and the grounds are an active Coast Guard facility, but it has recently been handed over to the Port Huron Museum. It is the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan. There is also a public beach and park on the property, known as Lighthouse Beach.

Tawas Point Light is located in the Tawas Point State Park off Tawas Bay in Lake Huron in Baldwin Township in Northern Michigan.

Sturgeon Point State Park is an undeveloped public recreation area that is home to the historic Sturgeon Point Light. The state park covers 76 acres (31 ha) on the shore of Lake Huron three miles (4.8 km) north of Harrisville in Alcona County, Michigan. In addition to the lighthouse and associated museum, the park features a long and shallow reef that juts into Lake Huron and extends for almost a full mile.

Presque Isle is a small unincorporated community located within Presque Isle Township along Lake Huron. It is approximately 15 miles north of Alpena, and 15 miles south of Rogers City.

The community and the township are named for Presque Isle (literally, “almost an island”) which is French for “peninsula”. This peninsula, for which the entire county is named, sits in the northern part of the township and is home to two historic lighthouses. The old lighthouse (Upper L) and the New Lighthouse (R and Lower L being renovated)

The heavily wooded Hoeft State Park sits on 1 mile (1.6 km) of Lake Huron shoreline and offers 144 campsites along with 4 miles (6.4 km) of hiking trails, hunting, playgrounds, a picnic pavilion and a lodge. The Huron Sunrise Trail bicycle path connects the park to Rogers City and the 40 Mile Lighthouse county park. I camped on the beach here. The dunes had their own personal autumn color show going on.

Forty Mile Point Light is a lighthouse in Presque Isle County near Hammond Bay on the western shore of Lake Huron in Rogers Township, Michigan USA. Unlike many Great Lakes lighthouses, Forty Mile Point Light does not mark a significant harbor or river mouth. Rather, it was constructed with the intent that as one sailed from Mackinaw Point to the Saint Clair River, one would never be out of viewing range of a lighthouse.^[3] The light is named because it is on 40 mile Point which is 40 miles (64 km) sailing distance from Old Mackinaw Point. Importantly, the many structures that were part of the installation remain: lighthouse; Lighthouse keeper quarters; barn (bunkhouse)(renovated in 2006-2007 as the gift shop),^[14] foghorn signal building (the diaphone has been removed), oil house, and brick outhouse. 

Mackinaw Point marks the junction of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Founded in 1889, the Old Mackinac Point Light Station was in operation from 1890 until 1957. The double-walled cylindrical tower was laid with an outside diameter of 13 feet 4 inches (4.06 m), and as each course was added, rose to a height of 45 feet (14 m), surmounted by a circular iron gallery and an 8-foot-8-inch (2.64 m) diameter watch room, which was in turn capped by a prefabricated octagonal iron lantern.”^[14]

Other Huron Sights

CONTINUE TO PART TWO, LAKE SUPERIOR LEG!