Standing at the tip of Old Mission Peninsula in northern Michigan, Mission Point Light has guided sailors on Grand Traverse Bay since 1870. The modest white wooden lighthouse sits remarkably close to the 45th parallel, marking the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole. Though the light remains active, the building is not open to the public for climbing or interior tours. The surrounding Mission Point Lighthouse Park offers excellent beach access and hiking trails. Photographers find the best light at sunset, when the bay glows behind the structure. Nearby, the peninsula is home to award-winning wineries, cherry orchards, and scenic drives along M-37 that make the journey as memorable as the destination.

Explore Nearby

• Old Mission State Park — State Park in Michigan
• Leelanau State Park — State Park in Michigan
• Historic Michigan Road Byway Alternate — Scenic Byway in Indiana
• Huron–Manistee National Forest — National Forest in Michigan
• Newport State Park — Dark Sky Site in Wisconsin