Waugoshance Light stands in the waters of Lake Michigan off the northwestern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula in Emmet County. Built in 1851, it was one of the first lighthouses on the Great Lakes to use a “bird cage” style lantern room. The light guided ships through the treacherous Straits of Mackinac for decades before being decommissioned, though it remains an active navigational aid today. The tower is not open to the public and is only accessible by boat, making it a popular destination for kayakers and charter trips. Golden hour on calm summer evenings offers the best photography. Nearby, visitors can explore Wilderness State Park, the historic town of Mackinaw City, and Colonial Michilimackinac.

Explore Nearby

• Wilderness State Park — State Park in Michigan
• Fort Michilimackinac State Park — State Park in Michigan
• Hiawatha National Forest — National Forest in Michigan
• Wisconsin Lake Superior Byway — Scenic Byway in Wisconsin
• Wisconsin State Trunk Highway System — Scenic Byway in Wisconsin