Little Sable Point Lighthouse, Mears

4.7

Must see · Lighthouse · Tourist Spot

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The Little Sable Point Light is a lighthouse located south of Pentwater in the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the southwest corner of Golden Township, just south of Silver Lake State Park.
The lighthouse was designed by Col. Orlando M. Poe and has been described as "A classic Poe tower." The design used 109 1-foot-diameter wood pilings driven into the sand, capped by 12 feet of stone as a stout base for the brick tower. The walls of the tower are thick at the base and at its zenith.
Following the loss of the Schooner Pride in 1866, public outcries for a light at this locale were finally heard and heeded. Congress approved funding in 1871, but construction was delayed until 1874 due to lack of roads to the site.
The station was originally named "Petite Pointe Au Sable Lighthouse", which is the name used on most official records; officially, however, the name was changed in 1910. Although commonly called "Little Sable Point Light", it is listed by the National Park Service as "Little Point Sable Light".
The lantern room has eight fixed panels in its lower section, and the upper has ten rotating panels.
In 1954, the Lighthouse keeper's dwelling was destroyed by the Coast Guard when electricity reached the site and the light was automated. "Evidence of the connection between the dwelling and tower are obvious to the visitor." For Little Sable Point Lighthouse and beyond, use our Mears day trip website to get the most from your Mears vacation.

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Little Sable Point Lighthouse reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating

440 reviews

Google

4.8

By Marci W

The volunteers are wonderful, so generous of these people to take out of their time to do this. The climb was totally work it it’s like 130 ish steps to the top it’s a spiral staircase. That got me...

The volunteers are wonderful, so generous of these people to take out of their time to do this. The climb was totally work it it’s like 130 ish steps to the top it’s a spiral staircase. That got me... more »
By Explorerfam5

The beach here is beautiful. Water is clear. The lighthouse is pretty. We didn't climb it because we had arrived right as it was getting ready to close. The parking lot is not huge but the plus side.... more

The beach here is beautiful. Water is clear. The lighthouse is pretty. We didn't climb it because we had arrived right as it was getting ready to close. The parking lot is not huge but the plus side.... more »
By mamamimi2017

I use a cane so I greatly appreciated that the smooth cement walkway to the lighthouse is a rather short walk. Also, they have quite a few benches around the lighthouse so you can sit and enjoy the..... more

I use a cane so I greatly appreciated that the smooth cement walkway to the lighthouse is a rather short walk. Also, they have quite a few benches around the lighthouse so you can sit and enjoy the..... more »

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By Shawna Brown

Amazing park! BONUS- dog friendly!! The scenery is beautiful, the sand is soft, and there is plenty of beach to swim on! There are little bathrooms in the parking lot area (no running water though, so be sure to fill your bottles before hand!). My kids loved climbing the dines behind the park. They tried sand berries for the first time (😝). Thdre are some little waves which make the swimming fun for them. We didn't take the tour of the light house, but it was cool to photograph and read about. I couldn't stop taking photos! A must see if you are in the area!

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By Raul O

Nice little park. The beach is beautiful and the lighthouse it’s awesome. For a small access fee you can climb the lighthouse all the way to the top where you have a beautiful view over the lake Michigan But it’s not For the people who are afraid of heights. The parking it’s free if you have a Michigan Recreation passport. The tickets are sold in a trailer in the parking lot not at the lighthouse

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By Unever For (Uneverforever)

One of the oldest standing lighthouses in Michigan, and you can climb to the top for an amazing view! Low cost admission with great staff who truly enjoy what they do. The Little Sable Point Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Michigan, originally built in 1873, standing at 115ft tall! The lighthouse still remains in beautiful condition with ALL of its original design and structure, including the light itself which remains in pristine condition, though automated now as the lighthouse is still used. This is an absolute must-see for any trip or vacation in West Michigan for both adults and children! I cannot recommend it more!

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By debasis satapathy

Very good lighthouse to checkout, it's accessible and not so busy. There is a 8$ fee to go up top and view is spectacular Parking is limited but not too hard to find. The beach there is awesome and it's good to checkout the sunset, enjoy a casual evening or simply stroll around.

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By Brianna Coppernoll

One of my absolute favorite places in michigan to go. I love the beauty of the light house and the clean sandy beach on lake Michigan. You can take inside tours during certain days and hours (not sure what they are). Easy to get to. They also have a cement walking pad all the way up to the light house so someone in a wheelchair could also probably make it to see the lighthouse.

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