beaver head lighthouse

Surrounded by the white of the snow and the white of the frozen lake, the lighthouse hails as a beacon, especially since its restoration with paint last year. Looks excellent!

Beaver Head Lighthouse is actually located on East Side Drive at the Southern end of Beaver Island. It is one of only a very few Light Towers one can climb unattended (another is Peninsula Point in the Michigan UP). The building has been saved and maintained since it's deactivation in 1962. If you don't take your own vehicle across to Beaver Island, rent a car for the day and drive two blocks on Main Street to the South, turn right on Bonner Street, go one block, turn left onto King’s Highway. From there, travel appx. six miles South, at the T-Intersection turn East (left) onto Hannigan Road, go one & one-third mile and merge in with East Side Drive, going South (right). Follow East Side Drive for appx. nine miles to the Lighthouse, pull into the small parking lot. The day we were there was picture perfect, and we had a picnic there, hanging around a couple of hours on the grounds. There seemed to be no problem climbing the steps to the Lantern Room of the Tower. Yes, the windows were a bit dirty, but window washers are hard to come by in these parts. We had a very pleasant solitary time at the Lighthouse visit, one of the more peaceful spots on our travels. There is another Lighthouse Tower on Beaver Island, the St. James Harbor Light (aka Whiskey Point) which can be seen as you enter the Harbor, to the North side. It is about one mile by road from where the Ferry docks, up towards the North on Main Street. You can hike, bike, or drive to that one, but can not access the Tower, as it is still a working Light. To people interested in seeing and photographing Lighthouses, a trip to Beaver Island is highly recommended.

The lighthouse is on the far southern tip of the island and is one of the few that you can climb inside up to the top. Nice view but the staircase would not be for small children or anyone with limitations in climbing ( or fear of heights!) We were the only ones there when we went. I dont know if more than the tower is open during the tourist season ( we were there after labor day) but the tower was all that we could see when we were there.

Was a stop on our island tour. We climbed to the top of the tower but narrow & dirty windows. We have toured many lighthouses & this would be near the bottom of the list. The house attached to the actual lighthouse not open for tours. Best to stop & look & take a picture & keep moving. Maybe one day, someone will restore it to its' former beauty & it will be worth taking a tour.

This lighthouse is the one on the far end of the island from the town. It is unattended and accessible to just walk in and climg up to the top. Great views from the top, but the windows are really dirty and cloudy. It was just fun to make the climb up the narrow winding stairs and climb through the hole into the window area. You could never have 2-way traffic on the stairs! Not at all for the handicapped. I don't know that I would make the drive just to do this, but we just came upon it and enjoyed the experience. There's not much more on this end of the island except serenity and beautiful views.

There are two light houses on Beaver Island. The white one with the red light in town is Beaver Island Harbor Light. The other made of red brick on the South end of the Island is Beaver Head Light. It is operated by a University as a learning site. This light is not in operation, and you may go to the top. The new light next to it is a steel tower. The red light denotes a harbor.

Access to the property was unrestricted. A little hard to get to but worth the trip, I love Beaver Island.

Window wells in the tower were quite dirty (dead flies). Thought we'd be able to walk on the outside of the tower once we reached the top but were unable. The day we were there was over 90 degrees so we didn't spend any time due to the unbearable temperatures in the enclosed top.

Grand old lighthouse that has been loveingly restored and maintained. Go to the Printshop and read up on both lighthouses on this unique island.

I like the name of this lighthouse, though it is more formally known as the Beaver Island Harbor Light, if I am not mistaken. It has a couple other names, too, from my research. But this is what the islanders call it. IT does work-it shows its red light as a warning to boaters entering the harbor. It is looks very cool at night. However, it is a sad sight in the daylight. I understand it needs major work, but there isn't any real reason it couldn't be painted and some flowers planted around the outside. You can't go up in it and it is not a tall lighthouse by any means, but it is definitely worth seeing while on the island. Only about 3/4 mile from the ferry boat. A nice walk for anyone. Easy parking.