Discover the beauty of frozen lighthouses in Michigan and learn how to plan the perfect winter adventure to see them. From stunning photos to helpful tips, this guide has everything you need to know.
How To Visit Breathtaking Frozen Lighthouses In Michigan
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Christmas Eve of 2022 in the Midwest was frigid, with most areas receiving significant snowfall. While wrapped up in a warm blanket in front of a space heater, I viewed someone’s photos of the natural ice sculptures that the winter storm had created on the piers, catwalks, and lighthouses along the shores of Lake Michigan. In that instant, I added seeing them in person to my bucket list. In the winter of 2024, I crossed them off that bucket list.
Temperatures And Conditions Necessary For Frozen Lighthouses
You might be surprised that not all winters create the perfect environment for this beautiful winter wonderland.
First, you need several days where the temperature is well below freezing. This can happen from late November through January, but in my experience from living in central Indiana for over twenty years, late December through the middle of January is closer to the prime time for a long cold snap to occur.
Next, you want the water around the lighthouses to be unfrozen and for a strong wind to occur. It can’t be just any wind, either. The wind must come from the southwest, west, or northwest for best results.
When the waves caused by the wind hit the catwalks and lighthouses, the spray can reach up to 70 feet high and freezes almost instantly, creating the beginnings of impressive ice sculptures in hours.
What Lighthouses We Saw On Our Day Trip
I saw pictures of frozen lighthouses on Beck Wilde’s @walkofthewilde Instagram account.
I contacted her to find out what information I could about which lighthouses were covered in ice by the latest cold front.
With that information, Jack and I decided it was possible to visit two lighthouses on a day trip. We live two and a half hours from the St. Joseph lighthouses. From there, it is roughly a 30 minute drive to the South Haven Lighthouse.
At St. Joseph, we parked in the parking lot of Tiscornia Park and could walk out to the inner lighthouse, but not the outer lighthouse. We also got great views of the South Pier beacon.
You needed to park at Silver Beach County Park to view the outer lighthouse. We skipped doing this as from there, the outer lighthouse is still a reasonable distance away and I was using my Pixel 7 pro for photos and I didn’t feel its zoom was adequate to help us get good views and pictures of it.
We saw only a handful of people at St. Joseph, but when we arrived at South Haven after lunch, there were many visitors. So I suggest going early to enjoy these beauties without crowds.
Other Popular Frozen Lighthouses In Michigan
Point Betsie Lighthouse–Frankfort
Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse –Manistee
Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse–Ludington
Muskegon South Breakwater Light–Muskegon
Grand Haven South Pier Inner and Outer Lights–Grand Haven
What To Wear To Stay Warm
The wind chills were brutal first thing in the morning, but got better as the day went on. To stay warm, we dressed in layers.
Our base layers were light but warm thermals. On top of those, we layered pants and a thick sweatshirt. We both wore a pair of ski bibs as the third layer on our legs. Both of us had on puffy jackets. Mine was super long, which is a game-changer for staying warm.
We wore thermal socks on our feet and wore our trail runners with a good grip level (here are the ones I own and find comfortable with good grip). Each of us had a hat that covered our heads and ears. We both had warm gloves. I wore a warm infinity scarf that covered my mouth and kept my neck warm and toasty.
If it is sunny on the day you go, bring sunglasses as snow glare is brutal on the eyes.
I created a shopping list of all the cold-weather items you need to enjoy winter activities like this one while staying warm. View that shopping list here.
Safety Precautions For Visiting Frozen Lighthouses
You do not want to slip and fall into the icy waters of the Great Lakes. A great picture is not worth dying for. To avoid this, know and stick to your limits on icy surfaces.
Stay away from the edges of the piers. Read and follow all warning signs. Wear shoes with good grips and consider wearing yak tracks.
Watch not just your footing, but what is going on above you. Thick ice can fall from the catwalk above you and cause injuries.
Use common sense and obey posted rules.
Tips For Planning A Trip To See Frozen Lighthouses In Michigan
Unfortunately, a trip to these historic lighthouses in their beautiful winter weather coats isn’t something you can plan far in advance.
You need to watch the weather forecast like a hawk looking for a cold front along the miles of shoreline where these landmarks are that is going to last several days or more.
Then, start watching the news, social media, and hashtags for pictures of frozen lighthouses. Make sure the images that you see are current. Reach out to the person who posted the photo to confirm it is a current picture and see if they can give you tips on the best ones to visit.
When you have confirmed that the perfect storm has arrived, get there as soon as possible. They don’t stay frozen over for long.
Other Ways To Enjoy These Giant Ice Sculptures
You might be unable to book a trip on a random Monday when the waves have formed their sculptures, but don’t worry. Thanks to modern technology, you can still enjoy their icy beauty.
Within a short while, drone footage of the frozen beauties will show up on YouTube, Instagram, and more.
No, it isn’t as good as seeing them in person, but it is close and often you get to see them from angles you could not see in person due to the icy conditions making it unsafe to walk all the way out on the piers.
It took me two winters of weather-watching to see these magnificent wonders, and it might take you longer. You have to be patient and plan to clear your schedule quickly.
I do hope you get to see them in person. They are indeed a sight of beauty that you will never forget.
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