Consequently, this isolated point became the site of several shipwrecks, including the April 1871 beaching of the schooner Pride. The views of the lake were beautiful. So does the fact that park staff say the wooden skeletons of both of these double-decked bulk freighters lie mingled at the bottom of Au Sable Point. Informed RVers have rated 11 campgrounds near Au Sable, Michigan. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Dec 26, 2020 - Entire home/apt for $1200. On the beach below the trail, exposed shipwreck remains dot the shoreline. It is a 1.5 mile walk (one way) to the lighthouse. Quite intriguing! Another cool site at Pictured Rocks is the Au Sable Point Lighthouse. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Au Sable Light Station: Shipwrecks Cause Lighthouses to be Built - See 91 traveler reviews, 96 candid photos, and great deals for Grand Marais, MI, at Tripadvisor. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Not much you can do about it, they're part of nature so don't let them deter you from learning about and enjoying this cool piece of history. The Au Sable Light Station was built in 1874 on Au Sable Point, a well known hazard on Lake Superior's "shipwreck coast". Surfmen from the Life Saving Station at Grand Marais oversaw the rescue of all 17 men aboard the Sitka, which was then abandoned to the churning waves. “This 10-foot by 2-foot artifact is probably from either the Sitka or Gale Staples, ships that wrecked on the Au Sable Pointe reef over 100 years ago.”. It had been years since I walked the beach the whole way from the Hurricane River to the lighthouse. On the way back, go down to the... One of the many things to see in the UP. The 1.7 mile hike to the lighthouse provided a window to several sunken boats, whose skeletons are on or near the Superior shoreline. In an effort to end this tragic loss of lives, the Au Sable Point Lighthouse was constructed to warn mariners of its hidden reef. Skeleton ship frames surround Au Sable Point, marking a mile-long sandstone reef that reached out into Lake Superior waiting to grab any and all ships that passed by. The first keeper, James Davenport, was joined by an assistant keeper, J. Larky, in April of 1874. These shipwrecks are a sobering reminder of the incredible power of Lake Superior. We hiked in a short ways from the Hurricane River parking lot, it was a nice 1.3 mi hike where you can stop off and check out parts of a thin strip of beach and see if you can spot several nearby shipwrecks. Little Sable Point Lighthouse Little Sable Point Lighthouse is located south of Silver Lake in Silver Lake State Park near Mears. Named after its steep, multi-colored cliffs, the park is a draw for hikers, paddlers and, in the winter, ice climbers. So we tried to catch the attention of the light keeper and eventually the door was opened for us. At about the halfway point, there is an entrance to the lake with a description of shipwrecks in the area, along with a. The trail was easy and not... Love Love Love this hike. Despite the treacherous shoals around the point and the litter of at least ten shipwrecks , the U.S. Federal Government was slow to take action. We were attacked by mosquitoes. Our place is close to Silver Lake sand dunes, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, go carts, golf, walking trails. A natural phenomenon has created seemingly color-changing waters. MUNISING, MI - Recent big waves in Lake Superior carried a piece of century-old shipwreck and left it on a stretch of beach at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. You can view the shipwrecks as you hike out to the Au Sable... Related: 17 places you have to see at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. “Shipwrecks lying on the surface are protected by federal law. The Au Sable Point reef is a shallow ridge of sandstone that in places is only 6 feet (1.8 m) below the surface … Along the path are signs saying "shipwrecks" with stairs that lead down to the beach. The road was about 1 1/2 miles long. Although the lighthouse was closed due to Covid, this hike was well worth the effort. The Au Sable Point Lighthouse was built in 1874 to fill the gap between the Grand Island and Whitefish Point lighthouses. Find the best campgrounds & rv parks near Au Sable, Michigan. Let's get the bad out of the way right away, the black flies were horrible. It’s known for its distinct sandstone formations like Chapel Rock and Miners Castle. read more. Located within the Pictured Rcoks National Lakeshore, this Ligt station is subliminal. “In recent days, a new piece of shipwreck has washed ashore,” park staff posted on Facebook on Sunday. “This 10-foot by 2-foot artifact is probably from either the Sitka or Gale Staples, ships that wrecked on the Au Sable Pointe reef over 100 years ago.” https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/ausable-light-station Trail is well groomed, with signage regarding shipwrecks along the way. Here is some background on each of the shipwrecks: Sitka: There were high winds and heavy fog on Oct. 4, 1904 when the 272-foot-long Sitka met its demise. Ask jrhoten27 about Au Sable Light Station, Ask stefee818 about Au Sable Light Station, Ask Robby G C about Au Sable Light Station, Hotels near Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Grand Marais, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Grand Marais, Pickle Barrel House Museum: Tickets & Tours‎, Gitche Gumee Agate and History Museum: Tickets & Tours‎, Grand Marais Maritime Museum: Tickets & Tours‎, Lake Superior Brewing Company: Tickets & Tours‎, Grand Marais Powersports: Tickets & Tours‎, Devil Track Wildflower Sanctuary: Tickets & Tours‎. The light is a powerful fixed white dioptric, second order, and is elevated 120 feet above high water, and in clear weather can be seen at a distance of 18 miles, although it has been reported to have been seen much farther off. Ships loaded with lumber, iron ore, copper, coal and grain as well as the large iron and steel freighters, made their way along the lakeshore. Au Sable Light Station, Grand Marais: See 90 reviews, articles, and 96 photos of Au Sable Light Station, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 17 attractions in Grand Marais. We had a short wait for the next group to go up but it gave us time to visit the maritime museum which was very interesting. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Here the Petite Pointe Au Sable (little point of sand) juts into Lake Michigan. The easiest way to reach it is by going to Grand Marais. It is a 1.5 mile walk (one way) to the lighthouse. It's only 12 miles from there. Au Sable Lighthouse, built in 1874, may be open to hikers a short distance from camp. Hurricane River to Au Sable Point Hike - Post 2 Today I'll post the second of three set of pictures from the wonderful hike I took with my son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Jessica. A new lighthouse has recently been erected on the east end of Sable Island, near Lighthouse Hill, so-called, and the light was first exhibited on the 14th February last. Numerous other pieces of these wrecks are lying on the reef in shallow water,” the NPS said on its website where it gives a rundown of the most well-known shipwrecks near the park. Park in the day use parking area near the bridge. Gale watches and warnings have overspread parts of Superior in recent days, so the big piece of wood being beached is not surprising. An extra bonus! The Au Sable Point reef is a shallow ridge of sandstone that in places is only 6 feet (1.8 m) below the surface and extends nearly 1 mile (1.6 km) into Lake Superior. The still-active light was built in 1874, and the brick keepers' house was added in the 1890s (with an addition in … Totally worth going off course! It's just $3 a person for the guided tour, they don't rush you and the volunteer staff is more than happy to answer or get you an answer to your questions. NPS photo. Shipwreck remains west of Au Sable Light Station . Shipwreck pieces have washed up on the park’s beaches in the past, and stirs excitement among the wreck enthusiasts and beach walkers, who try to figure out which part of history it belongs to. I made a trip out to the beautiful Big Sable Lighthouse on Lake Michigan today (January 1st, new years!) Au Sable Light Station, Grand Marais: See 90 reviews, articles, and 96 photos of Au Sable Light Station, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 17 attractions in Grand Marais. The area of the lighthouse itself is pretty. It's 3 miles round trip but there area areas to stop and see other things. The area near Little Sable Point Lighthouse, which includes numerous sand dunes, is now part of Silver Lake State Park. read more, Love Love Love this hike. From the garden we could see the dunes from a distance. The views of the lake were beautiful. We hiked from Log Slide Overlook. We used bug spray that worked alright, but we did see some people with bug nets over their faces which would be a good idea also. The shipwrecks of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area are nearly as well known as the ... the remains may still be seen resting on the bare sandstone bottom just outside the breakers near the trail to the lighthouse. It's a very pretty, very quiet hike. Worth a stop! The age of the suspected wrecks make it interesting. … For those who get to see these pieces up close, remember it’s a “look, don’t take” opportunity. Park in the day use parking area near the bridge. Pictured Rocks is a four-season destination near Munising, along the shore of Lake Superior. Description. One of the three shipwrecks located near Au Sable Point Lighthouse in Lake Superior. This piece of shipwreck recently washed ashore on a beach at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the U.P. The trail starts in a campground and continues to the lighthouse. We were able to visit the whole house and the light station. Established in 1874, this lighthouse is 86 feet high and delivers a strong beacon out over Lake Superior an amazing 18 miles out. Au Sable Light is an active lighthouse in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore west of Grand Marais, Michigan off H-58. Known as Grande Pointe Au Sable among the first French explorers and traders, Big Sable Point is one of the major promontories on Lake Michigan's eastern shoreline. This 10 foot by 2 foot artifact is probably from either the Sitka or Gale Staples, ships that wrecked on the Au Sable Pointe reef over 100 years ago. Be sure to check out the shipwrecks along the shoreline. Au Sable Light Station, Grand Marais Picture: Shipwrecks in Lake Superior - Check out Tripadvisor members' 999 candid photos and videos. All reviews hurricane river light house miles round trip mile hike exact change lighthouse keepers au sable light nice trail great hike park service nice walk ... lighthouse was closed due to Covid, this hike was well worth the effort. more, This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). We skipped the trail and headed for a hike along the shoreline. On clear days, you're supposed to be able to see remnants of the wrecks in that area, however we visited on a very foggy day, so I can't comment much on that.This trail is unique in that you have forest on one side and the lake on the other. They are relatively well preserved because they have been spared from the human pressures of population and industry. There is a bathroom and a water fountain on site (you will be thankful for this water fountain if you didn't bring water). Au Sable Light Station, Grand Marais Picture: Shipwercks on the beach near the lighthouse - Check out Tripadvisor members' 999 candid photos and videos. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. On May 22, 1926, Congress passed an act authorizing the Secretary of Commerce to sell unused portions of the lighthouse reservations at Big Sable and Little Sable to the State of Michigan for public park purposes. Sable Island (French: île de Sable, literally "island of sand") is a small Canadian island situated 300 km (190 mi) southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about 175 km (109 mi) southeast of the closest point of mainland Nova Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean.The island is staffed year round by four federal government staff, rising during summer months when research projects and tourism increase. The hike to the Au Sable Light Station is an easy 3.2 mile round-trip walk along a very level gravel access road. So beautiful!Also on our way back to our car, we were encouraged to walk on the beach, as numerous shipwrecks still remain in this vicinity. There was so much info, it was truly cool.Did you know that a murder occurred in these premises? She was downbound with a load of iron ore when she ran up on the reef’s rocks and began filling with water. However we heard noise inside the house. We had to pay naturally, but it was worth it!The light-keeper explained everything there was in the home. The trailhead for this hike is located just off County Road H-58 near the The trail is on the historic U.S. Coast Guard road to the light station. The lighthouse was built in 1873-1874 and has a height of 86 feet. Day 2: The day starts with one of several shipwrecks near Au Sable Point and it ends at isolated Sevenmile Creek in the Beaver Basin Wilderness. National Park staff believe they’ve narrowed down the possible wrecks this 10-foot wooden artifact came from to just two from the nearby section of maritime graveyard that is Superior’s bottom. Please leave these remnants of the past for others to enjoy," park staff have cautioned visitors. In the 1.5 mile stretch to the lighthouse, you pass the remains of several shipwrecks. I enjoyed this hike very much. Here's the Wiki-history of the lighthouse: The Au Sable Light Station was built in 1874 on Au Sable Point, a well known hazard on Lake Superior's "shipwreck coast". It's very pretty and refreshing. Her crew was rescued. The trail was easy and not... Plan on picnicking at the light house. An eighty-seven-foot (26.5m) brick tower was built on a rise putting the light about 150 feet (45.7m) above Lake Superior’s surface. There are lilacs in bloom. The staff at the lighthouse was very nice and knowledgeable about the lighthouse, the area and the lake, Going to the top of the lighthouse was very cool, beautiful views, cooling breeze and no flies. The assistant to the light-keeper named Gentry was supposedly murdered by Gentry himself. There are a few different buildings to look at from the outside and I believe they offer tours in the summer time, but we were there after closing.It is buggy, so you will want to make sure you wear some sort of bug repellent. This whole area is beautiful, that includes the hike to the light station and the view from the top of it. The first wreck is the Mary Jarecki, which lies just outside the campground. In recent days a new piece of shipwreck has washed ashore. The historic Au Sable Light Station is located within Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. where it gives a rundown of the most well-known shipwrecks, 17 places you have to see at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Why a lake at Pictured Rocks has you seeing red. A one and a half story house was built behind the tower. Au Sable Light Station, Grand Marais: See 91 reviews, articles, and 96 photos of Au Sable Light Station, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 17 attractions in Grand Marais. “Pieces of these two ships can be seen on the beach just west of the Au Sable Light Station. Visiting the Au Sable Light Station To visit the Au Sable Light Station, travel to the Hurricane River Campground located 12 miles west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58. We hiked from Log Slide Overlook. The light was built in 1873 and opened for business in 1874. Increased shipping on the lake started after the Civil War, largely due to the expanding lumber industry. Because the Au Sable Lighthouse allowed for safe shipping through this area for the first time, it played an important role in stimulating industry and commerce throughout the Great Lakes. The rock shelf along the shore made it easy to walk up and swimming was great! Visiting the Au Sable Light Station To visit the Au Sable Light Station, travel to the Hurricane River Campground located 12 miles west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58. It was quite lonely for a light-keeper to take care of this light station, but it had to be done.This tour was quite enjoyable! This is quite the hike. Access 0 trusted reviews, 0 photos & 0 tips from fellow RVers. The only way to avoid these pests, is by walking on the beach, where wind keeps them at bay!Once we arrived there, we found out that the door of the light station was closed. To get to the lighthouse, it is a 1.5-mile hike (that’s 3 miles round trip) on a stretch of the North Country Trail with woods to your right and part of the stretch of the Lake Superior shoreline to your left that is known as the “Shipwreck Coast”. All rights reserved (About Us). Gale Staples: The 277-foot freighter was taking a load of coal to Port Arthur near Canada’s Thunder Bay when high winds blew her onto the reef, where she grounded on Oct. 1, 1918. Continue your visit to www.tripadvisor.com. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Plan on picnicking at the light house. It was built in 1873/1874.We had to walk by foot from the campground where we parked. Subscribe to MLive.com. Please support high-quality journalism. Shipwrecks The shipwrecks of Lake Superior's "Graveyard Coast" represent many eras of shipping. 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