Au Sable Lighthouse tours lighting the way to fun

MUNISING — There is a lot to do this Labor Day weekend, the Blues Fest kicks off in downtown Marquette and the Marquette Marathon is Saturday. But if you are looking to get away for a short nature trip, you might want to head to Munising and make a trip to the Au Sable Lighthouse.

The Au Sable Lighthouse is a favored tourist attraction to go along with the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore activities. The lighthouse is approximately twelve miles west of Grand Marais. Built in 1873 it is 16 feet wide and 87 feet tall.

“I love the idea of a lighthouse, especially on foggy mornings like we have had in the last few days, you really appreciate what it took to try and protect the ships along Lake Superior. There is a two–mile reef that sits along Au Sable Point, this Lighthouse was critical to try and prevent ships from running aground. It’s just a beautiful location and you can see the Au Sable Dunes in the distance,” said Susan Reece, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

The National Park Service Rangers give tours of the lighthouse, with one taking place this Sunday, September 6th at 6:00 P.M.

” It includes a walk from Hurricane River along the beach to view some of the shipwrecks, learn about some of the geology there and sandstone, which is the oldest rock and enjoy the sunset at the Au Sable Lighthouse and using oil lanterns to walk back through the woods back to the parking lot at Hurricane River,” continued Reece.
“Get outside and exercise your heart, your lungs and your legs, it wakes you up better than a cup of coffee,” said Cape Coral, Florida visitor Patrick Farrell.

There is an upcoming Au Sable Day on Saturday September 19th. If you’re not a walker or hiker, ALTRAN will be supplying transportation to the lighthouse on this day, tour fees are waived but the bus cost is $3.50 each way.
The van will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can meet the driver in the lower Hurricane River day use parking lot located at the bridge on Alger County Road H–58.

Regular tours take place Wednesday through Sunday, the cost is $3.

TOUR SCHEDULE:
*Tours begin at 11 a.m. and run through 4:30 p.m. (11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
*The 30–40 minute Park Ranger guided tours begin at the lighthouse east porch. Register at the Au Sable Maritime Museum
*Tour fee is $3 for those 6 and older.

For more information click here.