Visit The Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Find Us

We are open Seasonally from April to December.

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is located in northern Michigan at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, 9 miles north of Northport, and inside the Leelanau State Park.  Take M-22 from Traverse City to Northport.  Then follow the “Lighthouse” signs through Northport on M-201 which flows into Lighthouse Point Road.  Continue on Lighthouse Point Road and following the “Leelanau State Park” signs to the very end.  We are 35 miles north of Traverse City.  If you have any question prior to your visit, please contact us at 231-386-7195.

Explore

When we are open during the Summer and Fall seasons, please enjoy a walk through the restored keeper’s dwelling and climb the Lighthouse Tower for a spectacular view of Lake Michigan, Cathead Bay, Grand Traverse Bay and the Manitou Passage.

Visit the Fog Signal Building and tour the Shipwreck Exhibition.  There you can also drive the Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV).

Your family can also enjoy an afternoon of fun at the playground and picnic area located in the adjacent Leelanau State Park.

In the depths of winter, the Lighthouse museum typically closes. But the State Park remains accessible to the public after a purchase of a Recreation Pass during daylight hours. Don’t forget that the Leelanau State Park Trails can be found down Densmore Road, the road just beside historic Woolsey Airport.

Treasure Hunt & Scout Programs

Take the kids on a treasure hunt through the lighthouse.  Purchase a “I Climbed the Tower!” button for making the trek up the 1858 50-foot Lighthouse Tower at the Gift Shop.

If you are a girl scout or boy scout, you can purchase a scouting patch that is UNIQUE to the Leelanau Peninsula. Come into our Gift Shop and purchase the Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum Badge Packet for $10.00 which is suitable for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts! (Momentarily unavailable due to supply)

This packet will include your activity and your patch. (Check with us)

Lighthouse & Gift Shop Hours

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse is open daily through October of 2024 except holidays. We are closed seasonally November through March.

• June, July, August from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
• September, October from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• November, weekends only from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• December during the Lantern Lit Hikes only
• January, February, March closed
• April, May from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm   

The cost for lighthouse admission is $8.00 for adults, $3.00 for students (6-17) and 5 years and younger are FREE. Become a Member, and you also get in for free!

Leelanau State Park (MI DNR)

Leelanau State Park is comprised of 1,500 acres of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and woods. Leelanau State Park offers 55 rustic campsites, three mini cabins, 8.5 miles of hiking/skiing trails and a picnic area all managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Enjoy hiking, swimming, sunsets, fishing and observing nature within the park.  There are also many popular attractions within a short drive.

Reservations for the campground can be made by calling 1-800-447-2757 or online at www.midnrreservations.com.  To contact the Leelanau State Park directly please call 231-386-5422. 

A Recreation Passport is required to enter the State Park.  The resident Recreation Passport is $13 when purchased when renewing your Michigan vehicle registration. However, now a $5 fee will be assessed for purchases made at state parks. This is the same fee Secretary of State charges when a resident adds a Recreation Passport to a vehicle outside the annual registration renewal cycle. The change is being made to help reduce lines at park entrances and free up staff to assist park visitors in other ways.  Out-of-state pass is $11 per day or $39 for annual.  This is for entrance to any Michigan State Park only, and does not include access to the lighthouse.

For more info, visit the DNR website.

Accessibility

Handicapped parking is available in the Leelanau State Park parking lot, which is just a short distance walk to the Lighthouse.  Both the State Park and Grand Traverse Lighthouse have wheelchairs available for use upon request.  A 20-minute orientation video is available in the fog signal building for viewing on the large screen tv.

The Lighthouse is not accessible for those with limited mobility.

There are five (5) steps up the porch into the visitor center/admissions area. This is the main floor of the keeper’s dwelling. Within the Keepers Dwelling there is a staircase from the first floor to the second floor with 12 steps. Then 10 spiral steps into the tower landing. This is followed by a steep set of stairs that go into the Lighthouse Tower.   All stairs are equipped with handrails.  

The Fog Signal Building and Gift Shop are handicapped accessible.

A large-print, self-guided walking tour is available at the Visitor Center. The self-guided tour is available in English, German, French, Spanish and Japanese.

Safety

For the safety of our visitors, we only allow 4-5 people in the tower at a time.  Please watch your head when ascending into the tower, through the hatch.  Face the ladder when coming down backwards (similar to descending a ladder).  Hold the hand railings at all times with two hands.  You must remove all backpacks before going through the hatch into the tower.