When we decided to visit Michigan, lighthouses went far up the list of things to see. When we went to Shepler’s to get some information on the Mackinac Island Ferry we found out that they also offer lighthouse cruises.
We thought this would be fun, to see the lighthouses from the water and not from land where the view was not always unobstructed.
Shepler’s Ferry offers 2 different lighthouses cruises – westbound and eastbound – with extended versions of these 2 as well.
It being the end of the season, we were lucky and garnered 2 tickets for the last eastbound cruise of the 2017 season.
With the cruises starting at 2pm we were not too worried about the weather as long as the sun was out. Taking a jacket was still a good idea.
Just after passing under the Mackinac Bridge the ferry heads across the straits and Mackinac Island between the Round Island Light and the Inland Passage Light
Turning East into Lake Huron towards Bois Blanc Island and passed the Bois Blanc Light, which is actually privately owned.
Bois Blanc Island is inhabited by 40-50 residents year round and almost 1,000 during the summer, according to our guide. It was nearly cleared of all timber at the turn of the century and new growth has slowly established the island back to it’s namesake of “white wood”.
Turning around the northern end and heading towards Cheboygan we passed Poe Reef and Fourteen Shoal Lighthouses
Up the Cheboygan River passed the Cheboygan Front Range
and after a quick turn around out of the river passed the Cheboygan Crib Light
when the ferry heads back towards Mackinaw City and the pier, with the last 1/2 of the total 3 hours running through the clear blue waters of Lake Huron.
It was a very enjoyable trip, very well narrated by the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association tour guide, and can only be recommended for a different outlook on light houses.