Go See It
Peninsula Point Lighthouse: Go See It
A 40-foot lighthouse tower built in 1865 at the tip of the Stonington Peninsula in Hiawatha National Forest, and a fall rest stop for monarch butterflies.
The facts
- Drive
- 1 hr 22 min from Marquette
- Cost
- No fee is listed on the Forest Service page
- Season
- Listed by the Forest Service as January to December
- Hours
- No daily hours are posted by the Forest Service
Address
3722 County 513 T Rd, Rapid River, MI 49878 (Google Maps address for the lighthouse). From Rapid River, drive 2.4 miles east on US-2 to County Road 513, turn right and drive 17 miles to the RV parking lot.
DirectionsMore detail
- From Marquette
- 72 mi via US-41 S
- Season
- Peak monarch migration is between August and October.
- From the Bridge
- 2 hr 25 min (144 mi) via US-2 W (toll on the Bridge)
Before you go
- The last 0.8 mile of road to the lighthouse is single-lane, narrow and winding. It is not suitable for RVs or trailers over 16 feet long or 8 feet high; use the RV parking lot at the start of that stretch.
- Best time to see monarchs in the trees is before dawn and before sunset. In the evening they generally roost in the cedar trees.
- Visit Escanaba lists pit toilets, drinking water and 10 picnic tables with grills. The Forest Service page does not list restrooms or water.
- Lighthouse Friends lists the grounds and tower as open, with a spiral staircase to the top. No 2026 tower status was found.
- Hiawatha National Forest lists other closures (trails, Stonington Quarry entry); none names Peninsula Point. Forest Supervisor's Office: (906) 428-5800.
Sources
- USDA Forest Service - Peninsula Point Lighthouse (directions, coordinates, season) Read September 30, 2026
- Visit Escanaba - Peninsula Point Lighthouse and picnic area Read September 30, 2026
- Visit Escanaba - monarch butterfly migration Read September 30, 2026
- Lighthouse Friends - Peninsula Point Lighthouse Read September 30, 2026
- Google Maps - Marquette to Peninsula Point Lighthouse Read September 30, 2026
- Google Maps - Mackinac Bridge to Peninsula Point Lighthouse Read September 30, 2026
Verified September 30, 2026