Go See It
Whitefish Point Bird Observatory: Go See It
A bird observatory at the end of North Whitefish Point Road on Lake Superior, with hawk, owl and waterbird counts through the migration seasons and outdoor spaces open dawn to dusk year-round.
The facts
- Drive
- 2 hr 43 min from Marquette
- Cost
- WPBO’s visit page lists no fee and says nothing about…
- Season
- Open year-round
- Hours
- WPBO’s outdoor spaces are open from dawn to dusk…
Address
16914 N Whitefish Point Road, Paradise, MI 49768 (the Google Maps listing). WPBO says it is at the end of N. Whitefish Point Road, 11 miles north of Paradise.
DirectionsMore detail
- From Marquette
- 158 mi via M-28 E
- Cost
- WPBO’s visit page lists no fee and says nothing about parking charges. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum next door is a separate attraction and is not covered here.
- Season
- Count seasons per WPBO: hawk count and owl banding start March 15; spring research ends May 31; waterbird count April 15 to May 31 and August 15 to mid-November; Northern Saw-whet Owl summer program July 1 to August 25; fall owl banding September 15 to October 31. During count seasons the hawk deck and waterbird shack are open to visitors.
- Hours
- WPBO’s outdoor spaces are open from dawn to dusk year-round. WPBO’s visit page lists no visitor center or gift shop hours.
- From the Bridge
- 1 hr 25 min (77.7 mi) via M-123 N (Google Maps flags tolls on this route)
Before you go
- As of the verified date, the fall owl banding and fall waterbird count seasons are both inside their listed dates.
- Dogs are allowed on the Point only when leashed at all times (WPBO).
- The WPBO banding lab is across the parking lot from the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and the lighthouse (WPBO).
Sources
- Whitefish Point Bird Observatory - Visit (location, hours, seasons, dogs) Read October 1, 2026
- Google Maps - Marquette to Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Read October 1, 2026
- Google Maps - Mackinac Bridge to Whitefish Point Bird Observatory Read October 1, 2026
Verified October 1, 2026