Discover Little Sable Point Lighthouse at the Silver Lake State Park

Photography by toddandbradreed.com
TOUR HOURS
The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association maintains the lighthouse, and it is open for tours daily May 25 through September 30 from 10am-5pm. Due to weather conditions and staffing, it may be wise to call ahead at (231) 845-7343, or visit www.splka.org for more information.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Nights at the Lights free programs are offered from 7pm-8pm once a month during the summer. The 2012 schedule is:
June 21 Ben Bedford.
July 19 Katie Beaman.
August 23 Max & Ruth Bloomquist.
DIRECTIONS
Take US-31 to the Hart exit, take Polk Road, west to 56th, south on Fox, west to 34th, south through Silver Lake past the State Park, then follow signs to the lighthouse.
ACCESSIBILITY
New to the park is a ten foot wide paved pathway that leads from the parking lot to the lighthouse. This allows those with physical disabilities and those in wheelchairs to access the base of the lighthouse, which wasn't possible before.
LIGHTHOUSE HISTORY & FACTS
Originally named Petite Pointe Au Sable, it cost $35,000 to build and contained 3 rooms. The rare third order Fresnel lens emitted a constant white light, and flashed a brighter light at set intervals—visible 19 miles into Lake Michigan.
The early 1900s saw some changes to the lighthouse—in 1900 the tower was painted white, and an access road and storage building were added in 1902. The name was changed in 1910 to Little Sable Point Lighthouse, meaning "little point of sand," representing its location which juts into Lake Michigan. In 1977, the tower paint was removed and the original brick exposed.
Over the years, the lighthouse has had 15 keepers; and for one month, a woman took over when the original keeper took a temporary leave. The Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers Association took over the maintenance of the lighthouse in 2005, and it is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from late May to late September.
Located on Little Sable Point (Lake Michigan) in Silver Lake State Park, near Mears, Michigan. Go to the end of Silver Lake Road look for the lighthouse parking lot. This is an excellent swimming beach and Lake Michigan produces some great sunsets. The parking lot has close to 200 spaces but during nice weather will most likely be filled by beach users.
The lighthouse is part of a Michigan State Park, and an entrance fee is required. Part of the fee helps preserve the lighthouse.
More Exciting Lighthouse Links
- Michigan's 1st West Coast Lighthouse Festival with events from Muskegon to Manistee
- Discover Little Sable Point Lighthouse at the Silver Lake State Park
- Pentwater Pierhead Lights
- North Breakwater Lighthouse at Stearns Park, Ludington
- Big Sable Point Lighthouse at the Ludington State Park
- Visit Ludington Area Lighthouses Along Lake Michigan
- Point Betsie Lighthouse of Lake Michigan
- Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse
- Lake Michigan's Guiding Lights
More Silver Lake Sand Dunes Info...
- Visit Mears in West Michigan
- Welcome to Silver Lake Homes and Gardens!
- What you need to know about Silver Lake
- Silver Lake Sand Dunes along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline . . .
- Silver Lake Map with Business Locations
- Enjoy the Silver Lake Sand Dunes Great Outdoors & Area Adventures
- Visit Silver Lake and the Silver Lake Sand Dunes of West Michigan
- Welcome to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes Michigan Yellow Pages and Local Business Directory!
- Silver Lake Sand Dunes Parks
- Communities near the Silver Lake Sand Dunes
- Historic Downtown Hart
- Silver Lake Sand Dune Beaches
- On Lake or Sand....Parrot's Landing Has the Way to Play Around the Silver Lake Sand Dunes!
- Silver Lake Sand Dune Rides
- What is a Fulgurite?
- Enjoy Bike Riding on the Hart-Montague Bike Trail
- Snowmobile on the Hart-Montague Bike Trail
- Discover Little Sable Point Lighthouse at the Silver Lake State Park
- Silver Lake's Apple & BBQ Cook-Off Festival

