East Breakwater Light and Manistique Boardwalk

This popular walkway goes two miles east from the marina and lighthouse breakwater near downtown. It lets you walk from motels to town and back, enjoying the lovely beach and the view out across Lake Michigan. The boardwalk (actually more of a pathway) is entirely wheelchair-accessible.

Manistique's long boardwalk gives easy access to the river and Lake Michigan shoreline all the way from downtown.

The beach is varied — alternately rocky and sandy. In places it is backed by birches and cedars, in places it's next to wetlands where wild iris are profuse and ducks and redwing blackbirds nest. The nearby highway is usually not in sight, but always within earshot. Lakeshore Park, clearly visible across from the HoJo Inn, has a picnic area with grills.

The cheery red East Breakwater Light at the end of the breakwater pier is at the harbor's east entrance, at the Manistique River mouth. The steel-clad light can be seen from the marina, from much of the boardwalk, and by faraway boaters. The boardwalk goes right up to the end of the breakwater. Walking out on the breakwater, accomplished by picking one's way across big rip-rap rocks, is done but not officially encouraged. When wind and waves are high, people can easily be swept off.

The former keeper's house can be seen on Range at Washington, just north of U.S. 2 at you enter town from the east. (Range is the north-south street intersecting with U.S. 2.)

A good place to picnic or rest and start a boardwalk stroll is Lakeview Park across from Big Boy. It's about half a mile to the lighthouse from here.


Boardwalk parking at several places is designated by a special decorative sign. Some access points: by the marina; by the three-story apartments behind Hardee's; across from the Forest Service; Lakeview Park across from Big Boy. No bikes. Handicap accessible
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