Enduring Another Cold, Windy Day

Little Sable Point Lighthouse<

Standing guard since 1874 over Little Sable Point, the 108 foot tall lighthouse endures punishing winds and frigid temperatures each winter.  This day was no exception, as the winds exceeded 30 miles per hour. Temperatures weren't sub zero, but cold enough to produce an April snow storm.  The snow remained for much of the day, regardless of the bright sunshine.

Located just south of Silver Lake State Park, in Mears, Michigan, the lighthouse attracts visitors year-round.  The lighthouse is open to the public from the end of May to the end of September, and visitors are allowed to climb to the lantern room for a very small fee of $5.  We arrived in the early evening, after a full day of exploring the seemingly endless dunes of Silver Lake State Park.

Standing Guard

Exploring the dunes and lighthouse in early spring has some advantages, no crowds.  In our five hours of hiking the dunes, we saw only 2 people in the distance.  Three visitors shared the lighthouse grounds with us.

It's been a couple of years since we last visited, so we'll certainly need to come back to climb the 130 steps to the top of the lighthouse, the views of the lake and dunes are spectacular.

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