Gravelly Shoal Light

Gravelly Shoal Light is a steel lighthouse perched on a concrete pier structure in Saginaw Bay. The tower stands roughly 20 meters tall and was designed to guide cargo ships and fishing vessels safely through the shallow waters and shifting sandbars of this busy shipping lane.

The lighthouse was built in 1939 and replaced an earlier gas-lit buoy that had marked this dangerous stretch of water. Its construction reflected the region's need for improved maritime safety as shipping traffic through the Great Lakes increased.

The lighthouse represents the evolution of maritime safety technology in the Great Lakes, marking the transition from manual to automated navigation systems.

This lighthouse is remotely operated and not open to visitors because it sits on an isolated pier far from shore. The best way to experience it is from a boat tour or by viewing it from the shoreline, where you can see the structure and its navigation light clearly.

Twin diaphone fog signals activate every 30 seconds when visibility decreases, helping boats navigate through the shallow waters near Point Lookout.

Location: Arenac County

Inception: 1939

Height: 20 m

GPS coordinates: 44.01830,-83.53720

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:48