South Haven Light

South Haven Light is a red and white steel tower standing at the entrance to Black River where it meets Lake Michigan. The structure sits on a wooden pier and serves as a clear landmark visible from the water and shoreline.

The lighthouse was first built in 1872 with a wooden structure and received its current steel tower in 1903. This upgrade helped the harbor keep pace with growing ship traffic on the lake.

The lighthouse stands as a symbol of the town's maritime heritage and shapes how locals and visitors understand the harbor's role in daily life. You can sense this connection when walking along the pier, where the structure serves as a landmark that helps people navigate and remember the waterfront.

Visitors can walk along the pier to see the lighthouse from the outside, though access may change depending on weather and pier conditions. The best time to visit is during calm water and good light, when the tower and surrounding harbor are most visible.

The lighthouse keeps one of only four remaining catwalks in Michigan, stretching across the pier to connect the tower directly to shore. This rare walkway is a remnant from early navigation days and shows how workers and keepers once reached the tower.

Location: South Haven

Inception: 1872

Height: 10.5 m

GPS coordinates: 42.40139,-86.28806

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:05