Port Austin Reef Lighthouse, Michigan at Lighthousefriends.com

	Port Austin Reef, MI

Description: Port Austin Reef Lighthouse consists of a sixteen-foot-square tower that measures fifty-nine feet six inches from its base to the top of its ventilator ball and is attached to a fog signal building with a gabled roof. The yellow brick structure sits atop a concrete pier, 1.3 miles offshore from the nearest point of land.
In June of 2011, Port Austin Reef Lighthouse was declared excess to the needs of the United States Coast Guard and made available to eligible organizations under the provisions of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Qualified entities were given sixty days to submit a letter of interest and were required to obtain a conveyance from the State of Michigan for the bottomlands on which the lighthouse stands.

In July 2012, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the lighthouse would be transferred to Port Austin Reef Lighthouse Association.

Location: Located 2.5 miles north of Port Austin in Lake Huron.
Latitude: 44.08213
Longitude: -82.98255

For a larger map of Port Austin Reef Lighthouse, click the lighthouse in the above map or get a map from: Mapquest.

Travel Instructions: Distant views of the light are possible from many points along the shore near Port Austin, but a boat trip out to the lighthouse makes for the best viewing. The lighthouse is being restored by Port Austin Reef Lighthouse Association.

The lighthouse is owned by Port Austin Reef Lighthouse Association. Tower closed.

Find the closest hotels to Port Austin Reef Lighthouse

Notes from a friend:

Kraig writes:
The first time we tried to visit this lighthouse, a fall storm forced the cancellation of our boat ride, and we had to be content with a distant view from the shore. We returned to Port Austin on Memorial Day 2003, and this time we encountered dense fog. We still stopped by a marine supply store and inquired about the possibility of going out to the lighthouse. They said they would do it, but at an extra charge as it would be riskier. We decided to eat lunch first, and then see if the fog was any better. The fog was still quite thick after our meal, but we decided to try the trip. We were told that due to the fog they would need to program in several GPS route markers before we could depart. After a lengthy delay, we finally boarded the boat and headed out into the lake. By that time, the fog had lifted, and we could clearly see the lighthouse from the shore. When you get close to the lighthouse, you can see why it is named the Port Austin REEF Lighthouse, as a rocky ledge extends east of the lighthouse for quite some distance. We had a pleasant boat ride (complete with an XM Radio demonstration - a first for me), and were happy to cough up the additional charge (even though there was no additional risk) for a chance to get close to the lighthouse.

See our List of Lighthouses in Michigan