Schoolcraft County combines outdoor experiences with a distinctive history of buildings and places. Two questions can help with your planning: Should water shape your stay, or would you like to focus on historic buildings and stories? The places and routes offer different ways to explore, from an observation raft to a historic railroad trail.
Experience the Water: Spring, Lakeshore, and Swimming Area
Kitch-iti-kipi, also known as “The Big Spring,” can be viewed from a self-guided, accessible observation raft. Viewing the spring from the raft is a distinct highlight alongside activities on the lake. As operating conditions may change, check them before your visit.
Palms Book State Park is in Thompson Township in Schoolcraft County, about 12 miles northwest of downtown Manistique. Indian Lake State Park in Schoolcraft County covers 567 acres along the shore of Indian Lake. Its day-use area has a paved boat launch. The park also has a 75-yard sandy beach and a buoy-marked swimming area. Beach and swimming conditions can vary seasonally.
The information about Indian Lake points to several ways to plan your time by the water: the boat launch, beach, and designated swimming area each offer a different focus. Kitch-iti-kipi, in turn, is a place to view from a raft. When choosing among these destinations, you can first decide whether you would rather observe, spend time on the shore, or plan to use the swimming area.
Lakeside Walk and Historic Railroad Trail
The Manistique Boardwalk runs for about two miles along the shore of Lake Michigan. Access to the Manistique Light and the boardwalk is at the Manistique Boat Marina, 300 South Cedar Street, Manistique, Michigan. Check local access options before you travel.
The Haywire Grade Trail offers a much longer route: the 32-mile trail follows a historic railroad grade from Intake Park in Manistique to Shingleton. The distances provide a clear basis for planning: the boardwalk is about two miles long, while the Haywire Grade Trail is 32 miles long.
Lighthouses, Buildings, and Local History
The Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse is operated by the Gulliver Historical Society in cooperation with the Parks and Recreation Division of the Department of Natural Resources. If you plan to visit, check current visiting options. The Seul Choix Point Lighthouse was added to the state and national historic registers in 1988.
The Bishop Baraga Historical Site marks the approximate area where the Catholic missionary Reverend Frederic Baraga built and blessed his first church on May 15, 1832. The Indian Lake Mission has a different historical connection: it was rebuilt at its original location in the early 1980s. Together, the two sites tell different chapters of local religious history.
The Manistique River Bridge also has a specific construction history. Local contractor Harry Erickson built it in 1923. The bridge, also known as Germfask Bridge, is among the earliest built and longest surviving examples of a Michigan State Highway Department design for long-span concrete girder bridges with arched girders on cantilevered brackets.
The Manistique Light, also known as the East Breakwater Light, is a red, square, pyramid-shaped structure built in 1916. It stands 35 feet tall. The Manistique East Breakwater Lighthouse is in Schoolcraft County at the end of the east breakwater. The Historic Manistique Water Tower has two dates in its history: it was recognized as a state historic site in June 1979, and the National Park Service registered it on October 26, 1981.
The Imogene Herbert Historical Museum, also known as the Schoolcraft County Historical Society, is housed in three buildings, including the Manistique Water Tower. The restored tower provides space in the museum for rotating and local exhibits. A museum visit therefore connects the history of the building with exhibits whose subjects may change.
Choose a Focus for Your Trip
The specific trail distances can help you weigh the boardwalk against the Haywire Grade Trail; museums, bridges, and lighthouses add historical perspectives to the focus on nature. This makes it possible to tailor your hotel search to the destinations you actually plan to visit.
Explore more destinations: Manistique, Roscommon County, Saginaw, Oakland, Monroe County, Muskegon, Marquette County, Kalamazoo.
For the broader travel overview: Michigan.
