Visit the Au Sable Light Station

Guided Climbs at the Au Sable Light Station

Summer lighthouse climbs and tours at the Au Sable Light Station begin on June 8th, 2025.

Join a ranger at 11:00 am, 11:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:30 pm, and 4:00 pm for a guided climb up the Au Sable Light Station!

Guided climbs include a brief overview of the history and purpose of the Au Sable Light Station, a walk through of the Assistant Keeper's Quarters, and a climb up the 98 steps to the top of the lighthouse for a view of Lake Superior and the Grand Sable Dunes.

Shipwreck Coast Walking Tour and Lighthouse Climb

Fridays at 12:30pm, beginning June 20th, 2025. Reservations required, call [phone] to make a reservation.

Discover the vital role of the Au Sable Light Station and the shipwrecks that gave this coast its legendary name. Program includes a grounds tour of the Au Sable Light Station, a lighthouse climb, and a half-mile walk on the beach to see remnants of shipwrecks.

Meet at the Au Sable Light Station (park at the Hurricane River Day Use area and walk 1.5 miles east on the lighthouse trail; allow 30 minutes) Not including your walk to the Light Station, this program is 90 minutes long.

 

Lighthouse Climb Rules

Lighthouse climb rules ensure the safety of yourself and others while climbing and while at the top!

1. Visitors must wear shoes- no bare feet or thin/tall heels 
2. No pets are allowed inside the building or tower 
3. Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years old 
4. No children under the age 2 may be permitted up the tower stairs 
5. Nobody may be lifted or carried at any point in the tower 
6. Visitor must have one free hand while climbing the tower 
7. No large or bulky bags will be permitted in the tower (can be left in the hallway) 
8. No food, drink, or smoking in the tower (water is permitted) 

The use of adaptive equipment (crutches, canes, etc.) WILL be permitted in the lighthouse buildings and tower.

Lighthouse Accessibility

The use of adaptive equipment (crutches, canes, etc.) is permitted in the lighthouse buildings and tower. Service animals are permitted in the lighthouse building and tower.

1. There are 5-6 steps onto the front porch, and 93 steps to the top of the lighthouse tower 

2. The steps are grated and can be seen through. It is a spiral staircase. 

3. There are three landings on the lighthouse tower stairs to rest 

4. The stairs, lantern room, and catwalk are painted metal- slippery when wet or sandy! 

5. The lantern room can hold 14 people (legally), but it is a very tight/small room 
   
   If you have questions about the accessibility of the Au Sable Light Station, please reach out to us at [e-mail].

 

Getting to the Au Sable Light Station

To visit the Au Sable Light Station, travel to the Hurricane River Campground located 12 miles west of Grand Marais on Alger County Road H-58. Park in the day-use parking area near the bridge.

It is a 1.5 mile walk (one way) to the lighthouse. From the parking lot, walk east through the campground from the picnic area near the Hurricane River mouth. The trail continues past the campground on the historic U.S. Coast Guard access road to the light station. Be alert for occasional staff vehicle traffic. On the beach below the trail, exposed shipwreck remains dot the shoreline. Watch for the signs and steps to the beach along the access road. Pets are permitted on the access road to the light station and on the station grounds. Bicycles are not permitted on this road.

NOTE: On hot, humid days in summer with a south wind, biting flies in this area can be fierce and can ruin your visit to the light station. Consider wearing loose-fitting long pants and socks before starting down the trail.

 

Volunteering at the Au Sable Light Station

Each summer, volunteers help make our tours and operations at the Au Sable Light Station possible. Volunteers donate a month of their time to living and working at the light station. Duties typically include assisting with guided tours and staffing the museum.

Visit our volunteer page to learn more and view open opportunities.

 

150 Years as a Beacon on the Shipwreck Coast

Click here to learn more about the history of the Au Sable Light Station.