If you're visiting Traverse City, you need to drive up to Old Mission Lighthouse Park! We came on a Saturday and it wasn't super crowded. The beach was absolutely beautiful. The water was super clear and shallow. You could walk far out into the water and the it would still only be a little bit above your knees. It's the perfect place to just relax and enjoy the nature. It was a little too chilly to swim when we came, but I would have loved to come back to enjoy the water more. Unfortunately we didn't have the time to come back during this trip, so maybe next time! To go up to the historic lighthouse, it costs money but you can go inside on the bottom floor to view the gift shop and infographics for free. We chose not to go up because it didn't seem worth the money. read more

See all

This is a gorgeous spot in the Traverse City area! Beautiful clear waters with ample beach space and shaded areas. The beach was very clean and well kept. The shallow water allows for wading in and just enjoying the surroundings. The water isn't deep enough to swim for quite a ways so if you're looking for a swimming area I would go elsewhere! Parking is somewhat limited depending on what time you arrive. We got to the beach around 1:30pm and parking was a little hard to find. This doubles as a dog beach so there were plenty of dogs here as well! As a first time visitor to the traverse city area, I would definitely return to this spot! read more

See all

We actually came up this way for the beach but lucked out that we had to pass by the lighthouse itself on the way down. The historic lighthouse was very cool to see, unfortunately when we went to the museum was already closed for the day, but we were able to read some of the historical plaques. The beach was amazing, warm, and shallow enough we were able to walk out quite a way without the water even making it to our waists. As an aside, make sure to bring water shoes. As cool as it is the rocks and broken shells can make this beautiful spot rougher. read more

If you're going up the Old Mission peninsula for wine tastings, definitely end your sojourn into the peninsula here like we did, preferably close to sunset! The parking lot isn't huge though, so on a high traffic day you might have some issues finding parking. Good thing parking is free though! :) We had spent a whole day wine tasting, came here to dip our toes into Lake Michigan, enjoy the sun, appreciate the lighthouse, and learn about how we were standing exactly halfway between the equator and the North Pole! Old Mission Point Park is located RIGHT at the 45th parallel line, which is so fun! There are also tons of trails around here if you've got more time to hike about. Once you're done here and ready to head back into town, maybe jonesing for a bite to eat, I'd recommend stopping at Jolly Pumpkin on your way back down the peninsula! In my experience, a lot of the wineries are located on the east side of the peninsula, Old Mission Point at the very tip, and then Jolly Pumpkin on the west side of the peninsula. It's the perfect loop around Old Mission peninsula in my humble opinion! :) read more

See all

October 23, 2019 A "Free" park with many colorful paths to enjoy since its Fall and the leaves are falling everywhere. I noticed food for the squirrels on the ground to see as well called "acorns". Since I checked in here and walked for 15 minutes I did not photograph anything or nature areas. This check-in has a few nature trails that lead a visitor to the Old Mission Lighthouse and of course the beautiful sandy beach with waves of water in colors of blue. Add it to your bucket list along with the Lighthouse. P.S. I got a "Yelp Badge" here. Hug a tree, Hug ME ! :) read more

Old Mission Point Park - Yes... make my DAY ! HUG ME. - Parks Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Located halfway to the North Pole this gem of a State park is located at the top of the Old Mission Peninsula on the 45th parallel. There is a great Lighthouse with museum and an awesome beach to enjoy. It is amazing the difference from 6 to 8 years ago whe the Lake was low. Then the beach went out about a football field or more. Now it 20 to 30 ft of still pristine sand. I love the sound of the water rolling in. Overall a 5 star review. Would I return? Many times to come. read more

See all

Bit hesitant Initially to visit this spot but chose this as it was close to the winery we visited. Wouldn't say it is an awesome light house but its beautiful. Pros: ------- Free Parking Close to wineries Good for photoshoots Restrooms read more

See all

Utterly gorgeous. Not much beach due to high water levels. Crystal clear water and refreshing. Who needs the Caribbean!!!! Went for a hike through the woodland on the Old Mission Point Trail. Easy trail saw two deers. Dog friendly. Can't wait to go back. read more

Old Mission Point Park - Parks Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

See all

Pretty view of the bay from here. Mission Point lighthouse itself is nothing special, and they charge $4.00 to climb the stairs to the top ($2.00 for kids). The local I was here with informed me that you can stay here overnight for FREE, in exchange for some light volunteer duties http://www.missionpointlighthouse.com/keeper-program.html I enjoyed the scenic drive to get here. There is an old church on the way that you can get married at, and a wonderful old B&B too. read more

See all

On a recent visit to Traverse city Michigan we decided to take the drive up the peninsula to complete our weekend , just a nice smooth Sunday cruise, highlighted by beautiful scenic views of the Grand Traverse Bay to your left as you head North toward the tip . You'll pass several vineyards along the way and you may be lucky enough to encounter wild turkeys doing their thing like we did. Soon you'll reach the farthest point that you can drive (Old Mission Peninsula TWP Park) and you will see the lighthouse , not overly impressive but kinda like a prize at the end of the cruise. An interesting fact about this location is that your not only at the Northern most tip of this peninsula but your also at the 45th Parallel of the Globe , The halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole. Look around you ,then take a deep breath ,the air is so crisp and clean ,you'll wonder if the people who reside here year round , have life just right . read more

See all

Great views are abundant here, even on a rainy day. The lighthouse is...... hmmmm, let just say it's not going to blow your mind. It's on the small size and really just a house with a little turret. By the lighthouse there is a path that leads to the shore and walking along the wetlands area is awesome. Back on higher ground there is a hiking trail just past the lighthouse and some fine looking trees in the area. Overall you will not spend a whole day here, but the drive up the peninsula is beautiful and Old Mission State Park is definitely worth checking out. read more

See all

I swear that in place of a spine I have a divining rod holding me upright. Anytime there's water around I am magnetically pulled toward it, on it or in it. Give me a bathingsuit, a river, lake or an ocean with a boat, kayak or a jetski and I'm there. Along with my love for water I have a fond appreciation of lighthouses, so when I read up on this park I inevitably had to go. We came here in April, with the bay water temperature just a hair above glacial. Though it was cold, of course I had to roll up my pants and get in it. Once your feet are numb you're pretty much good to go, though I'd recommend visiting here during the warmer months instead. The beach along the shore is skinny and filled with washed up shells, driftwood and the occasional crab claw (also some pretty gnarly looking piece of a fish skeleton - check out the creepy pic below). I don't know if this area is cleaned once summer hits, but if so this would be a perfect (albeit small) sandy beach. Behind the beach and a little deeper into the park there are a couple of hiking trails which look quiet and peaceful. The lighthouse is, for once, exactly what its name says it is. A house with a light on it. It's not one of the tall candy cane variety, it actually looks more like a small church or a schoolhouse. During the season you can go in (and up, though it is not very high) for a small fee. Across from the lighthouse is a small pioneer style cottage which you can explore. There is a special phone number which you can dial which will give you a guided tour of the property, I think this is a pretty neat idea. read more

See all

'Ello chaps! Old Mission Point Park is a small park at the tip of Old Mission peninsula, where you can find Mission Point lighthouse (built in 1870), beach area, and hiking trails. Avid bicyclists choose to make the ride up the peninsula to the park, making the 20 mile ride past rolling hills and vineyards. There are portable toilets but few other amenities. Park is FREE read more

See all

Tons of trails to check out. What a beautiful view on these trails. We loved our nature time. It is just gorgeous up here.

Go for the views even if you're not into touring lighthouses. Several of the paths surrounding the park leave you at a secluded sandy beach area, great for kids and families - just like having your own private beach! Bring a picnic and spend the day. Lovely photo opportunities all the way around. read more

Old Mission Point Park - Path straight down from the light house at Old Mission - Parks Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Old Mission and Leelanau are two of the most beautiful peninsulas in the United States. Together, they make up as much coastline as Cape Cod or Door County, and yet they fly much lower under the radar than either of those two destinations. When I first stopped in Traverse City, on our circle tour around Lake Michigan, we drove out to the Old Mission State Park to watch the sunset. This year, we spent a weekend just exploring both peninsulas. Again, we found ourselves out on the tip. It was a chilly September Sunday evening. The lake was at it highest level in several years. With the wind blowing, and green leaves turning yellow, and summer retreating, the historic Old Mission Lighthouse was oddly reassuring. On the drive out of the state park to dinner, we pulled over and watched two swans. They were feeding in rough water, their white bodies bobbing up and down in the swells, with waves breaking over their backs. The water was warmer than the air. read more

See all

Nostalgic stop for us every year since it was a regular family destination. Dog friendly beach that wasn't very crowded. Had great parking available for a June weekday afternoon. We are always happy we made the drive. read more

The only dog-friendly beach I found in Traverse City. It is a beautiful beach and it seems less crowded than the other beaches. The water is very shallow. You can walk several feet into the lake and the water is still only waist-high. The lake seems warmer here than in Chicago. Unfortunately, the beach is not wheelchair accessible. There are several steps down to the beach. Also, the beach is not conveniently located right in front of the parking lot. You have to walk quite a bit to get down to the beach. There is also a lighthouse and log cabin. The beach is located right in front of the lighthouse so people may or may not be staring at you and taking pictures of you. Cool fact: it's located on the 45th parallel, which is halfway between the North Pole and Equator! There is a parking lot with free parking. There are no public bathrooms, just porta potties. There might be one in the lighthouse but I am not sure. People have stacked rocks in the lake, which is pretty cool. There are areas with lots of rocks in the water that can be slippery so watch your step! read more

Shop/bathrooms etc close at 5 so keep that in mind! Great view, cute lighthouse but not as much to do/see as I thought- worth the extra few minutes in the car though if you're already in the area! read more

Old Mission Point Park - Parks Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

See all

Gorgeous. We met some very friendly people, and enjoyed a beautiful drive and trails in good condition! We found some slightly above average public restrooms placed conveniently throughout as well. I ended up cutting my hand very badly on our hike, however, and there wasn't even a gas station for over 20 minutes from our hike spot, and really we had to go all the way back into downtown TC to get to a proper drugstore. My fault, really. Just be sure to bring everything you need, or make sure you stop well before you get there! read more

There's a very nice system of trails here. The maps can be confusing, but that may just be me. The other reason to head out here, the lighthouse, of course. Old Mission lighthouse is absolutely charming. Sometimes you can go inside, if you hit the hours right. I'm fairly certain a small fee is required should you wish to climb the light. The beach is nice out here, too. More sand than rock in some places, so sunbathing is an option when the wind doesn't feel like it's gonna bite your nose off (like today). There are swings too, I don't think there are baby swings, they are just kid or people-sized. read more

At the northern most tip of Old Mission Peninsula stands a old lighthouse in what is now a State Park. There are essentially three things to do while you are this point. You can view the old log cabin from a small plexiglassed enclosure at the entrance. You can enjoy the long, rocky beach which did seem nice and had plenty of people walking and enjoying the view. And finally you can visit the lighthouse. I understand the need to upkeep a historic old building can get expensive and that government subsidies don't approach the sums required. That said to charge young children 3$ for the privilege of climbing 20 stairs and enjoying the same view one could essentially have from the base seems a outrageous money grab. Charge the adults but allow the kids to opportunity to develop an interest and passion for our history. read more

While in Traverse City, we took the short drive up to the lighthouse to check it out and the old settlement. When we arrived after driving through the wine country of MI, we enter into the new parking lot. There was a beautiful wedding going on by the lighthouse so we didn't get to go in there. The lighthouse was a bit lackluster since it just looked like a house and was quite set back. The water and the beach were great though. Everyone stacks rocks in the water so I had to partake and make my own stack. For the drive from TC to here just to spend a short time looking at the limited offering didn't really seem worth it. The kids had fun playing on the beach though... read more

Dogs on leashes allowed. Nice beach, but there are stairs to the beach. So no wheelchair ramp that goes close to the water. But I still got a nice view of the beach from the top of the stairs. Only porta potties. There is also a water pump, lighthouse, and gift shop. Plenty of accessible parking spaces. Love that it's dog friendly. read more

We visited in mid May so it was still quite cool and nice for us ... not crowded. The views of the lake are so pretty and it is very relaxing. The lighthouse is small and the top was closed for maintenance so I can't comment on that. Lots of porta potties should you need them. They were not too clean tho. read more

Great stop at the end of Old Mission Peninsula. A nice little walk with historic buildings and points of interest. Dogs okay on leashes.

We made the drive up after making a day of different activities in the region. I do have to say that the lighthouse located here isn't all that impressive if you've visited any of the larger ones along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The park its self is nice. It does have water access but I wouldn't probably swim in this part of the Grand Traverse Bay. It's really shallow and clearly isn't maintained for swimmers. The beach is clean though and its nice and relaxing to walk along the water. I did see a hiking trail, though we did not explore the trail...but appears to cut through the woods along the beach and waterfront. read more

Beautiful location and easy to find! A little bummed that you had to pay $4 per person to go upstairs and go inside the light house though.

Absolutely beautiful drive up to the tip of the peninsula so it felt right to explore the park. We were on a budget so we didn't feel spending money to go into a lighthouse made sense for us. So we decided to walk out to the water... Which I whole heartedly regret! The most painful walk because the water level is so low and rocks are every step of the way for as long as you can walk. It was very stressful and tiring. Can say I did it... But I'll never do it again!! read more

I visited Old Mission State Park 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I really enjoyed the drive up from Traverse City. You pass thru some vineyards and some scenic views on the drive. Driving into the park, there was an old house and lighthouse. The history of the old house was interesting, but the lighthouse was closed and kind of small. The views from the park overlooking the bay was excellent. It really amazed me that a 4-5 hour drive from Chicago can put you in such a scenic and quiet area, such as the park. There are some trails to walk around, but the view at sunset is something I'd do again. read more

The drive up to Mission Point Lighthouse was a nice and easy one. The lighthouse is not the conical building sitting on a rocky point of the water as you imagine. There is no fee to come to this lighthouse. In this building, you can walk around the main floor and see the pictures, maps, historical information, and recreated room. If you want to climb the stairs and look out the lighthouse you have to pay a fee. There is also a recreated cabin next to the lighthouse where you can look in a window at a recreated scene from the log cabin settlers. Other neat thing here is that you are standing on the 45th parallel -- exactly 1/2 way between the North Pole and the equator. Worth the drive if you like to drive. Not worth it to climb the lighthouse read more

Very pretty little lighthouse. Some kind of flying black insect hatch must have happened, because they were enormous pests in mid May.

This was a great low key family stop. The entire Old Mission Peninsula area is a great way to spend a day. There are tasting rooms at all of the vineyards along the way, beautiful views, and then at the end is the light house. The light house is nestled in a little park with a historical log cabin, beach, and lighthouse. During the summer and fall the lighthouse is open during normal business hours for a tour. It cost 4$ for adults, and 2$ for kids. There are a couple rooms with historical info and artifacts along with the fun and short climb to the top of the lighthouse. The beach in front of the lighthouse is pretty shallow so during the summer is is great for splashing around in, climbing on the rocks, and exploring. Our three year old daughter loved catching little minnows in the beach and loved the climb up the stairs to the lighthouse. This is not a stroller must for the kids...specifically because of the sand and close quarters in the lighthouse. This is also a great to picnic because there are not a lot of restaurants in the area and this location is about 45 min fro TC. read more