Standing alone in Saginaw Bay, Gravelly Shoal Lighthouse has a silhouette unlike the familiar brick towers along Michigan’s coast. Its sculpted tower, broad offshore base, and tall steel mast make a striking subject against the water and sky.
Quick Facts
| Location | Western Saginaw Bay, offshore from Au Gres, Arenac County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Lake Huron · Saginaw Bay |
| Construction year | 1939 |
| Historic tower height | 65 feet · Separate from the light’s height above the water |
| Design | Art Deco · Reinforced concrete and steel on a crib foundation |
| Navigation role | Active automated light, listed in the Coast Guard’s 2025 Light List |
| Public access | Offshore viewing · No public tower access |
History & Description
Gravelly Shoal extends southeast from Point Lookout toward Big Charity Island. The lighthouse marks this shallow-water hazard beside a route used by vessels entering Saginaw Bay.
Built in 1939, the station replaced the navigational role of Charity Island’s light. Its Art Deco design reflects a later chapter of Great Lakes lighthouse building: a compact offshore structure rather than a tower paired with a keeper’s house.
The National Park Service describes a 65-foot concrete-and-steel tower on a crib foundation, about five miles offshore from Au Gres. Its stepped profile and flared lower section give the structure a sculptural quality. Todd’s photograph shows the tall lattice mast above the tower and the broad cylindrical base at water level.
The Coast Guard’s 2025 Light List identifies Gravelly Shoal as a white square tower on a cylindrical base, displaying a red flash every six seconds. It lists the light at 75 feet above the water; that measurement differs from the historic tower height.
Visitor Information
- How to see it
- This is an offshore lighthouse rather than a walk-up attraction. A boat-based view offers the clearest look at the tower. Ask a local operator whether its route passes Gravelly Shoal before booking.
- Tower access
- No public interior visit or tower climb is offered here. Treat a trip as exterior viewing from the water, and do not attempt to land on or climb the structure.
- Planning
- Confirm the route, departure point, and weather arrangements with your boat operator. The lighthouse stands in open bay water, so viewing conditions depend on wind, waves, and visibility.
- Photography
- Keep the base and mast together in the frame to show the station’s unusual proportions. A faster shutter speed helps reduce movement from the boat; leave space around the tower for the water and sky.
Guide researched October 13, 2026. Offshore access information is described in the National Park Service’s lighthouse fact sheet.
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