Explore the shoreline

Great Lakes coastal places

Find coastal towns, lighthouses, beaches, parks and maritime stories along the Great Lakes.

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34 of 70 places mapped. 36 remain in the list without a map pin. Unverified locations and precise shipwreck sites are not plotted. Pins are representative locations, not verified entrances.

Black-and-white basemap by OpenStreetMap. Great Lakes highlighted in color. Hold Ctrl (or Command) while scrolling to zoom. Use two fingers on touch screens.

Lake outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Town centers: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation.
National Lakeshore Wisconsin · Lake Superior Apostle Islands National Lakeshore A Lake Superior archipelago of forests, beaches, sea caves and lighthouses. Explore place
Photo: Sharon Mollerus · CC BY 2.0

Devil's Island Sea Caves (28462731415).jpg by Sharon Mollerus · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Wisconsin · Lake Superior Bayfield A small harbor town and gateway to the Apostle Islands. Explore place
Photo: Dls4832 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Bayfield Wisconsin.jpg by Dls4832 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Illinois · Lake Michigan Chicago A world-class city with a miles-long Lake Michigan waterfront. Explore place
Photo: NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0

Chicago Skyline Sunrise March 15 2026 - 02.jpg by NorbertNagel · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Pennsylvania · Lake Erie Erie Pennsylvania's Great Lakes city beside Presque Isle Bay. Explore place
Photo: Tomdonohue1 at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Bicentennial Tower.jpg by Tomdonohue1 at English Wikipedia · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Huron Mackinac Island A car-free island where Lake Huron meets the Straits of Mackinac. Explore place
Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mackinac Island July 2010 02 (downtown from harbor).JPG by Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ontario · Lake Ontario Niagara-on-the-Lake A heritage town where Lake Ontario meets the Niagara River. Explore place
Photo: Paste · CC BY-SA 3.0

Niagara on the lake.jpg by Paste · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Michigan · Lake Michigan Point Betsie Lighthouse A landmark white tower on the Lake Michigan shore. Explore place
Photo: Belle montano-zygmunt · CC BY 2.0

Pt Betsie lighthouse Frankfort Michigan.jpg by Belle montano-zygmunt · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

National Lakeshore Michigan · Lake Michigan Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Expansive dunes, forest and long beaches on Lake Michigan. Explore place
Photo: en:User:Grod028 · Public domain

Sleeping Bear Dunes.jpg by en:User:Grod028 · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Minnesota · Lake Superior Split Rock Lighthouse An iconic beacon perched above Minnesota's rugged North Shore. Explore place
Photo: MichaelDPhotos · CC BY-SA 4.0

Split Rock Light Station.jpg by MichaelDPhotos · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Shipwreck story Michigan · Lake Superior SS Edmund Fitzgerald The Great Lakes' best-known shipwreck and a lasting story of Lake Superior. Explore place
Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domain

Edmund Fitzgerald-USACE.jpg by Unknown photographer · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Michigan Traverse City A northern Michigan favorite between bays and rolling countryside. Explore place
Photo: Phoenix-Five · CC0

Downtown Traverse City from Wayne Hill.jpg by Phoenix-Five · CC0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Huron Alpena Thunder Bay's waterfront city and a gateway to Great Lakes shipwreck history. Explore place
Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0

Alpena City Hall (53882685763) (cropped).jpg by Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Michigan · Lake Michigan Big Sable Point Lighthouse A black-and-white tower beyond the dunes north of Ludington. Explore place
Photo: Bailiwick Studios · CC BY-SA 2.0

Big Sable (29688853832).jpg by Bailiwick Studios · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

National Park Ontario · Lake Huron Bruce Peninsula National Park Niagara Escarpment cliffs and Georgian Bay's blue water near Tobermory. Explore place
Photo: The Cosmonaut · CC BY-SA 2.5 ca

Indian Head Cove cliffs1.jpg by The Cosmonaut · CC BY-SA 2.5 ca. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town New York · Lake Erie Buffalo The eastern end of Lake Erie, where grain-elevator heritage meets a renewed waterfront. Explore place
Photo: Reading Tom from Reading, UK · CC BY 2.0

Autumnal skyline view from Erie Basin Marina, Buffalo, New York, October 2012.jpg by Reading Tom from Reading, UK · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Wisconsin · Lake Michigan Cana Island Lighthouse Door County's island beacon on the open-lake side of the peninsula. Explore place
Photo: August Schwerdfeger · CC BY 4.0

Cana Island Lighthouse 2020-09-07.jpg by August Schwerdfeger · CC BY 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse New York · Lake Ontario Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse A historic tower above Rochester's Lake Ontario river mouth. Explore place
Photo: Leslie L. Gregg · CC BY-SA 4.0

Genesee Lighthouse with Flags.jpg by Leslie L. Gregg · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park New York · Lake Ontario Chimney Bluffs State Park Sculpted earthen bluffs above New York's Lake Ontario shore. Explore place
Photo: Antepenultimate · CC BY-SA 4.0

Chimney Bluffs State Park 2009.JPG by Antepenultimate · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ohio · Lake Erie Cleveland A Lake Erie city linking waterfront museums, neighborhoods and urban beaches. Explore place
Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0

Cleveland skyline from Lakewood Park, June 2024.jpg by Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Shipwreck story Michigan · Lake Huron Cornelia B. Windiate A grain schooner whose loss illustrates the hazards of late-season lake travel. Explore place
Photo: NOAA / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary · Public domain

Ship's wheel of Cornelia B. Windiate by NOAA / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse New York · Lake Erie Dunkirk Lighthouse A New York Lake Erie light station with maritime and veterans' collections. Explore place
Photo: Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0

Dunkirk Lighthouse (53861095325).jpg by Chris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park New York · Lake Ontario Fair Haven Beach State Park New York's Lake Ontario beach and campground landscape beside Little Sodus Bay. Explore place
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fair Haven Beach State Park - 20221027 - 09 - dramatic shoreline.jpg by Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Michigan · Lake Huron Fort Gratiot Light Station A Port Huron beacon near the outlet of Lake Huron. Explore place
Photo: Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse Park 2025e.jpg by Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ontario · Lake Huron Goderich An Ontario harbor town with a distinctive town square and sunset-facing coast. Explore place
Photo: Whpq · CC BY-SA 3.0

GoderichBeachView.jpg by Whpq · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park Minnesota · Lake Superior Gooseberry Falls State Park Waterfalls, river trails and a rocky Lake Superior shore on Minnesota's North Shore. Explore place
Photo: Edward Morrissey · CC BY-SA 4.0

Middle Gooseberry Falls, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota.jpg by Edward Morrissey · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Minnesota · Lake Superior Grand Marais An artist's harbor at the meeting of Lake Superior and the Gunflint Trail. Explore place
Photo: Pete Markham from Loretto, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

North Shore Trip - Beautiful Grand Marais, MN (14969233032).jpg by Pete Markham from Loretto, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park Ohio · Lake Erie Headlands Beach State Park A broad Ohio Lake Erie beach beside a protected dune landscape. Explore place
Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0

Mentor Headlands Beach Sunrise (12697691344).jpg by Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Michigan · Lake Michigan Holland Harbor Lighthouse Michigan's familiar 'Big Red' lighthouse at the entrance to Holland's harbor. Explore place
Photo: Rodney Campbell · CC BY 2.0

Holland Harbor Lighthouse 2.jpg by Rodney Campbell · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park Illinois · Lake Michigan Illinois Beach State Park A protected Lake Michigan shoreline north of Chicago. Explore place
Photo: Yinan Chen · Public Domain

Gfp-illinois-beach-state-park-shoreline-of-lake-michigan.jpg by Yinan Chen · Public Domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

National Park Indiana · Lake Michigan Indiana Dunes National Park A mosaic of dunes, wetlands, woodland and beaches on southern Lake Michigan. Explore place
Photo: Indianadunes · CC BY 4.0

Part of the Dunes Succession Trail at West Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park.jpg by Indianadunes · CC BY 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Shipwreck story Michigan · Lake Huron Ironton A schooner barge lost in a Lake Huron collision and later documented by sanctuary researchers. Explore place
Photo: NOAA · Public domain

Ironton wreck.jpg by NOAA · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park Wisconsin · Lake Michigan Kohler-Andrae State Park Wisconsin dune trails and sandy Lake Michigan shoreline near Sheboygan. Explore place
Photo: Djngsf · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kohler Andrae State Park near Sheboygan Wisconsin, Sand Dunes and Cordwalk Trail.jpg by Djngsf · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Provincial Park Ontario · Lake Superior Lake Superior Provincial Park Ontario's eastern Lake Superior coast of bays, forest and rugged shoreline. Explore place
Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson · CC BY-SA 3.0

Gargantua Harbour, Lake Superior PP.jpg by D. Gordon E. Robertson · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Michigan Ludington A ferry port framed by Lake Michigan beaches, dunes and lighthouse trails. Explore place
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ludington light at sunset (21099533911).jpg by NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Ohio · Lake Erie Marblehead Lighthouse A stone Lake Erie beacon on Ohio's Marblehead Peninsula. Explore place
Photo: Bobport10 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Marblehead Lighthouse.jpg by Bobport10 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Indiana · Lake Michigan Michigan City Indiana's lakeside city with a lighthouse skyline and sandy beach. Explore place
Photo: Dan Previte · CC BY 2.0

Michigan City East Lighthouse aerial 2021 - Michigan City, Indiana.jpg by Dan Previte · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Wisconsin · Lake Michigan Milwaukee Lakefront museums, public beaches and river neighborhoods on Wisconsin's coast. Explore place
Photo: Isaac Rowlett · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dji fly 20241201 160430 0031 1733092392756 photo.jpg by Isaac Rowlett · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Shipwreck story Michigan · Lake Huron Monohansett A steamer whose remains form part of Thunder Bay's protected maritime collection. Explore place
Photo: NOAA / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary · Public domain

Stern and propeller of Monohansett by NOAA / Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Superior Munising The harbor gateway to Pictured Rocks and a coastline of cliffs and waterfalls. Explore place
Photo: Notorious4life · CC0

Munising, Michigan (02 August 2016).jpg by Notorious4life · CC0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Michigan New Buffalo A compact southwest Michigan harbor with a beach-town pace. Explore place
Photo: BigBear_in_IN · CC BY-SA 3.0

New Buffalo Harbor, MI - panoramio.jpg by BigBear_in_IN · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Shipwreck story Michigan · Lake Huron Nordmeer A twentieth-century freighter in a sanctuary collection spanning generations of ship design. Explore place
Photo: National Marine Sanctuaries · Public domain

TBNMS - Nordmeer (27699704940).jpg by National Marine Sanctuaries · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Shipwreck story Michigan · Lake Huron Ohio The grain-carrying freighter involved in the same collision that sank Ironton. Explore place
Photo: Michigan Technological University / NOAA · Public domain

SS Ohio sonar image by Michigan Technological University / NOAA · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park Wisconsin · Lake Michigan Peninsula State Park Door County's Green Bay shoreline, with woodland trails and harbor views. Explore place
Photo: Richie Diesterheft from Santa Barbara, CA, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ephraim Wisconsin from Eagle tower in Peninsula State Park.jpg by Richie Diesterheft from Santa Barbara, CA, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Michigan Petoskey Little Traverse Bay views and a historic downtown in northern Michigan. Explore place
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0

2009-0619-Petoskey-marina.JPG by Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Shipwreck story Michigan · Lake Huron Pewabic A Thunder Bay steamer lost in a collision during the Great Lakes shipping era. Explore place
Photo: J.E. Keast · Public domain

Pewabic.jpg by J.E. Keast · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

National Lakeshore Michigan · Lake Superior Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Sandstone cliffs, beaches and waterfalls along Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Explore place
Photo: National Park Service · Public domain

Pictured Rocks Bridalveil Falls.jpg by National Park Service · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Provincial Park Ontario · Lake Huron Pinery Provincial Park Lake Huron beach country with oak savanna and a river-channel landscape. Explore place
Photo: Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dunes Beach Pinery Provincial Park.jpg by Ymblanter · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

National Park Ontario · Lake Erie Point Pelee National Park A Lake Erie peninsula of marsh, woodland and seasonal bird migration. Explore place
Photo: Quozl · Public domain

Boardwalk in Pelee.JPG by Quozl · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Michigan · Lake Huron Port Austin A small harbor at the tip of Michigan's Thumb. Explore place
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown · Public domain

Port Austin Michigan aerial view.jpg by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ontario · Lake Erie Port Dover A fishing-port community on Ontario's Lake Erie coast. Explore place
Photo: JasonParis from Toronto, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0

Erie Beach, Pier and lighthouse at Port Dover, Ontario -a.jpg by JasonParis from Toronto, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park Pennsylvania · Lake Erie Presque Isle State Park A sandy peninsula with beaches and lagoons beside Erie, Pennsylvania. Explore place
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0

Presque Isle State Park, Millcreek Twp, Erie County, Pennsylvania - 20210904 - 08 - Lake Erie seen from Leslie Beach.jpg by Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ohio · Lake Erie Put-in-Bay South Bass Island's harbor village, with a national memorial above Lake Erie. Explore place
Photo: NAHann · CC BY-SA 4.0

View from the top of Perry's Memorial Ohio.JPG by NAHann · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town New York · Lake Ontario Rochester A Genesee River city with a Lake Ontario shoreline at Charlotte. Explore place
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ontario Beach Park, Rochester, New York - 20201018 - 03.jpg by Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Provincial Park Ontario · Lake Ontario Sandbanks Provincial Park Prince Edward County's dune and beach landscape on Lake Ontario. Explore place
Photo: Maxime Laterreur · CC BY-SA 4.0

Lakeshore Beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park.jpg by Maxime Laterreur · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ohio · Lake Erie Sandusky A bayside Ohio city and a jumping-off point for the Lake Erie islands. Explore place
Photo: Mike Sharp (2old) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ohio - Sandusky Waterfront.jpg by Mike Sharp (2old) · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Wisconsin · Lake Michigan Sheboygan A Wisconsin harbor town where Lake Michigan meets art, beaches and dune country. Explore place
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao · CC BY-SA 4.0

Sheboygan.downtown.jpg by Jordan M. Lomibao · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Provincial Park Ontario · Lake Superior Sleeping Giant Provincial Park A forested Ontario peninsula with dramatic views of Lake Superior. Explore place
Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park Cliffs - Amethyst Harbour - Ontario - Canada in Autumn.jpg by Tony Webster · CC BY 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Wisconsin · Lake Michigan Sturgeon Bay Door County's shipbuilding town and a bridge between bay and open lake. Explore place
Photo: Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 2.5

SturgeonBayWisconsinBay.jpg by Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 2.5. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

State Park Minnesota · Lake Superior Tettegouche State Park Clifftop Lake Superior scenery and forested river country. Explore place
Photo: Desertson67 at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Northern MN Spring 2005 099.jpg by Desertson67 at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ontario · Lake Superior Thunder Bay An Ontario port city facing the Sleeping Giant across Lake Superior. Explore place
Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Thunder Bay skyline.JPG by P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Ontario · Lake Huron Tobermory Bruce Peninsula harbor life between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Explore place
Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0

20150704 - 010 - Tobermory, Ont. - The "Tobermory Frontier" at Big Tub Harbor (panorama).jpg by Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Coastal town Minnesota · Lake Superior Two Harbors Ore docks, a historic lighthouse and a working Lake Superior waterfront. Explore place
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown · Public domain

Two Harbors Minnesota aerial view.jpg by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown · Public domain. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Minnesota · Lake Superior Two Harbors Lighthouse A harbor light overlooking Minnesota's historic ore-shipping waterfront. Explore place
Photo: pmarkham · CC BY-SA 2.0

Two Harbors Light Minnesota.jpg by pmarkham · CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Michigan · Lake Superior Whitefish Point Light Station A Lake Superior light station at a shoreline known for shipping and shipwreck stories. Explore place
Photo: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0

Whitefish Point Light 2026.jpg by TCP04 · CC BY 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.

Lighthouse Wisconsin · Lake Michigan Wind Point Lighthouse A tall Wisconsin light station on Lake Michigan just north of Racine. Explore place
Photo: User:JeremyA · CC BY-SA 3.0

Wind Point Lighthouse 071104.jpg by User:JeremyA · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted to WebP; display crops vary.