A slender red tower rises from a clearing on Neebish Island. Todd’s photographs place the historic Lower Nicolet West Range front light beside its modern replacement, with another range structure visible across the clearing. The wooded setting reveals a quieter side of the Great Lakes shipping route.
Quick Facts
| Location | Northern Neebish Island, Chippewa County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Lake Nicolet · St. Marys River |
| West Range established | 1931 |
| Historic front tower | Steel tower built in 1907 for Windmill Point, Detroit; relocated in 1931 |
| Historic tower status | Light transferred to a skeletal tower in the 1990s |
| Purpose | Range lights marking the western half of the shipping channel |
| Ownership | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Tower access | Closed |
History & Description
The West Range began in 1931, using two steel towers moved from Windmill Point in Detroit. These towers had served the Detroit River since 1907. On Neebish Island, the new range marked the western side of the Lake Nicolet channel; the older neighboring range became the East Range.
Range lights work in pairs. A mariner lines up a front light with a more distant rear light to follow a channel bearing. The neighboring towers in these photographs do not represent the West Range’s complete front-and-rear pair.
The front tower’s light moved to a skeletal structure in the 1990s. Todd’s close view shows the surviving steel tower alongside the replacement’s red-and-white daymark.
Visitor Information
The site occupies the north end of Neebish Island. Offshore views offer a useful perspective; land visits require reaching the island and navigating a wooded approach.
- Getting there
- Neebish Island is reached by ferry from the mainland. Confirm ferry operations before planning a visit.
- Approach on land
- Published descriptions identify a trail of just over a mile from the northern end of Brander Road. The route can be wet and difficult to follow; allow time and assess conditions locally.
- At the light
- The tower is closed. Respect navigation equipment, neighboring property, and any posted restrictions.
- Photography
- A wide view captures the wooded clearing and neighboring structures. A tighter composition reveals the old steel tower and the modern daymark.
Photo Gallery
Two photographs by Todd. Select a photograph to view it larger.