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HARBOR BEACH — One of Huron County’s most unusual summer tours will return in 2026, giving visitors a chance to ride by boat to the historic Harbor Beach Lighthouse.
According to a local tour ad, Harbor Beach Lighthouse tours will run every Saturday from June 20 through Sept. 5, 2026. The final tour of each day leaves at noon.
The guided tour includes the Harbor Beach Lighthouse, the fog signal building and museum, a replica of the original Fourth Order Fresnel lens, and the gift shop. The $30 ticket price includes the boat ride to the offshore structure and admission inside the lighthouse.
The ad says advance online reservations are recommended at Harbor Beach Lighthouse website.
What Visitors Will See
The tour offers more than a view from shore. Visitors will reach the offshore lighthouse by boat, a key detail that sets this activity apart from many Lake Huron stops.
The Harbor Beach Lighthouse sits on the breakwater protecting the city’s harbor. The structure has long been part of the community’s identity and a working aid for vessels traveling along Lake Huron.
The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, according to the listing details included in public historic records. The City of Harbor Beach became owner of the lighthouse in 2010, and local preservation work has continued since then.
Why The Fresnel Lens Matters
The lighthouse has a replica of the original Fourth Order Fresnel lens, a feature that should appeal to lighthouse fans and Great Lakes history readers.
Fresnel lenses were once central to lighthouse operation because their glass prisms focused light into a stronger beam for ships on the water. The original Harbor Beach Lighthouse lens was removed in 1967 and later replaced by a modern optic, according to historical summaries of the light.
For visitors, the lens display helps explain how lighthouse technology changed before automation took over much of the work once handled by keepers.
Grice House Museum
Their is also the nearby Grice House Museum, giving visitors a second history stop in Harbor Beach. Admission is $5.
The Grice House is listed at 865 N. Huron Ave. and operates as a museum showing earlier life in the community. The house was built by James G. Grice, who came to the United States from England in the 1860s, and the property was later purchased by the city after the last Grice descendant died.
Pairing the museum with the lighthouse tour gives visitors a fuller look at Harbor Beach history, from family life on shore to the maritime work that helped define the harbor.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Activity | Harbor Beach Lighthouse tours |
| Dates | Every Saturday, June 20-Sept. 5, 2026 |
| Last Tour | Noon |
| Ticket Price | $30 |
| Included | Boat ride, guided tour, gift shop, Light House Museum admission |
| Featured Stops | Lighthouse, fog signal building and museum, Fresnel lens replica |
| Reservations | Advance online reservations recommended |
| Website for tickets | harborbeachlighthouse.org |
Final Word About Harbor Beach Lighthouse Tours
For summer visitors planning a Thumb drive along M-25, the Harbor Beach Lighthouse tour is a strong anchor activity. It combines a boat ride, Lake Huron views and local history in a single stop.
The key caution is timing. Tours are limited to Saturdays, and the last tour leaves at noon. Visitors should reserve ahead and confirm weather or lake conditions before making the trip.
