These live Michigan webcams are strategically located in various spots along the St.Clair River, Lake Huron shore, and Saginaw Bay within the Michigan Thumb region. It is a great place to check out the weather view passing ships and freighters and note lake conditions from the comfort of your home or office. Just click on the preview image or webcam title to see the current live view. If you have a webcam to add, contact us.
#1 Caseville Breakwall Webcam
The Caseville Breakwall webcam provides a single view of the Caseville break wall. With the Caseville Webcam, you can check weather and lake conditions and see fishermen catching a few fish. Facing northeast, you can make out Charity Island in the distance. The camera was updated in the Fall of 2020.
About Caseville Harbor
Caseville Harbor is located at the mouth of the Pigeon River on the east shore of Saginaw Bay. The harbor is about 17 miles southwest of Port Austin, Michigan. The harbor is ideal for shallow draft recreational watercraft. The harbor is protected with approximately 1,800 feet of pier and over 4,000 feet of maintained channel. The harbor and channel depth range between 8 and 10 feet. Caseville serves as a crucial Harbor of Refuge and supports charter fishing and recreational watercraft. The entire harbor has a combined 500 recreational boat slips. Caseville has established a significant interest in serving boaters and visitors to the area.
It’s one of the few break walls anywhere that encourages visitors to walk out and take a look at Saginaw Bay up close. You can fish, walk and catch a cool breeze on this 1/4-mile sprig of concrete and stone out into Saginaw Bay. Watch the boats come in and out in the early morning and late afternoon. However, if it’s stormy, be prepared to get wet.
In 2018 Caseville updated the break wall area with a new seawall, kayak launching dock, and fishing boardwalk.
#2 Sandpoint Webcam
The Sandpoint Webcam provides a single view of Lake Huron out on Sand Point. It’s a great spot to check on the local lake conditions of Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron
It is also a Weather Underground station for local weather updates. Download the Weather Underground App on your Smartphone for forecasts and updates.
#3 Sebewaing SkyCam
This webcam is perched high above Sebewaing harbor. Since it faces west, it’s also a great spot to view incoming storms from the prevailing west winds. You can also catch an incredible sunset too.
The Sebewaing Water Tower Skycam provides a static view of Sebewaing and Saginaw Bay. It’s perfect for a grand overview of the weather heading west over the bay to the Upper Thumb.
#4 Harbor Beach WebCam
This webcam is located directly between Harbor Beach’s harbor and marina. Facing east it’s a great cam to catch a sunrise.
The Harbor Beach Harbor webcam can control where the camera is facing and offers preset views of the largest human-made harbor in North America. (Now, if only they would clean it off from time to time)
About Harbor Beach Harbor
The area around Sand Beach in 1872 was pretty remote, even for the pioneering standards of the time. It had no merchants and no manufacturing except a few shingle makers. In 1873 the area became one of the most ambitious harbor projects on the Great Lakes. This project was known as the “Harbor of Refuge at Sand Beach.” When it was completed, the town sprung up with a railroad station, post office, and the largest man-made harbor on the Great Lakes.
#5 Port Austin WebCam
The Port Austin Webcam covers the state harbor and can see upper Saginaw Bay lake conditions and weather. This webcam offers views of the tip of Michigan’s Upper Thumb.
About Port Austin Harbor
The Port Austin webcam shows the entire harbor. This harbor is a recreational destination for shallow draft watercraft and sailboats traversing Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay. Two break walls are guarding the harbor totaling approximately 3,400 feet in length. The harbor provides an ideal spot for kayakers to put into day trips to Turnip Rock and the iconic Broken Rocks. There are also charter boat services for fishing and mid-week tours during the summer season to Port Austin Lighthouse.
#6 Unionville – Thomas Marina Webcam
Near Unionville, Michigan, the Thomas Marina webcam provides a marina view on the Thumb’s western shore. This webcam offers great views of the ice conditions in protected marinas along Saginaw Bay.
#7 Port Sanilac Lighthouse Webcam
You can see a live webcam of the Port Sanilac Michigan harbor and the lighthouse. Using the viewer controls, pan right to see the lighthouse in operation at night.
Port Sanilac is a charming historical town located on the eastern shore of Lake Huron. So if you’re looking for fun things to do in Michigan, consider exploring with our day trip guide for the M-25 ribbon around the Thumb. It’s a great way to spend a full day or get away for a weekend.
#8 Tawas Bay WeatherCam
This privately-owned camera overlooks the harbor and state docks in Michigan’s Tawas Bay. It’s an excellent webcam to see weather events on outer Saginaw Bay. It’s also situated to capture some incredible sunrises.
The Tawas Bay Weathercam is part of a Tawas weather station and contributes data to the Weather Underground and other services.
#9 East Tawas Harbor Webcam
The second camera covers East Tawas. Tawas Bay is across Saginaw Bay from Michigan’s Thumb. It’s a major recreational harbor on Lake Huron and a tourist destination.
About Tawas Bay
The major attraction is it is home to one of the prettiest lighthouses in Michigan. The Tawas Point Lighthouse was in operation during the lumber boom in 1876 and ran continuously until 2016. The lighthouse and tower sit on a sandy point of land that is said to be always changing.
#10 Pigeon Michigan Weathercam
Located east of Bay Port is the village of Pigeon. The Laker Elementary School webcam is not on the shoreline; it gives views of the interior of Michigan’s Thumb. It’s a great camera to see lake effect snow squalls that blanket this area in the winter.
Overlooking the ballfields at Pigeon Michigan. From time to time, this camera will catch players on the Rotary Club’s disc golf course which is also located at the park.
About Pigeon Michigan
The village of Pigeon was founded due to agricultural growth in the area and railway building from the late 1800s. In 1882 the Pontiac, Oxford, and Port Austin Railroad were built from Caseville to Pontiac. The tracks ran through the small town of Berne. Nearby, Pigeon sprang up as the Saginaw, Tuscola, Huron Railroad established crossing south of Berne in 1886. Some railway maps list the two as separate stops.
#11 The Famous Streaming Shipcam in Port Huron
This live stream camera is positioned on the St. Clair River near the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan. This is one of the top spots to watch ship traffic on the Great Lakes. Port Huron, Michigan, is located near the mouth of Lake Huron on the St. Clair River. The river is around 40 miles long and travels between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. Port Huron is approximately 60 miles northeast of Detroit.
You could observe dozens of boats on any given day, including freighters, tankers, tugs, barges, salties, passenger ships, international visitors, and other vessels.
The shipping season on the Great Lakes typically lasts from late March to early January. The harshness of the winter, on the other hand, will influence when the shipping routes open and close. Winter is also a great time to see an icebreaker in action!
#12 Live Ship Cam Marine City Michigan
Marine City, Michigan is located on the St. Clair River, which runs for roughly 40 miles between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. It’s located 53 miles northeast of Detroit.
Marine City is at the extreme base of Michigan’s Thumb on the St. Clair river. Its magnificent views of the river make it one of the best places to view freighter and ship traffic on the Great Lakes.
#13 Harrisville Harbor Webcam
This upper Michigan webcam shows static views of Harrisville Harbor. This camera is located on the western Huron Shore midway between the Straits of Mackinac and the Blue Water Bridge, an ideal sailing destination.
The harbor provides a full-service port of refuge with enough water depths to support deep-draft boats up to 125′ LOA. The surrounding village of Harrisville has a supermarket and hardware store, restaurants, and all the necessities for the Great Lakes sailor and boater
#14 Sarnia
The Sarnia Yacht Club is the location of this webcam. Sarnia Yacht Club is located near the mouth of the St. Clair River at the southern end of Lake Huron. The Clubhouse, with its view of the lake and the river traffic, is a popular location for social gatherings.
Sarnia#15 Bay City Webcam – Middleground Island – Bigelow Park
Bigelow Park is roughly 9 acres in size and is located at the north end of Middleground Island. Charles Bigelow, who managed a major sawmill on the riverbank, donated the land for the park in 1929. In 1949, the city bought more territory. It was not transformed into a park until 1991. The park has a long footbridge that spans the river channel and links it to Veterans Memorial Park and the riverwalk.
Bay City: Bigelow Park#16 Alpena Webcam – On the Alpena Harbor Light
Alpena National Marine Sanctuary & Underwater Preserve Thunder Bay WebCam – The camera is facing south and has a pan-tilt-zoom capability of 180 degrees. The camera is now configured to four views: the LaFarge channel, Thunder Bay, the south Alpena channel break wall, and the Alpena light’s base.
Alpena: DPI#17 Rogers City Webcam – Presque Isle County
The webcam is located above the fish-cleaning station at Lakeside Park. Located at the Rogers City Yacht Harbor, the camera faces east toward Lake Huron.
Presque Isle County#18 Cheboygan Webcam – Benton Township
The webcam is at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on the shore of northern Lake Huron
Benton Township › East#19 Mackinaw City Webcam – Mackinac Bridge
This webcam faces the Mackinaw Bridge and views the bridge traffic and the Straits of Mackinac.
Emmet County › North: Mackinac Bridge#20 St. Mary’s River Ferry Webcam – De Tour Village
See vehicles waiting for the Ferry service to De Tour across the St Mary’s River in Drummond Township
Drummond Township › West: Drummond#21 – Saginaw River Webcam – Essexville
The live video is from the Saginaw RiverCam, a Saginaw Bay Watershed Council project. It captures a view of the river from the Saginaw Bay Bridge and updates it every few seconds. The Saginaw River is a big Michigan river and the longest in the state. It is about 190 miles long and runs from Saginaw Bay to Lake Huron. The river is important for transportation, recreation, and water supply. The Saginaw RiverCam was established in 2012 to allow people to see the river in real-time. It has become a popular resource for those interested in the Saginaw River. Scientists and researchers also use it to study the river. The Saginaw RiverCam is a fantastic way to observe the Saginaw River and learn more about this significant waterway. The stream is free to watch and available 24/7.
To view the streaming video, you have to view the Saginaw River Webcam on YouTube.
About Michigan’s Thumb
The Thumb is a region and a peninsula of Michigan, so named because the Lower Peninsula is shaped like a mitten. The Thumb area extends out into Lake Huron but enjoys miles of sandy beach coastline on Saginaw Bay. It’s considered the “closer up north” as it’s about a two-hour drive from Metro Detroit. The term “Upper Thumb” denotes Huron County at its tip. The Upper Thumb is a boaters paradise with sailing, fishing, and kayaking throughout the summer season. Using webcams, such as the Caseville webcam or the Port Austin webcam, is a great way to check out the weather and lack conditions.
Michigan Thumb & Lake Huron Webcam-Related Reading
If you’re interested in knowing more about some of these locations, we have some excellent overviews and highlights. Check out Six Fascinating Places to See in Harbor Beach. The largest freshwater harbor in the United States.
Up at the tip of the Thumb near Port Austin is a series of Bart Art projects. You really must see the Home of Emergency Ark where an 1800s barn has been transformed into an ark on the land.
The Thumb region has its share of history. During the lumbering era, shipbuilding took place up and down Saginaw Bay. One of the biggest was Sebewaing Harbor. Our post on Sebewaing History – A Busy Harbor takes you back to when sailing ships dominated the Great Lakes.
Lastly, we tell the story of one Upper Thumb town that refused to die. Huron City was burned down to the ground twice! Once in 1871 and again in 1881. It was rebuilt both times. It has an exciting story, and many buildings can be visited today in this living museum. See The Faded Glory of Huron City
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