The Northernmost Spot in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is in Mackinaw City – But Where Exactly?

Oftentimes unique geographic locations will warrant some kind of sign letting you know you've reach a place of significance. Think of the signs that pop up across Michigan for the 45th Parallel - the halfway point between the Equator and North Pole. Or travelling on US 2 there's a sign pointing to the northernmost extent of Lake Michigan. There's a geographic point in Michigan, however, that has no such sign - the northernmost point in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

That point is in Mackinaw City. But it's a very close race between where that point is. One spot is at the foot of the Mackinac Bridge. Because the bridge was built at the narrowest spot in the Straits of Mackinac - about 5 miles across to St Ignace - that spot is potentially the northernmost extremity of the Lower Peninsula.

From a latitude standpoint, that point of land that juts out from the parking lot for Fort Michilimackiac at the end of Nicolet Street is 45 degrees, 47 minutes, 19.1 seconds North. Just to the east, a similar jut of land is 18.4 seconds north, or just shy of 100 feet - a second of latitude equates to about 101 feet.

Here's that spit of land as seen from the Mackinac Bridge:

But look just to the west. There's another point of land that juts into Lake Michigan. That is McGulpin Point. That bit of land meet Lake Michigan at 45 degrees, 47 minutes and 21.8 seconds north latitude or 200 feet further north than the foot of the Mackinac Bridge making it the northernmost point in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

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The point, and a large rock that sits there, are historically significant as it was a wayfaring marker for French explorers and the native population. A lighthouse also sits at this point.

Here's a look at the rock and the northernmost point in the Lower Peninsula: