Cool experience that I would recommend to anyone. My family and I took the morning ferry that goes under the Mackinac Bridge and it was totally worth it. Great service beyond as well, they sent a shuttle for pick up and drop off and the staff was very friendly and informative. Highly recommend their service to the island.

Safe and smooth ride to the island! I’d definitely recommend. Pricing not bad, employees very knowledgeable and friendly, and the ride is informative and fun. Would recommend Shepler’s as opposed to other companies. They have 2 different parking locations with a $20 difference. One has a shuttle that will take you right to and from the ferry from the parking lot if you don’t pay $40 to park right at the dock. It’s quite convenient and very inexpensive per day.

Great ferry service to Mackinac Island. Bathrooms at both mainland and island boarding areas were clean. Lockers were readily available on the island side if you wanted to store anything after the crossing (like a jacket!). The 'Mighty Mac' ferry trip was sort of an accident on our part but had I known what the difference was before hand I would have planned to try to go on one of those crossings. The run under the Mackinac bridge over into lake Michigan then back over to the island was a cool view of the bridge that I had never had the opportunity to see before and definitely worth it in my view!

Staff were super nice ! Love the shuttle ride between lots. Line was long and we were still able to get seats st the top of the boat. This is definitely our go to ferry to the island!

I didn't ride any other Ferrys so I can't tell you if Shepler's is the best or not. But they were great at communicating luggage, times and prices. They made the trip painless. The ride was comfortable and quick and well worth it. Great staff. Great communication. On time.

Top notch from beginning to end. Nice new boats, super fast and super smooth. The Captain was so good docking the boat: the docking process was flawless - we touched like a feather against the dock. Every employee was so professional. This ran with Disney Theme Park efficiency. We did the free day-parking away from the dock and took the shuttle to the boat liading queue - no issues.

Smooth and easy ride. Ferries were on time both directions. We had ample space for the whole family. Riding up top was a beautiful way to see the bridge just after sunset and was the perfect way to end a day on the island. Staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Parking was also smooth and easy with their overflow day lots and shuttle service.

This was such an incredible experience! Make sure to bring a warm jacket or sweater for the ride because it does get very windy and cold when in motion! If you go a certain morning times they include a free tour under the Mackinac Bridge!!

Very fun experience. Had a very short wait both to and from the island but Sheplers did a great job and the staff was very friendly. Offer a free shuttle to and from your hotel in Mackinac City to the docks. Our ferry to the island was during the mighty mac time slot so it took you under the bridge. Great views!

Great ferry to take to Mackinac Island if you’re traveling with pets. They offer a short “detour “ to the Mackinac Bridge on the way to the Island. Highly recommended!

Great ferry service to the island! We were disappointed that we weren’t able to do the ‘Mighty Mac’ tour under the bridge or even see the bridge on our trip to the island due to thick fog, but we enjoyed the short journey anyways. Top deck was fun, but we were happy for the enclosed main floor on the way back

Very awesome ferry. We luckily got on the newest. Not sure if it was the fastest, but the biggest fastest boat I've ever transited on. I've spent some time at "30 plus" knots back in the Navy, but almost 40 knots on a these ferry boats was something else. We lucked out and got seats on the top deck. Beautiful sunny calm day to scoot across the water.

A Ferry Service that was a great experience! The upper deck gives a great view of Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge, going to Mackinac Island in just a few minutes. Their Lighthouse cruise, Eastern side was also enjoyable with a narrator on board. Bring a good coat cause the wind can be chilly on the trip if you are on the upper deck. Their porters take good care of your luggage and you can claim them easily on your arrival or they can bring to your hotel with a tip of course…

Easy parking. Quick shuttle service to the ferry. Clean bathrooms. Easy on and off the ferry. The boat made a quick trip under the Mackinac Bridge and then headed out toward the island. The return trip was equally as pleasant and enjoyable.

If I could rate them 10 stars I would! They do allow well behaved dogs on the ferry, which is amazing! We took our dogs on a trip to Mackinac Island and they loved riding on the ferry! We have done the trip that goes under the bridge as well as the one that goes jus to the island. The crew is always very kind to us! Can't wait for our next ride!

We chose the Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry because of the price. They were cheaper that the other ferry serving Mackinac Island and they had convenient easy FREE parking for the day. The ferry was fast and perfectly on-time. As we left Mackinaw City it went under the Mackinaw Bridge for a great view of the Bridge. All the staff for the ferry was extremely friendly and helpful. All in all it was a great choice to save some money getting to Mackinac Island

Just a hair cheaper than Shepler’s, and they handled our loaded bicycles like pros. They took our bikes on and off the ferry both times (no tipping necessary), and our bikes weren’t scratched or dinged at all. That was most important to me and they did just fine. The ride itself was quick - maybe 20-25 minutes? However, their adherence to the posted schedule is iffy due to the amount of people they are trying to move back and forth. I get it, just be patient as you wait, people.

Great way to get to the Island. $19 per adult round trip. Take your bike for extra charge but worth it as rental fees are high on Mackinac Island. Good view of the bridge to the Upper peninsula. Sit on top and enjoy. May need a jacket if cooler weather.

Had a great ride to Mackinac Island. The boat was very clean, and the staff was super friendly from the parking lot all the way to the island.

Totally streamlined process from ticketing to landing. Will be totally using this ferry line in the future and tell all my friends. Love the honesty and great people.

The water was smooth so the ride was nice. They took us under the bridge and the price wasn't bad at all.

Only ferry service that still gives you free overnight parking in select lots. Other ferry lines charge minimum $20/night. That alone is worth it. I came early in the season. Staff was organized and very helpful. No wait times and they answered all my questions/concerns. Would recommend over other ferry lines for the free parking alone.

We purchased our tickets online for an easy departure experience. We opted to wait an additional 30 minutes to experience the under the bridge trip to the island which did not disappoint! The boats were clean, quick to board, and fast! There are plenty of times available so we never felt rushed on the island. I do recommend picking up whatever you may want from the gift shop before you leave because it was closed upon our return.

My friend and I had two excellent crossings today from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island. On the way there the tour under the Mackinac Bridge was really awesome. It was so cool too see the bridge from the water. The return trip was faster and the boat staff were friendly and helpful. (I think our return boat was the LaSalle. Unfortunately, I didn't see the name of our boat to the Island but it was the 11:30 Bridge Tour boat). We also had excellent shuttle bus service to overflow parking, especially after our day on Mackinac Island.

Cool, not bad, can be a lot better but I have fun inside everything 😄 😊 😀 and bare foot day 😀 😄 😊 😉 ☺️ ❤️ and thanks y so much to this beautiful and amazing Cruise Ferry ⛴️ Friend She was amazing on her job and everything she told us was an experience, 💯 recommended good luck and good job 👏 ❤️ 😊 😀

When we bought our tickets we thought we was purchasing tickets for the rooster tail ferry. When we got there, there was a 50/50 chance on getting on that ferry. We did not get to ride it on the way but on the way back we did. That was a very cool experience. The luggage is not taken to a secure location. Literally anyone can grab off of the carts.

The Classic Pass was much cheaper than any of the other options available. The longer ferry ride out to the island and back was relaxing and well worth it for the experience. On our way back from the island on the last ride, we were brought under the bridge which was an amazing surprise! I'll never forget it

We were safely transported from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island and back. That’s about the only good thing I have to say about our experience. The boats are in need of cleaning and some upgrading, same with the facilities. The shuttle waiting area is under what used to be a tent. On the way there, we waited in a long line in direct sun. We understood the wait because it was a busy weekend, but the lack of any shade was frustrating. On the way back, we got in line at 11:30am for an 11:45 ferry. The ferry didn’t arrive to the dock until after 12, and then it took time to load. We were never told that there would be a delay—a little communication would have helped. The cart that our luggage was on wasn’t put on the ferry with us, despite being tagged for that departure. We were told to put our bike trailer/stroller behind the last row of seats. When we got off the ferry, our stroller was no longer there. It had been moved to make room for more bikes, and an employee removed it from the ferry, folded down the front wheel that stabilized it, and had dumped it backward in a puddle. My kids’ bags were in the back of it and were soaked. My kid’s Pete the Cat book was soaked beyond salvage. My kids then got to sit in a soaking wet stroller while we waited for our luggage to come on the next boat. A really disappointing end to our trip.

We were on a visit to the area for a few days. This is a self guided tour to enjoy with several reenactments from staff in costumes, making history come alive. We spent the morning going through many of the buildings and talks, left to meet up with friends for lunch and re-entered later in the day to continue our visit. We did not realize there is so much history in this area of Michigan and the staff was knowledgeable to answer questions about life in this fort. If you enjoy history, this is well worth taking a day to visit. We look forward to a return visit.

Several historic sites are all located on the property at the base of the Mackinaw Bridge. Great views of the lakes & the bridge, lots of history to learn about. The grounds are spacious with lots of trees for shade, benches and picnic tables. The beach area appears to be lined with fill rock, not natural beach stones; not great for swimming or rock hunting. The park is located at the end of Nicolet St & has no entrance or fee; the grounds are open 24/7. The buildings (lighthouse, fort, gift shop, etc) have specific hours & some have entry fees. Street parking & a few small lots are available. The bridge is a sight to behold at night when it's all lit up! Some people find the bridge easier to cross at night because you can't see the water or how high you are.

We arrived at the parking lot shortly after the Fort closed for the day, mostly intent on a different view of the bridge we'd just crossed. Luckily, the lot appears to be open independent of the fort, and doesn't require paying admission or anything like that. Pretty cool little area with a small beach. Obviously an excellent view of Mighty Mac, but also some other amazing historical stuff to see in the area.

Our visit to the fort was great. The interpreters are very knowledgeable. We enjoyed a few of the walking tours available.

One of the best Historical tours...with excellent guides! The guides appear in clothing such as would be worn at the time. They are very informative and able to vividly describe the people who've lived in and around the fort!

Very fun and informative place to learn about how influential Mackinaw and the fort have been! I loved how they were growing the gardens just like they would have hundreds of years ago. Very stroller friendly and can easily occupy 45 minutes up to hours for an older kid or an adult wanting to read the signs. Highly recommend!

This site is an amazing place to visit for history lovers with a great site, amenities and thoroughly knowledgeable staff. The variety of buildings, ongoing reconstruction, museum components, original charred foundations, fort style kids playground, beach location make this a definite stop on any trip.

We really enjoyed exploring the whole Fort! Everyone was super friendly and so knowledgeable! We learned a lot of new things about the 1700's and the fur trade 😊

Amazing I highly recommend the family pass you can see all the stuff and it's one price .The lady that helped me behind the container was great. Lots of Michigan history. Love going to light houses.

The staff was great. In costume, tours. Wonderful experience. We had William and Lawson as our guides. The grounds are immaculate. Fog horn was great. Gift store was great. Make sure you wear shoes with backs or you can't go up the tower.

Very well preserved old Lighthouse. Offers tours going over the different areas of the house, and a trip up the tower (which you must be on a tour to go up). Outside of the house there's a shed that has a video about the lighthouse and it's history, and another small building that has a small shipwreck exhibit. This is one of my favorite locations in Mackinaw and I try to visit it every time I'm up here.

My son and I spend about an hour here. The shipwreck museum is awesome for such a small building. My son loved the large models showing the ships in their current state on the lake floors and what they looked like in there original glory. Some of the recovered artifacts were equally impressive. Climbing the lighthouse stairs to the lantern room was the best part and definitely worth the small admission cost.

This little park at the foot of the mackinaw bridge is really nice. Great views of the bridge. A nice beach for a walk…it’s a little brisk though. Good parking, and easy clean bathrooms. There’s even some nice benches and picnic areas. The lighthouse looks like a good historical stop as well…We open out due to our time schedule, …But next time!

We didn't go inside, as other reviews pointed out that this point was a great pause before crossing the bridge, especially after a 3.5 hour drive from Ludington. But, it is a beautiful and well maintained lighthouse property in the park, which has a very clean public restroom. We wanted to get back on the road, but given more time, I would love to have explored the lighthouse museum. This place deserves a bit more time to explore on your road trip.

The Castle on the Straits is an absolute must-see when visiting Mackinaw with very unique architecture! There’s all sorts of things to learn about, including a really cool Shipwreck Museum, a tour of the 52-foot lighthouse tower, details on the operation of the light/lens, and those who manned the lighthouse. The grounds are on the coast of the Straits and offer great views of Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island. You can buy Fort Michilimackinac and Lighthouse combo tickets, and I highly recommend it.

This is a great stop. You enter through the gift shop where you purchase your tickets. The cost was $9.75 per person, and there is a discount if you have a military ID. The tour starts in the yard with brief information and sounding of the dog horn. You then can go on a swlf-guided tour of the lighthouse and museum. There is a video you can watch that is bet informative. The grounds are nice. You do need a separate ticket that comes with your admission if you want to climb to the top of the lighthouse. It is not handicap accessible to get up there. They do that part at specific times. You exit through the gift shop once again. The park employees are very nice.

Beautiful view to the bridge! My family we went up here to check out the blue ice!

A must see for anyone visiting Mackinac! The tour guide was well versed in not only this lighthouse, but the history of lighthouses in general across the globe! My family enjoyed the view from the top of the lighthouse and even witnessed a rare waterspout out in the straits from the lighthouse itself! The price is very reasonable at around $12 with tax and gives you a nice thirty minute tour along with access to the grounds where the lighthouse was established. There are even some fun things for kids to do inside the lighthouse to help them understand the science behind lighthouses. Parking was very adequate and it was not at all that busy on a weekday. Highly HIGHLY recommended!

There's so much to learn here and the views of the water and bridge are amazing. It's so close to everything and a must see if you are in the area.

Didn't go inside the lighthouse as we didn't feel like paying $10 a person to go in. Outside looking in, it's a neat light house. The views of the Mackinac Bridge were amazing.

Nicely restored retired lighthouse. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Small shipwreck museum and films about the area. Our family enjoyed climbing up the ladder to the top of the tower where the light originally was.

To visit the area and gift shop is free, but entrance to the lighthouse is $3/person. The lighthouse housing is intact and beautiful. There's 40 something steps up to the light. There's an interactive trail down to the lake with awesome views of the bridge.

Loved it. A self guided tour to the top costs $3. Money well spent. Outside there's a short trail to the big rock. It's a nice spot for a picture of the bridge.

The area around the lighthouse is beautiful. We shopped in the gift store attached to the light, very nice selection of books and novelties. Lighthouse passport stamp also available. The trail to the lake was a lot longer than I thought it would be, however it opened into a beautiful view of the straights and the Mackinaw Bridge. Highly recommend a visit to this lighthouse.

What a wonderful Michigan Lighthouse. The Lighthouse and grounds are beautifully kept. Beyond the gift shop is the keepers house museum and the light tower. If you're a Lighthouse enthusiast, you may feel you've been here before. Per the docent, this Lighthouse design was used on seven lighthouses. Tour the museum to the second floor for a sit down presentation, then climb the spiral stairs through the hatch to the light. Crouch down and through a small door out to the balcony. Children must (and should) be accompanied onto the balcony where you can walk completely around the light. Bring your binoculars or use the pair at the top of the light to view around and even see traffic on the Mighty Mac. Fall 2022, $3 per person. On the grounds, and along the foot path to the lakeshore, are several static displays. Be sure to listen to the self-guided tour on your mobile phone, a super cool add to the experience. Be forewarned, the long phonecall will use up battery, so have a way to charge! The walk back up the footpath is long and a bit of an upward climb, not for the poor in health. If you find yourself at the bottom and don't want to (can't) make the uphill walk, somebody in your party (who can) can pick you up just down the shore past the gazebo. Be careful walking the sometimes uneven rocky shore. Check out McGulpin Rock and its tour article while you're on the shore. Support this wonderful Lighthouse with a gift shop purchase, visiting the museum, or making a donation. A must see for those who love lighthouses.

The folks did a great job restoring this site. The historians inside the building were very personable and a wealth of information about the building and its history. Oh and 44 steps to the top was a cute one of a kind fact to learn! Enjoyed my visit - even in the rain! My only tiny criticism was I liked a few items in the gift shop but there was no pricing and I felt bad to interrupt the historian while he was talking to other guests. So I didn’t get them but keep thinking of them so another trip will be looking to get them. Thank you for all your hard work and continued preservation efforts! ⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

An interesting an off the beaten track lighthouse to explore. A trail from this lighthouse takes you down to the water edge. Climb the circular staircase to the top for great views of the area. You can follow a trail to McGulpin Rock which is steeped in history. The McGulpin Rock has been observed since at least 1615 as an aid to navigation for French explorers. Certainly worth a visit and photo.

The lighthouse was great, I forgot the fellas name who was running it, but he was super informative and told us all sorts of fun knowledge. The view was amazing, if you can squeeze through the port hole I recommend checking it out.

Climbed up and out on the outside. The tricky part was getting through the small door. We didn't read all the signs so was a slight surprise. Beautiful view of the bridge.

The whole park is lovely and well kept. The lighthouse is beautiful. The gift shop had a nice variety of souvenirs and a beautiful selection of postcards.

Great history! Cool place to learn about how the lumber was so important to the area. Try the zip line! You'll learn a little more of the area along with getting a thrill. Great for the family. Also, check out the sky deck. You'll see an amazing view to the water!

Beautiful park with tons of fun for all ages! We also purchased the added adventure tour and it was awesome the rock wall was closed still due to covid-19 but the rope bridge and zipline were tons of fun! They also help out younger kids (ages 7 and 9) feel safe and unafraid! They also give an awesome educational demo of how the old mill used to run and they have amazing walking trails with awesome little info signs throughout. Will definitely be making this a part of our yearly trip!

This was a great family experience. We had children 7,9 and 13. Everyone had a great time doing the bridge and zip line. The highlight of the trip was the guides. Very knowledgeable and helpful to engage the kids. The saw mill was the absolute best. It is amazing the level of engineering that they possessed in that time period. A must see for all ages.

My family, including our grandchildren, enjoyed this off-the-beaten-path part of the Mackinac historical sites. The displays in the main building are first rate. The programs are well run and interesting for children. I was fascinated by the mechanism of the re-constructed mill. The demonstration of log cutting was informative. We opted for the "adventure tour," which includes a narrow suspension bridge, a zip line, and a climbing wall. For an extra $11, it was a nice diversion. The hiking trails are beautiful. Be sure to climb the observation tower for some spectacular vistas. This site is an important part of the history of Fort Mackinac. If you include some hiking, you can do it in four to five hours. Oh, and there are a couple of picnic tables in the parking area.

This is a historic park on route 23 - about 5-10 minutes drive SE of Mackinaw City. There are a handful of structures restored from the 1800s. The main focal point is a water powered sawmill that existed there - where one can see the engineering skills of the day. This was the first industrial-like setup of the time. There are scheduled demonstrations run by people who help out at the park to first explain the wood cutting, first the manual effort, then the new way. For our tour, the demonstrator asked for a small child to help - making it interactive in a way. Beyond the tour there are hiking trails - complete through the woods, around, up and down hills and around ponds. For $9 per person additional, there is an adventure tour - great for older kids. Includes ziplining, treetop walking, rock climbing (closed during COVID), and a view from the tower. Be prepared though, we showed up at 3:30 (the adventure tours are on the hour) and the last tour (5:00) was already sold out. Very shaded throughout, well maintained... allow 90 minutes without the adventure tour unless you get ambitious and do hiking trails... Allow 2.5 hours otherwise (either hiking or adventure tour).

Great experience!!! The place is a wealth of knowledge. The experiences are fun & exciting. I'm 72 and went zip lining for the first time here, perfect place to experience it if it's your first time. The entire crew are well versed in their jobs and contribute greatly to the entire experience. I didn't climb the rock wall (my knees said no), but others in my family did. They had a blast.

Great experience for my 13 yr old and 5 yr. They both learned tons of history while having fun. They also went on the zipline and did the rock wall. The zipline is not included in the park admission that's additional $11.

This was a VERY enjoyable place to visit. The plank walk, zip line, and climbing wall were all very fun, and not too intimidating. The trails were also very doable, and just far enough off the main path. The saw mill demo was very cool. All of the historical facts/lessons, as well as nature facts, were all very interesting. Highly recommend.

Was just here last weekend! Did the zip line and sky bridge and even the rock wall! I'm almost 40 and enjoyed it very much! Definitely recommend couples or a family. Anyone of all ages. Staff were helpful. Going down the zip line, you pick what bird you are. The kid ahead of us picked "dead" bird and the staff member just went along with it. Lol. Overall, it was a great historic place to learn about Michigan Mills and have an adventure and be around nature! It isn't pricey either!

It's a great little stop to learn a few things and not break the bank. Can kill a couple hours. One single zip-line, one high bridge, and you can climb a rock wall as much as you want depending on crowd. Saw milling information and historical demonstrations are cool. Staff is friendly and inviting.

This is the fantastic park! 🤩 It's the second time I've been able to see an actual working mill.⚙️💦 The first time was a grist mill, This time is the sawmill🪚. Let me tell you, it's nothing like you would expect! It's mind-boggling🤯 the engineering and workmanship⛏️⚒️ that went into sawing logs. This brings a whole new meaning to the term sawing logs lol.😄 And that's not the only saying you'll learn about. You will also learn about why people say, this is the pits 🫢. Besides the working gristmill there is a museum, a movie, hiking trails, an observation tower to climb up that has a climbing wall on the side of it, and for the ultimate thrill there is a zip line! This is definitely a fun day for the family 🥳 Great history and wonderful hiking trails🥾🚶‍♀️ so bring a bottle of water.💦 I especially enjoyed the thought and care put into the Listen 👂to the Sounds of the Forest 🌲🐦 informative section on the trail.

I brought my two sons and we had a great time checking out this park. They were amazed by the sawmill demonstration, we loved looking at all the frogs and wildlife, and enjoyed the hike up stream. There was a great little exhibit with the furs and tracks of all the local animals. My boys loved it. Be aware that the trails are not very long but the bugs were horrible on the hike. Do the hike but bring bug spray. All the staff were great and very friendly. We will back another time. Thanks for the great experience!

Great place for kids. Staff is very friendly and they teach you a lot. They have all sorts of things to do for kids from watching a old saw mill you water to power a saw, zip lining over the creek, taking hikes, and rock climbing.