Tawas City has anchored Michigan’s Sunrise Coast since it was founded on the north shores of Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron in 1854. The best place to catch that sunrise is on the white sugar sands and dune grasses of Tawas Point State Park. The oft-photographed Tawas Point Lighthouse dates to 1876 and is the last Victorian-era light station still operating on the Great Lakes.
Planning a visit? Stay at Tawas River RV Park.
The 68-mile Lumberman’s Monument Auto Tour kicks off at the lighthouse and explores the Huron National Forest that backs up to Tawas Point. Highlights include the namesake monument dedicated in 1931 to the men who worked the great pine forests of Michigan, the Largo Springs with 220 steps descending through dark hemlocks to the lively waters, and the Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area renowned for its bird and wildlife viewing. Much of the route traces Michigan’s longest river, the Au Sable, known for the country’s toughest canoe race that covers the entire 240 miles.
