See you at sunset! From Petoskey to Mackinac Island, here are the choicest seats for watching the greatest show on earth. Don’t miss these 5 Petoskey region sunsets this summer in Northern Michigan.Â
This article was first featured in the 2022 MyNorth Vacation Guide. View the guide for free when you explore our digital issue library.
No. 1 | Sunset Park
101 E. Lake St., Petoskey
As its name implies, this bluff above Little Traverse Bay offers a front-row seat to the nightly color show. Located above Bayfront Park. To get there, take the stairway … to heaven.
No 2. | Petoskey State Park
2475 M-119, Petoskey
Spend a day on this state park’s beautiful beach and cap it off by climbing the steps to the top of the dune known as Old Baldy to witness the glorious orb melting into the water.
Photo by Tess Crowley
Related Read: A sunset is the perfect end to a day spent exploring M-119. Fill your day with these stops along the iconic highway.
No. 3 | Sturgeon Bay, Wilderness State Park
903 Wilderness Park Dr., Carp Lake
Hike, paddle and splash your way across this state park’s 10,512 acres with miles of shoreline—but make sure you are set up at Sturgeon Bay Beach on Lake Michigan at sunset. Soft sand and few people make this spot on N. Lake Shore Dr. a stellar amphitheater.
Photo by Shea Haddad
No. 4 | Headlands International Dark Sky Park
15675 Headlands Rd., Mackinaw City
This 550-acre park with its two miles of undeveloped shoreline is devoted to looking at the cosmos. Catching the sunsets here is just the beginning—the park is open 24 hours a day, so stay for an entire night of stargazing.
No. 5 | Sunset Rock
Off Cudhay Circle, Mackinac Island
With its dreamy due-west view of Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge, this spot spells romance. To find it, head to The Inn at Stonecliffe (8593 Cudahy Cir.) and take the trail that heads southwest to the bluff. After a short walk, you’ll come to a set of stone steps that lead up to it.