South Haven, MI

---

South Beach offers an easily accessible and good size beach, close parking, select “beach food & retail”, plus direct access to the South Pier and lighthouse. In 2023, channel dredging from the mouth of the channel was deposited on South Beach, significantly expanding it. Here you will notice the section with a different make-up of the sand, with greater shell content, due to the dredging. In the summer, this beach can be relatively “packed’, yet there is room for everyone and the shoreline access stretches southward too. Given the primary beach being adjacent to the pier, the water can be calmer here when there are north/northwestern winds. As always, be sure to obey the water safety flag system…red flags meaning literally to stay out of the water. (More on water safety coming on this website). There are benches available in multiple locations, including the entire boardwalk from downtown, along the channel, and at the beach itself. Many folks simply prefer sitting and walking along the Black River channel itself. Both the South and North Pier tend to be actively used by fishermen…why not try your luck/skill? (If you are from out of state…you can get a fishing e-license at https://www.mdnr-elicense.com/ ). 

 South Beach hosts the South Pierhead Lighthouse. It’s maintained by the Historical Association of South Haven (HASH) with support from the City of South Haven...and thus it’s citizens. It may be open on limited days and hours during the summer…something I encourage all to experience somewhere within the great number of Michigan lighthouses on Sea Michigan.  The original wooden structure was built closer to land in 1872. In 1903, a steel lighthouse was constructed to replace it, using the lantern room that had been shipped from Milwaukee, via Muskegon. I am conjecturing and need to confirm...that this lantern room was intended for Muskegon's light that same year, yet instead Muskegon chose to re-use the lantern room from their older lighthouse. Thus, South Haven has Muskegon's 1903 lantern room perched on it's light.  Truly a “room with two views”!  Ten years later in 1913, the lighthouse was moved over 400 feet further out in Sea Michigan to its present location, to better serve mariners. While walking out on the pier wall, you will observe a block of concrete still there from the 1903 light location. Beyond lights, sound was a common signal, and the lighthouses used a foghorn, then a fog bell, and subsequently a droning fog horn. It is one of the unique aspects of experiencing a shoreline, in hearing the fog horn and also seeing the lights do their duty. The last lighthouse keeper stationed here ended his service in 1940. Automation arrives.  

I walk this beach over 40 weeks/year! It is a good example of a place to fully appreciate in every season and (most) weather variations. Come walk with me! A bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work! ;o) North Beach is the largest single beach expanse in the area. There’s always room on the beach, yet this is limited by parking availability. The immediate parking is sufficient much of the year, yet on high demand days in the summer, many folks will be parking elsewhere and walking/shuttling in. Here too, there are convenient benches for sitting along the sidewalk. A concession stand (and public bathroom) is open during the prime summer season. In my experience…they remain open until close to sundown on many days too. There are normally two temporary walkways constructed during the summer, to assist with strollers, etc. in getting closer to the shoreline. Most beaches no longer have lifeguard towers as was the custom many years ago. (there are none in South Haven). Perhaps this service will be resurrected if beaches were more populated…another discussion for another day.  Given the length of the beach, and being adjacent to the north pier wall, wave action can vary. At times you will see the safe-to-swim green flags further north on the beach, while the beach area near the pier wall may be showing a red flag- no swimming- due to the unique wave action that can be created there. This depends on the wind/wave direction on any given day. Water temperatures can change quickly on Sea Michigan…beyond the time of year, rain activity and wind direction have a significant effect on this at the shoreline. For swimming, Jul-Sep are the best bets, but some of you may prefer additional months in the chilly water temps to really cool down in! You will also see windsurfers (especially here at North Beach) even in the late fall and winter, as that is when strong winds drive great windsurfing waive…and they all are wearing insulated wet suites! Check out this website for water temperature info: https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/South-Haven/seatempThe North Pier Beacon is directly across the channel from the South Pierhead Lighthouse. Painted in green and white, it is an automated beacon used to clearly mark the entrance of the channel for mariners. Here too, fishing is a good excuse to hang out on this pier.  Both piers serve as close-up viewing stations for the boats/ships that are going through the channel…cheap entertainment! ;o)