The Wisconsin Point Light is a lighthouse located near Superior, on Wisconsin Point in Douglas County, Wisconsin. We visited the island sand bar that the Point is one half of, today. The other half is on the Minnesota side. The channel in between takes all the ore from the Iron mines (Mesabi) through to Lake Superior and ports on the Great Lakes. It ships much grain as well from the US Plains and Canada.
The light and attached foghorn building sits within a 10-mile (16 km) long sand bar – stretching between the ports of Duluth and Superior. This sand bar makes the Duluth–Superior Harbor one of the safest harbors in the world. It is "reputedly the longest freshwater sand bar in the world" and is split by this opening near its center, where the lighthouse is located. The Minnesota side of the opening is known as "Minnesota Point" (Park Point) and the Wisconsin side is known as "Wisconsin Point". We actually camped one trip on Park Point, but it is too "busy" for us now.
This morning due to a closed exit on US 2 we missed the route we had chosen to get to the Point. (We left the trailer at 9:30) It is a good birdng area. I stopped twice to inquire the way and both times were given wrong instructions. ??? (Maybe Minnesotans aren't that familiar with what is across the border?) The last route we took to find it, before the correct one, took us up a 'mountain' road where the ski lifts are, and Ruth said..."This does't look like it", as we passed the ski lifts. As we ascended the road (A very poor, winding road ) I saw a truck coming behind me and flagged the driver down. He very carefuly gave me directions and kept repeating how to do it, (Thank you driver) as it is about 25 miles to get there from where we were. We turned around and headed for the Freeway (I-35) and got off on US 53 heading south. That eventually got us to "Moccasin Mike" Road, which was the correct road. That too was a very rough road, but we did get to a closed gate at the end of it. "The Piping Plovers were nesting"... it said. We turned around and on the way out found the eventual road that led to the Point. Whew!
From the Point and on the road, the entire harbor is exposed along with the Lake Superior side. Very few birds were seen as the day was rainy and cold .The temps dropped 15 degrees from the time we left the trailer from 60F to 45 degrees. We ate lunch overlooking the lighthouse, saw some Mergansers and a Loon, scoured the woods for birds (Flicker and Hairy Woodpecker) and headed for home at 2;30 PM. Going to the Point took us 74 miles. Coming home was closer to 25. What is a day without an adventure, Eh?
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| The explanation and history of the "Entry". |
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| The Wisconsin Point Lighthouse. It has a history dating back to the mid 1800's. It was formerly A steel tower, then a house on the tower, and finally this. |
This morning due to a closed exit on US 2 we missed the route we had chosen to get to the Point. (We left the trailer at 9:30) It is a good birdng area. I stopped twice to inquire the way and both times were given wrong instructions. ??? (Maybe Minnesotans aren't that familiar with what is across the border?) The last route we took to find it, before the correct one, took us up a 'mountain' road where the ski lifts are, and Ruth said..."This does't look like it", as we passed the ski lifts. As we ascended the road (A very poor, winding road ) I saw a truck coming behind me and flagged the driver down. He very carefuly gave me directions and kept repeating how to do it, (Thank you driver) as it is about 25 miles to get there from where we were. We turned around and headed for the Freeway (I-35) and got off on US 53 heading south. That eventually got us to "Moccasin Mike" Road, which was the correct road. That too was a very rough road, but we did get to a closed gate at the end of it. "The Piping Plovers were nesting"... it said. We turned around and on the way out found the eventual road that led to the Point. Whew!
From the Point and on the road, the entire harbor is exposed along with the Lake Superior side. Very few birds were seen as the day was rainy and cold .The temps dropped 15 degrees from the time we left the trailer from 60F to 45 degrees. We ate lunch overlooking the lighthouse, saw some Mergansers and a Loon, scoured the woods for birds (Flicker and Hairy Woodpecker) and headed for home at 2;30 PM. Going to the Point took us 74 miles. Coming home was closer to 25. What is a day without an adventure, Eh?
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| The Wisconsin Lighthouse At Superior Point. |
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| A fascinating warning sign at the entrance to the Point. Note the maximum fine if applied. Why the odd figure? The remainder of the day was a bit of shopping, a short stop to the Post Office in Hermantown, where the contract PO is run by the clerk in the gas station /convenience store. When I went in to get stamps, the PO door to the stamps, was open, the window was unattended and there didn't seem to be any concern about theft or other vandalism. That is what call an "Open society". The gal didn't seem to be concerned about it. Tomorrow if the weather clears some, we will head for the Lake Superior "Lakeshore" drive traveling north from Duluth. If the migration is on, that can be a great "trap" to catch the birds. We shall see. It is to be cooler tomorrow so that may not help. See you then.  Marsh Marigolds seen along the ditches by "Moccasin Mike " Rd   A group of Ring Billed gulls resting on Lake Superior shore.  as good as this portion. It was very quet , however. |
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