ST. IGNACE, Mich. (Michigan Back Roads) – On the shore of Lake Michigan near the Mackinaw Straits is a natural feature that has been used as a navigational aid for centuries.

McGulpin Rock was noted in travel logs by French explorers as early as 1615. Etienne Brule was believed to be the first European to cross all of the Great Lakes. He recorded that McGulpin Rock had not only been used as a navigation point by Native Americans for hundreds of years, but that it also served as a tool to measure the cyclical changes in depth of the Great Lakes.

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When the Pilgrims set foot on the North American continent at Plymouth Rock, McGulpin Rock had been an important way finding feature for centuries. In fact, McGulpin Rock is much bigger than Plymouth Rock. McGulpin Rock is more than 10 times the size of Plymouth Rock. It’s nine feet tall and weighs in at 54 tons compared to Plymouth Rock st 5 tons.

To visit this historic landmark, make your way to McGulpin Point about 5-10 miles west of Mackinac City. On the point is the McGulpin Point Lighthouse. Walk down the path behind the lighthouse to the shore of Lake Michigan. McGulpin Rock is just a few feet offshore with the Mackinac Bridge in the distance.