U.S. Life-Saving Service Complex
As the ferry approaches the dock, the first buildings that you will notice will be the U.S. Life-Saving Service Complex.
Built in 1854, the Volunteer Rescue Station was the first of these buildings. Over the next forty-some years, additional building were erected to help support life-saving efforts along the Manitou Passage.
Donner’s Point
Named for, not the Donner of cannibalism fame but rather, Nazaros Dona. Nazaros Dona was a French trapper who settled on North Manitou Island sometime after 1844. He is said to be buried on the point that was named for him but is now misspelled.
Between the forest and the beach lies a series of dunes. This area has a very remote feel to it. The dunes are tall enough in places that they completely obscure your view of both the Lake Michigan and forest. Reminders of civilization do linger. Remains of telephone poles can be found standing just inside the first set of dunes. Some of them are almost completely buried in the sand.
Donner’s Point would be your best choice for a landing spot if you were to kayak from the mainland or from South Manitou. It has a gently sloped sandy beach and is seven miles from Pyramid Point on the mainland, and four miles from Gull Point on South Manitou. Only well-prepared and experienced paddlers should attempt either crossing!
Camping here will likely mean setting up camp in the dunes in order to remain more than 300 feet from water as required by the National Park Service. This means your campsite will exposed to the sun with little if any shade. I would recommend this only for the coolest and cloudiest of weather. Should you camp here, your best locations will be between the Cable Box and Donners’s Point.
To the east of the point and before Dimmick’s Point lies and area known as The Big Windfall. This area is a steep dunescape that while beautiful, doesn’t offer much in camping and is very exposed.
Despite not being the ideal camping location, Dona’s Point is indeed beautiful and worth visiting.
Dimmick’s Point
This is a great location to set up a base camp from and explore the southern part of the island. Many ruins are nearby. Within a short distance are the old Bourniques cabin, and the Anderson and Feilen homestead ruins. Further to the west lie the Stormer Place and Anderson Place. It should be noted that it is against park rules to enter any buildings or ruins on the island.
North Manitou Island Light Ruins
If you visit later in the season when Dimmick's Point is open, venture all the way down to the point itself and you'll discover ruins of the lighthouse. These can be challenging to find but your first clue will be a series of telephone poles that supplied power to the lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper's home.
As of September 2017, you could see the sparse remains of the home. Really all that remains are scattered timbers and siding from the home. Nearby, more remains can be found scattered in the dunes. Hardware and household items are buried in the shifting sands. I would assume that each year the visibility of these will vary.
North Manitou Island Cemetery
Located about one quarter mile off the main trail, the cemetery dates back to 1895. It is an interesting location nestled on a gently rolling plot with a fence surrounding it. Please be respectful of the dead and their families. Gravestones are mostly old grave markers along with a few modern gravestones. The most recent burial appears to be in 2011.
Anderson and Feilen Homestead Ruins
As of my last visit in September 2017, only the clearings remain. I could find no visible trace of the buildings.
Bournique’s Place
This homestead is located about a quarter mile south of the cemetery and just north of Dimmick's Point. According to the Leelanau Historical Society, Colonel Alvar Bournique purchased the land in 1903 and began building what became an extensive homestead. See Leelanau Historical Society Museum Facebook page for more details.
Burdick House
On your way to the southern end of the island from the ferry dock, you will likely have hiked past Cottage Row which includes the Burdick House ruins. The before and after photos show a stark contrast on how time has taken its toll.
Swenson’s Barn
Also known as the West Side Barn, this is one of the few remaining buildings besides Bournique's Place and Cottage Row. Located just South of Crescent City, the barn is posthumously named for farmer Swenson who worked the nearby fields, the barn itself was built in the 1920’s.
Stormer Camp
A graveyard of abandoned logging trucks litter the woods along the south side of the trail. Remnants of the old timber industry are scattered in interesting piles and positions that make you wonder exactly how they found their way to their final resting place. Scattered in the ruins are bits and pieces of the old narrow-gauge railroad.
The actual camp is the clearing on the north side of the trail. This was the location of at least three logging camps. The Stormer operation is believed to have ceased operation around 1926. The abandoned trucks are remnants of the Merle Day-Peter Jurica lumber business that operated from 1956 until 1978.
Lake Manitou
A lake on an island in a lake! This is a popular destination for those looking to do some backcountry fishing. Small Mouth Bass are abundant. It’s also a great campsite location as it has scenic views and easy access to water.
Pole Bridge
Just a wooden pole bridge that crosses the outlet from Lake Manitou. The outlet flows north-east to Lake Michigan near the Maleski homesteads.
Paul Maleski Place and John Maleski Place
The Maleski family homestead was established around the mid 1870’s by Adam Maleski. Adam had worked as a woodchopper on the island for several years before taking up permanent residence.
As the family grew, they built additional homes and buildings. The Maleski family made North Manitou Island their home for three generations and were the last property owners to surrender their property to the National Park Service.
Paul Maleski’s homestead is about a quarter of a mile from the trail marker. A large clearing is still visible, although I could find no evidence of any remaining buildings on my last visit. Blackberries however are abundant!
The John Maleski homestead is located near the Lake Michigan shore about three-quarters of a mile from the Paul Maleski clearing. Only a few scattered timbers are visible.
Vessel Point
Located on the North-east shoreline about one mile from the Village Campground. It rumored to be where outlaws would place lanterns at night to lure ships to run aground and loot the cargo. Today it is a peaceful and scenic overlook that makes for a nice campsite or place to rest while hiking to the John Maleski homestead.