| The Legend Chippewa Indians Legend tells us of the mother bear, Mishe Mokwa, who fled a great forest fire in Wisconsin with her two cubs. Mishe Mokwa reached the Michigan shore and climbed a steep bluff to await her cubs. The cubs, exhausted by their long swim, never reached land. The mother bear waited day after day to no avail. Finally she died. The Great Spirit Manitou marked her resting place with the Sleeping Bear Dunes and raised North and South Manitou Islands from the spot where the cubs perished. The History North and South Manitou Islands were settled while Michigan was still young, with European immigrants and the US Lighthouse Service establishing permanent settlements on the islands in the 1840s. The Islands were an important stopping point for ships on Lake Michigan, providing wood for the early steamers, food, and ice among other things. South Manitou Island also was the only natural harbor for 220 miles along the Michigan shore, and many ships weathered fierce storms there. Natural Features Both islands are a part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with almost their entire area available for hiking, camping and exploration. The 15,000 acres of North Manitou Island are (with the exception of the village area) managed as a wilderness area, and the island is home to numerous species of hawks and eagles. Visiting the Islands Manitou Island Transit provides regular ferry service to both islands for campers and day trips to South Manitou. Please visit our Camping & Island Tours Page for details. |  South Manitou Island Light Island Attractions
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| We invite you to use our Photo Tour to explore possible activities for your North or South Manitou Island visit. The tour is laid out so that you can page forward or back by using the buttons. You may wish to use the North and South Manitou Island maps (linked at the bottom of each page) to understand where specific island attractions are located. Enjoy! |
 North Manitou Island MapSouth Manitou Island MapBrowse More Photos of the Manitou Islands!Manitou Island Transit Camping & Island Tours |