Wawatam Park to see the Mackinac Bridge (beach + views!) ⚓ Michigan travel blog

Hi there!

 

Wawatam Park is a park that you can see the Mackinac Bridge from Lake Huron!

 

Wawatam Park is a small little park located in Mackinaw City, just before the Mackinac Bridge on the Lower Peninsula side.

If you’re driving up from the south to get to the Upper Peninsula, it can make for a nice stop before make that bridge crossing!

Or, stop here on your way back down as the last stop before you head home!

You’ll get amazing Mackinac Bridge views from Wawatam Park! 

 

 

This is on the Lake Huron side of the Mackinac Bridge.

You can also see the Mackinac Bridge from the Lake Michigan side.

You can enjoy the views of Lake Huron!

 

 

 

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The beach at Wawatam Park

 

There’s a small beach at Wawatam Park, so…

This makes the Wawatam Park beach a Mackinaw City beach that you can get Mackinac Bridge views!

 

 

 

Chief Wawatam

 

Wawatam Park is named after Chief Wawatam.

The Ojibwa people were Native Americans who were said to have lived across parts of the midwest (Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota) and Canada (Ontario). This included parts of Michigan, including the areas surrounding the Straits of Mackinac.

 

According to the Mackinaw City Historical Pathway:

Chief Wawatam, an Ojibway Indian living at the Straits of Mackinac, befriended the British fur trader Alexander Henry as a brother.

During the Indian attack on Fort Michilimackinac in 1973, Wawatam protected his friend and cared for him as a member of his own family.

Chief Wawatam has long been revered for his bravery and fidelity in protecting his English brother Henry.

 

 

Parking near Wawatam Park

There is a small parking lot right at the park, and there’s also free street parking right in front of the park. 

 

 

The park is also near downtown Mackinaw City, about a 5 minute walk, so you can park somewhere around there too.

 

 

The beach park is near a Mackinac Island ferry port

 

Wawatam Park is also right next to the departure spot of Shepler’s Mackinac Island ferry.

 

 

So if you have time before or after your ferry, you can walk over to the park too. 

 

 

Frequent visitors

 

And when I went to Wawatam Park, there were a TON of geese there! But if you don’t bother them, then they won’t bother you!

 

 

And that’s a bit about the Wawatam Park in Mackinaw City!

 

Want more of the Mackinac Bridge?!

• Try camping with Mackinac Bridge views!

 

More ideas for the U.P.

• Things to do on the drive from Munising to Marquette
• Pictured Rocks trail with waterfalls and colorful beach
• Pictured Rocks dune climb
• The bubbling Big Spring
• Hidden gem in the Keweenaw Peninsula

 

Explore Lake Michigan too! (Time listed from Mackinaw City)

• Leelanau Peninsula (lighthouse visit – 3 hours)
• Sleeping Bear Dunes (U.S. national lakeshore visit – 3 hours)
• Muskegon State Park (lighthouse, beach, sand dunes! – 4 hours)

 

HAPPY SEEING THE MACKINAC BRIDGE FROM WAWATAM PARK!