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South Manitou Island

Location: Lake Michigan - NE
Mile Marker: Manitou Passage
Lat / Lon: N 45° 00.975' / W 086° 05.803'
Depth: 14-22 ft.
Description:
The park service has a substantial dock where you are permitted to tie up for 15 minutes to pick up or offload passengers. This dock is a ferry dock; do not block it during ferry arrival and departure times. Park Service regulations require visitors to take their trash back to the mainland, so plan to return with your garbage. No pets are allowed on the island.

4.67

(3)

4.67 out of 5 stars

Holding:

3.33

Good, Sand

Wind Protection:

2.67

Open & exposed E thru SE

Current Flow:

5.00

Wake Protection:

4.33

Open & exposed E thru SE

Scenic Beauty:

5.00

Ease of Shopping:

1.00

Shore Access:

4.33

Pet Friendly:

1.00

Not allowed on shore

Cell Service:

2.50

WiFi:

1.00

Review for South Manitou Island

Reviewed by: Dr D Aussicker, Benediction, on Jul 28, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 6.0'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

1

Wind Protection:

1

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

5

Shore Access:

5

Attempted anchoring two different seasons but unless the wind is blowing from the west (or some variation of W) you will be resetting the anchor overnight.

View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer

Review for South Manitou Island

Reviewed by: Tom Corya on Jun 19, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 47'
Draft: 6.5'

Overall Rating:

4

Holding:

4

Wind Protection:

3

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

5

Scenic Beauty:

5

Ease of Shopping:

1

Shore Access:

5

Pet Friendly:

1

Cell Service:

2

WiFi:

1

Anchoring here is good but a bit tricky. The shoreline goes from 10-12 feet to 35 feet very quickly. To let out ample scope for S or W wind you risk grounding if the wind shifts N or E. We set a second bow anchor on short rode for that scenario. It did not occur and we had SW for 48 hrs. Two other sailboats reset during their stay, may have been dragging but don't know. S wind blew gusts to 30 knots so be advised protection from S and W is adequate but not great. Island itself is gorgeous and well worth a day or two. Very few people.

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Review for South Manitou Island

Reviewed by: Dan Hendon, Arcadia, on Aug 18, 2022
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 45'
Draft: 3.0'

Overall Rating:

5

Holding:

5

Wind Protection:

4

Current Flow:

5

Wake Protection:

3

Scenic Beauty:

5

Shore Access:

3

Cell Service:

3

This one is 5 stars if you like to be away from a busy town/port for a night of two. The view in every direction is beautiful - the wild island, the light house, the start of Sleeping Bear and Pyramid Point across the Manitou passage, and North Manitou Island. Good in any wind with a west component in it and North as well. The water is clean and clear. The trick is getting a spot where the depth is good and you won't swing into shore when the wind shifts. The bay is deep almost all the way to shore. Check your charts, there is a good area of 16' depth about mid way through the C of the bay. There were five boats anchored in this spot the nigh we were there. We got there mid day and got a good spot. Zip around the south end of the island in your dinghy (if you can) and check out the exposed wreck of the Morazon. We did have enough cell phone strength to get on the internet (Verizon) and check the weather. This varied depending on the position of the boat. One of the best 'away from it all' anchorages you'll find.

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