Mather Beach

This beach is at the outlet of Echo Lake Creek on the island's west shore. Rock shelves dominate the scenic lakeshore here. The beach is reached by a stairway; it's a wonderful place to swim if the water has warmed up. Mather Lodge can be seen across the creek. It was the hunting retreat of William Gwinn Mather, the chief operating officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Iron in Marquette. CCI (now Cliffs Natural Resources) owned the island from 1901 until 1989, decades after his death in 1951. Less than a mile inland down a dirt road, 228-acre Echo Lake, shallow and alkaline, has catch-and-release fishing for smallmouth bass.

Go back up the stairway and walk south perhaps half a mile on West Rim Trail to reach the overlook platform at Waterfall Beach, another pretty pebble beach reached by a stairway.
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GRAND ISLAND
POINTS OF INTEREST

Grand Island East Channel Light. Built in 1868, now a beautiful weathered presence for those taking Pictured Rocks tourboat, light only operated until 1913, replaced by Munising's range lights. ... more

Riptide Ride adventure cruise. Open jet boat takes you all around Grand Island ... more

Williams Landing. The Grand Island ferry lands at the island's original fur-trading hub, recalled by excellent displays. A hike or bike ride of less than two miles to the Murray Bay picnic area and beach passes a historic cottage and cemetery ... more

Trout Bay. An excellent place for kayaking and camping, with a beach, sandstone bluffs, and sea caves—all visible from an overlook platform ... more

North Beach. A memorable spot on the island where a crescent beach, the mouth of a creek, 200-foot cliffs, and the Great Lakes' highest lighthouse ... more

Mather Beach. Scenic rock shelves overlook a nice pebble beach at the outlet of nearby Echo Lake. Walk down perhaps a half mile to reach Waterfall Beach ... more

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