Christmas Beach (Bay Furnace)
Christmas, MI
Christmas Beach sits in front of the Bay Furnace ruins, a stone blast furnace from the 1870s in the Hiawatha National Forest just west of Munising. The beach looks across the bay to Grand Island. Bits of glassy slag from the old furnace still wash up among the pebbles.
A slice of iron-era history with a Grand Island view, though the pebbly beach is more for wandering than lounging.
How we score beachesLook for the colorful slag glass along the waterline; it's leftover from the furnace.
Parking at the Bay Furnace campground and picnic area.
A short walk from the lot to the beach and furnace ruins.
The Forest Service campground here runs in the warm months, and the furnace ruins are open to wander any time. Grand Island looks closest on calm, dry evenings.
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