Ironton Ferry Crossing

The Ironton Ferry

This camera overlooks the landing of the Ironton Ferry, a cable-guided ferry that has carried cars and passengers across the narrow South Arm of Lake Charlevoix for well over a century. Pulling itself along a submerged cable, the little vessel makes a crossing that would otherwise demand a long road detour around the lake.

A Storied Lake Crossing

Once piloted by the famously economical captain Sam Alexander, the ferry earned a place in Ripley's Believe It or Not! for the tiny distance it traveled over a long career. Today it remains a beloved seasonal landmark of northern Michigan's resort country.

Lake Charlevoix & Eveline Township

The South Arm reaches inland from the main body of Lake Charlevoix, its forested banks dotted with cottages and small docks. The crossing links the community of Ironton with Eveline Township, near the resort town of Charlevoix.

What You Will See

Watch the open vehicle deck load and unload, the guiding cable draw taut as the ferry sets off, and boats threading the channel beyond. It is an unhurried window onto a working piece of Great Lakes maritime heritage.