White City Beach is one of the most unique beaches in Michigan’s Keweenaw. An enormous strip of soft white sand stretches along the shore of Lake Superior, creating a perfect summer escape. This area has a unique history — it was once a 1900s-era waterfront resort.
White City Beach
White City is known for its large, sandy beach — it offers plenty of room to spread out, even when the park is busy. The water is extremely clear and shallow, thanks to a large sandbar that extends a long way out from shore. You can also jump off the breakwater and climb back up using the ladders.
When Lake Superior is calm, boat owners often anchor close to shore and walk to the beach. There’s no shade by the water, so many beachgoers bring umbrellas.
White City Park
Just behind the beach, you’ll find a small, grassy park. It’s located right next to the start of the Portage Canal — local teenagers love to jump off the walls and into the water. A few metal ladders make it easy to climb back up.
Facilities include:
- Shaded picnic tables
- Grills
- Trash bins
- Pit toilets
Visiting with kids? There’s also a vintage (somewhat rickety) swing set across the road from the picnic area. Most cars tend to drive pretty slowly in this area, but it’s a good idea to keep an eye on little ones when the beach is busy.
About White City
White City is located at the Lower Entry of the Portage Canal; it’s the counterpart to North Canal Township Park. The first thing you’ll see is the long cement breakwater that leads to the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entry Light. This lighthouse has been guiding ships to safety on the Great Lakes since 1919. (It went up for sale in 2023.)
In the early 1900s, White City was a completely different place — it was home to a bustling resort complete with an amusement park and a dance pavilion. Locals from Houghton and Hancock would hop aboard a steamboat (see a photo here) to spend a day at the beach and an evening of dancing. When they got off the boat, they’d walk up a red sandstone path made with stone from the nearby Jacobsville quarry.
The resort lasted only until 1919, due in part to Prohibition and World War I. Today, all traces have been wiped away, but it’s fun to imagine crowds in 1900s-era bathing costumes and dance music drifting through the trees.
How to Get to White City Beach
White City Beach is located about 28 miles from Hancock — it’s a bit of a drive, so many people pack snacks and stay for the day. The route is paved until the last 0.7 miles; at that point, it turns into a gravel road.
Directions to White City Beach
- From Hancock, drive 10.4 miles east on M-26
- In Lake Linden, turn right on 9th Street, a block before the flashing light
- Drive 8 miles, following 9th Street as it turns into Bootjack Road
- Turn left onto Jacobsville Road/Upper Bootjack Road just after the Dreamland bar and grill
- Drive 8.5 miles, and turn left onto White City Road at the T-intersection
- Drive 0.7 miles to the park
There are plenty of places to park at the park, even on the busiest days of the summer. If all the obvious spots are full, you can pull off onto the shoulder of the road.
Things to Do Nearby
Don’t feel like driving? The other beaches near Hancock, MI, are a bit closer to town. If you like this side of the Keweenaw Peninsula, it’s worth checking out the other beautiful spots up the shore. Schoolcraft Township Park has another lovely white-sand beach; there’s another beach at the gorgeous Schoolcraft Township Rustic Campground. If you’re in the mood for a hike, check out the Lake Linden-Hubbell School Forest.