The rail ferry operation from Northport ran very briefly from 1903 to 1904, and again from 1906 until it ended in 1908. It was operated by the Manistique, Marquette and Northern Railroad.

The Manistique and Lake Superior Railroad (and its predecessor) was the railroad that connected to the ferry dock. The M&LS was acquired by the Ann Arbor Railroad in 1911.

The Ann Arbor started its ferry service to Manistique in 1898 (winter season only), and year around service started in 1902.

The ferry dock was located on the west bank of the river, at the south end of the river. The remains of the dock are near the south end of the triangular parking lot for the Flatiron Brewery at the end of Trader’s Point Drive. There are also condos on the waterfront that end almost where the loading apron was for the ferry dock.

The Ann Arbor Railroad ended car ferry service to Manistique in July 1968. The new US2 bridge was opened in November 1984.