Day 1 - St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie and Whitefish Point

Sault Ste Marie

Soo Locks

*Walk the Locks Park Walkway along the water.*

Soo Locks & Observation Deck - FREE

Soo Locks visitor Center is open May 1 - October 31 daily; 10a-7p; located near the entryway into the park

call 906-202-1333 to find out when the next ship will pass through or check: https://saultstemarie.com/things-to-do/finding-freighters/

Fall color update: https://saultstemarie.com/fall-color-update/

Soo Locks Boat Tour (2 hours through the locks) - https://www.originalsoolocktours.com/ - $30/person; 10a, 1p, 3:30p typically; rain or shine, 7 days/week; 2 hours-ish; will cancel for less than 15 passengers; not guaranteed to ride with a freighter; all departures are from dock #1 (1157 East Portage Ave) - **Refunds for unused tickets! 

Tower of History for a bird's eye view

Shopping at The Mole Hole, Island Books & Crafts, The Little Gift Shop, Mocs Du Locke, Ozone of the North (smoke shop), Madam Michelle's Metaphysical Emporium

GF food: Karl's Cuisine, The Wicked Sister, Lockview Restaurant

St. Ignace/Castle Rock

St. Ignace

Museum of Ojibwa Culture and Gift Shop - National Historic Landmark!

Hours

Memorial Weekend to Late June
Mon-Sat 9:30 to 5:30
Sunday 10:00 to 5:00
Late June to Labor Day
Open Daily 9:30 to 8:00
Labor Day to October 31st
Open Daily 10:00 to 5:00

Admission

By Donation

500 N. State St

St. Igance, MI 49781

906-643-9161

Looks very small!

 

 

Castle Rock

I-75: Exit 348; 3 miles North of St. Ignace

N2690 Castle Rock Rd. St. Ignace, MI. 49781 - 906-643-8268

Rises 200' above the surrounding area! 

Photo op with Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox. 

Souvenir Barn!

Open daily, starting at 9a. Family and pet friendly!

Whitefish Point

Paradise, MI

HOTEL CONFIRMED: Paradise Inn & Suites: 8359 N Whitefish Point Rd, Paradise, MI 49768

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum - https://shipwreckmuseum.com/visit/whitefish-point-light/

Whitefish Point Light Station + beach driftwood scenes

Seney National Wildlife Refuge

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/seney/visit-us/activities/auto-tour

Address: 1674 Refuge Entrance Rd, Seney, MI 49883

Temporary Visitor Center/Office: 1986 River RoadSeney,MI 49883-9509

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Marshland Wildlife Drive and Fishing Loop Vehicle Restrictions

The Marshland Wildlife Drive (7 miles) and Fishing Loop (8.5 miles) are one-way, narrow, winding roads. These roads are not appropriate for all vehicles. Size restrictions are:

Marshland Wildlife Drive

Enjoy a drive through the refuge. This seven-mile, one-way, auto tour route is open from May 15 to Oct. 20 from dawn to dusk and takes visitors through wetlands and forests. Three observation decks and numerous pools make this drive a great wildlife watching opportunity. The tour route does not accommodate large recreational vehicles. Common sites on the driving tour include common loons, trumpeter swans, muskrat, beaver, ring-necked ducks, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, osprey and many other species.

Fishing Loop

The Fishing Loop is an optional 3.5-mile add on to the Marshland Wildlife Drive. Although you bypass about 1 mile of the Marshland Wildlife Drive the Fishing Loop offers visitors a more diverse view of the landscape. It is a wonderful place to watch for painted and snapping turtles, beaver, muskrat, sandhill cranes, secretive marsh birds like the American bittern, sora and Virginia rail, sharp-tailed grouse, osprey and numerous other animals. Open May 15 to Sept. 30. In Oct. the loop is closed to pedestrian traffic, as well as vehicles, to allow migrating birds a safe, quiet place to rest and refuel during their fall migration.

Star gazing: Muskallonge Lake State Park

Food