Sault Ste. Marie is a FOUR SEASONS PLAYGROUND
Four Seasons of Reasons to Enjoy the Sault…There’s good reason why Chippewa County is the most visited county in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Actually, there are four: Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. Outdoor recreation sets the Sault apart from other communities.
Tourism is a rapidly growing industry and we welcome millions of visitors annually from all over the world. Sault Ste. Marie is a four-seasons playground. The region is an outdoor enthusiasts dream, offering hiking, canoeing, swimming, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling, boating, mountain biking, kayaking and some of the BEST sport fishing in North America as well as ecotourism experiences.
US and Canadian Recreational Activities
- 15 area Golf Courses
- 76 area Parks, 4 Marinas and 2 Campgrounds
- Museums, Sault Symphany Orchestra, Theater Groups, Cultural Events, Heritage Sites, Movie Theaters, Arenas, Shopping Districts and 2 Casinos
- Sault Seal Recreational Area for skiing, snowboarding and sledding
- Groomed Snowmobile Trails
- Groomed Ski Trails
Summer Splash
Locals will tell you to stroll by the Soo Locks on a warm summer evening or head to the West Pier or Sugar Island Ferry Dock to have a burger and watch the freighters a few yards away. Take the grandchildren to Rotary Park, where they can fish for trout in public areas designated, and free, for kids under 16 (it’s always well-stocked by the Sault Area Sportsmen’s Club).
Enjoying the Soo is simple in summer. With numerous inland lakes, an abundance of streams and rivers and more miles of shoreline than any other Michigan county, Chippewa County is paradise for water lovers.
Summer is also great time to visit the county’s many parks and campgrounds. With 458,000 acres of public recreational land, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking and equestrian riding, as well as wildlife watching.
The most visited attraction in the county is the Soo Locks, located at the northern end of the St. Marys River. At the locks visitor’s center you can learn about the construction and operation of the locks and watch ships from around the world as they pass through. The nearby Soo Locks Boat Tours will even take you on a tour through the locks.
Michigan ranks second nationally in number of golf courses per capita, and Chippewa County is home to world-class courses. Golfers of all abilities are challenged with settings ranging from meadows and forests at The Oaks in Kincheloe, to overlooks of the St. Marys River at Wild Bluff in Brimley, to the ponds, lakes and waterfalls of The Rocks on Drummond Island. Other area courses include the Sault Country Club and Tanglewood Marsh in the Sault and Munuscong at Pickford.
Winter’s Furry
Remarkable snowfall totals make wintertime that much more enjoyable. Snowmobiling is one of the most popular winter sports, and the County is home to more that 200 state-funded, groomed snowmobile trails and more than 400 total area trails that link riders with networks crisscrossing the Upper Peninsula. The community annually hosts the I-500 Snowmobile Race and Snowcross events.
Cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, ice fishing, dog sledding, snowshoeing and hockey keep residents and visitors busy each winter. Lake Superior State University’s Division 1 hockey team provides indoor entertainment, drawing thousands of fans, which the Soo’s three indoor rinks provide ice for young players.
Fall Flings
Throughout the County, lush green leaves turn golden yellows and rusty reds and color tours draw thousands northward. Whether by plane, boat, car, foot or bike, a number of scenic routes guide visitors to consistently awing colors. During the color season, check out the Spectacle Lake Overlook on Mission Hill, off the Curly Lewis Highway head to Paradise; with the blue waters of Lake Superior as a backdrop, it’s a stunner.
September and October also bring peak fishing opportunities for walleye, northern pike, muskie and more, and hunters flock to the UP to pursue bear, deer and a variety of game.