While the city of Sault Ste Marie, home to about 70,000, features all of the comforts of big city living, the city is surrounded by miles of beautiful untouched nature that allows for great adventures. Whether you’re interested in canoeing and kayaking, hiking, fishing, bird watching, or even just scenic drives, don’t miss out on the opportunity to travel to these picturesque locations both within and surrounding Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.
Parks In Sault Ste Marie
Because of the city’s love of its natural resources, Sault Ste Marie is home to numerous parks and conservation areas that make you forget that you are only moments away from a highway. Bellevue Park and Marina is located downtown and has much to offer, including a playground for children, a pond that boasts a variety of wildlife, an arboretum, and many kilometers of walking or biking paths.
With spectacular falls and a calm man-made lake, the Hiawatha Highlands have been the location of choice for numerous weddings and photographers. More than 60 kilometers of groomed trails also make Hiawatha an excellent choice for any hiker or cyclist who wants to enjoy some peaceful time with nature.
Fort Creek Conservation Area is an 82-hectare nature reserve with six kilometers of trails. It is home to a variety of wildlife, and is an excellent spot for bird watching. Fort Creek is an excellent place for a family to spend a day exploring.
Whitefish Island is a small island located next to the Canadian Locks, and is home to many small animals and birds. With numerous trails and bridges to choose from, a person could easily spend many hours on the tiny island without getting bored. Whitefish is also a popular fishing site, as St Mary’s River is home to a variety of fish.
Beaches Around the Sault
If you visit Sault Ste Marie in the summer, you will never have any problems finding a beach or swimming hole to go cool off. Not only are there hundreds of small beaches that only a few residents know about, the Sault Ste Marie area is home to numerous large public beaches. Point Des Chenes beach is located only a quick drive away from the Sault Ste Marie Airport on Lake Superior, and boasts sandy beaches and private changing rooms.
Batchawana Bay has nearly two kilometres of sandy beach, with picnic areas, restaurants, and hotels a stone’s throw away.
If you’re up for an hour’s drive, though, the 3.5 kilometres of beach at Pancake Bay Provincial Park are well worth it. This park is home not only to a gorgeous beach, but also campsites (with electricity), showers, washrooms, and a laundry area.
Municipalities Surrounding Sault Ste Marie
Though Sault Ste Marie itself is an urban centre, it is surrounded by numerous small towns and townships that are like nature reserves themselves. For example, you can pull over almost anywhere in Goulais River and start exploring the wilderness on either side of the road, and Gros Cap and Prince Township are excellent places to enjoy nature’s beauty from the comfort of your vehicle. St Joseph Island offers beaches, trails, and miles of country roads from which to spot all kinds of wildlife, including deer, moose, black bears, and wild turkeys, to name just a few.
Of course, these sites are only a sampling of all that the Sault and area have to offer – it would take weeks to enjoy it all. But if you enjoy canoeing, kayaking, or fishing, take advantage of the Sault’s location at the heart of the Great Lakes and all of the opportunity that this creates. Or if you prefer hiking, cycling, or bird watching, make use of the hundreds of kilometres of groomed trails that can be found in and around Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. But be sure not to limit yourself – take the time to explore the area and enjoy all of the scenery for yourself.
Sources
http://www.northernontario.com/
http://www.saulttourism.com/tourism/
Like to learn more about tourism in Sault Ste Marie? Read about Historical Tourism in Sault Ste Marie or The Arts in the Sault.
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