Join us on a peaceful summer walk through the beautiful trails of Whitefish Island in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
This video captures the natural beauty of this unique island, located right in the heart of the St. Marys...
Join us on a peaceful summer walk through the beautiful trails of Whitefish Island in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
This video captures the natural beauty of this unique island, located right in the heart of the St. Marys River - directly across from the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. The trail system here is easy to walk, well-maintained, and rich with natural and cultural history.
We started our walk at the boardwalk that runs alongside the St. Marys River, offering stunning views of the fast-flowing water. As we followed the trail, we were surrounded by lush greenery, wildflowers, and the peaceful sounds of nature. Interpretive signs along the way provide insight into the Indigenous heritage of the area, especially the Batchewana First Nation, who continue to steward this land.
Whitefish Island is a designated National Historic Site and a fantastic spot for wildlife viewing - from herons and ducks to the occasional bald eagle. It's also a great place to spot fish in the river or sit and take in the view.
Whether you're a local or visiting the Soo, this is an accessible and rewarding place for a quiet hike, photography, or simply reconnecting with nature.
Location: Whitefish Island, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Trail Type: Flat, easy loop with boardwalks and gravel paths
Highlights: River views, Indigenous history, wildlife, birding, peaceful scenery
There are 2 sets of Locks in The Sault -Thomas, check out my other video of the Soo Locks tour boat going through the Canadian Locks. Cool process!
There are 2 sets of Locks in The Sault - on both sides of the river / border:
-> Ontario Side — Sault Ste. Marie Canal / Canadian Recreational Lock
This is on the Canadian (Ontario) side, part of Parks Canada as a National Historic Site.
The original canal and locking system opened in 1895. At that time, it was large and served commercial shipping.
A major crack in the wall forced the commercial lock to close in 1987.
In 1998 a smaller “recreational lock” was built within the old chamber. This is used by pleasure boats, tour boats, smaller craft—not by large freighters.
-> Michigan Side — The Soo Locks (U.S.)
These locks are located on the U.S. side of the St. Marys River, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan - operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Their job is to enable large commercial and shipping vessels to bypass the rapids in the river and move between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes (primarily Lake Huron) despite the ~21 foot (≈ 6.4 m) drop in water level.
There are multiple locks: Poe, MacArthur, Davis, Sabin, etc. Of these, Poe (rebuilt in 1968) is the largest, capable of handling the biggest freighters.
These locks are in continuous operation during shipping season (i.e. not totally year‑round — winter closures for maintenance etc.). More ...