Scenic Highlights

Winter’s Flurry

Remarkable snowfall totals make wintertime that much more enjoyable in Chippewa County. Snowmobiling is one of the most popular winter sports, and the county is home to more than 200 state-funded snowmobile trails and more than 400 total area trails that link riders with networks crisscrossing the UP. 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 I hockey team provides indoor entertainment, drawing thousands of fans, while the Soo’s three indoor rinks provide ice for young players.

Springing to Life

Birders anticipate spring’s arrival in Chippewa County. Enthusiasts flock to Whitefish Point’s bird observatory to take in the spring migration, when thousands of species return to their summer homes up North.

Undisturbed woodlands emerge from winter’s slumber to reveal trillium-overed forest floors and morel mushrooms—a delicacy for many. Fishing also begins to pick up, particularly for those angling for fresh whitefish.

The biggest local rite of spring, however, occurs in March, when the Soo Locks reopen to freighter traffic, signaling the start of another season of splendor.

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 a 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 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 Rock on Drummond Island. Other area courses include the Sault Country Club and Tanglewood Marsh in the Sault and Munuscong at Pickford.

Fall Flings

Throughout the county, lush green leaves turn to golden yellows and rusty reds and color tours draw thousands northward. Whether by car, foot or bike, a number of scenic routes guide visitors to consistently awing colors. During color season, check out the Spectacle Lake Overlook on Mission Hill, off the Curly Lewis Highway heading 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 deer and a variety of game.