St. Joseph Island

Many colourful stories — some legend, some historical fact — are told about St. Joseph Island. The second-largest freshwater island in the world is in the channel between Lakes Huron and Superior. This 140,000-acre island is east of Sault Ste. Marie via Highways 17 and 548. Named Anipich, the Ojibwe word for “place of the hardwood trees”, the island’s present name was given by Jesuit missionaries in honour of the patron saint of a church they had built.

The “Island”  is a great place to tour by motorcycle, car or bicycle. Whether an avid cyclist, a weekend enthusiast or just for fun and fresh air, the Island offers the perfect mix of rolling hills, canopied side roads, picturesque vistas, low traffic rates an friendly services for distance riding or circular routes.

St. Joseph Island’s famous maple syrup season draws crowds each Spring for pancake breakfasts, production tours, and local shopping. In the Summer, the Lake Huron waterway is a boater’s paradise. There are many fishing opportunities year-round to catch northern pike, trout, bass and salmon. In the fall, the maples on the Island turn brilliant colours ranging from bright red to orange to yellow. Winter bustles carpets of snow on the snowmobile trail system. The location between Ontario and Michigan makes the Island a veritable hub of snowmobile activities.

Since 1972, a toll-free bridge has provided easy access from the mainland to the Island. You’ll find full-service marinas, libraries, and public beaches all nestled within walking distance of the Island’s shops and services. The two communities, Hilton Beach and Richards Landing, offer amenities like great restaurants, campgrounds, motels, and charming shops.