DE TOUR VILLAGE

Region: Les Cheneaux Islands, Drummond Island & the St. Mary's River

Photography Plus

This simple village of 400 overlooks the DeTour Passage. Here the St. Marys River that leads from Lake Superior and Sault Ste. Marie empties into Lake Huron. As a fishing community DeTour goes back to French-Canadian times. It became an important firewood fueling station with the opening of the Soo Locks in 1855. "DeTour" means the turning place. Here voyageurs' canoes and, later, ships turned sharply from the river to head for Mackinac and the Straits. The word, if pronounced correctly in the French way, would have the accent on the second syllable - "de-TOUR." But everybody says "DEE-tour."

The Dr. Shula Giddens roadside park just south of town, the Fogcutter Bar and Grill by the Drummond Island ferry, and the marina and adjacent Fortino's Pizza and Cow Barn Ice Cream are ideal for watching up-close the big freighters that come by every hour or two. From there you can also see the activities of the ferry and the big Drummond Island Dolomite quarry across the passage.

An idyllic 24-mile stretch of M-134 between DeTour and Cedarville passes a series of bays and rocky points to the south, and state forest land to the north. It's a beautiful drive or bike ride, perfect for frequent stops to swim, walk, and enjoy the views and explore the interesting habitats, from dunes and woods to wetlands.

Today tourism and retirees sustain the pleasant, unassuming place. Layoffs in Detroit's auto industry have had an impact. DeTour's chamber of commerce recommends goose- and duck-hunting and touts DeTour as the "best-kept secret of the eastern U.P." and "gateway to the North Channel," that long, protected body of water ending at Georgian Bay that's so popular with boaters.

Return to Les Cheneaux Islands, Drummond Island & the St. Mary's River

PLACES AROUND DE TOUR VILLAGE TO

Eat Sleep Camp