Sugar Island
Sugar maples dominate the forest of this 15-mile-long island in the St. Mary's River. They made it a favorite Indian sugaring spot for many hundreds of years. Many Ojibwa lived here in recent times. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians bases its tribal membership on being able to trace ancestry to that Sugar Island band. Cottages and small fishing resorts dominate the island today.Sugar Island and the St. Mary's River are important migration flyways for many migrating birds. The island is considered a birding hot spot for seeing migratory snowy and great gray owls. The Little Traverse Conservancy has acquired four preserves on Sugar Island, mostly shoreline wetlands of significance to many kinds of wildlife - mammals and fish as well as birds. Visit www.landtrust.org and see "nature preserves" for a map and description of these areas. The conservancy states that the habitat of its new preserve on the island's south end is ideal for species including the spruce grouse and black terns (listed as of special concern in Michigan), sedge wren, and long-eared owl. For preserving expanses of natural habitat, it's a plus that the preserve is near large parcels of land owned by the University of Michigan Biological Station, land that was once Governor Chase Osborn's summer home.
For a vacation experience by the woods and water that's close to town, consider investigating Sugar Island resorts, especially if you like to fish or boat. They're open from sometime in May through sometime in October. Resorts are on the east shore, on Lake George, some 6 to 10 miles across. Boats are often included with accommodations. We have arranged the resorts from north to south: Hay Point Hideaway (906-632-6928), Mountain View Resort (906-635-0573), ; also boat rentals, tackle shop), and at the island's southeast tip with a good view of upbound shipping, and Island View Resort 906-632-7976).
Return to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
POINTS OF INTEREST
Soo Brewing Company
Ray Bauer started out as an enthusiastic home brewer, inspired in part by his German background. Now he is the hard-working brewer and chief bartender at this innovative, affordable downtown
microbrewery (soobrew.com) with a family-like atmosphere. There are handmade tables, church pews for seating, and restaurant menus for takeout. Customers can bring in food. (Nearby Zorba's is a good choice.)
The space is perfect for showing off Ray's increasing line of beers—and one root beer. Soo Brew ("a flavorful ale made with two specialty malts and local water for a unique, mellow taste") and GoldiLocks Blonde Ale (a malty beer one step up from commercial brews) sell "as fast as we can make them," Ray says. He thanks fellow Upper Peninsula brewers for helping him get started: Lake Superior Brewing Company in Grand Marais, the Vierling in Marquette, Jasper Ridge in Ishpeming, and the Keweenaw Brewing Company in Houghton.
In summer, 2011, Ray was producing six beers. He hopes to get production up to fill all his ten taps. Some day he wants to make wine as well. Soo Brewing soon had 169 "Mug Club" members. Each pays $50 a year for a 25 oz. Scandinavian-style mug, which is filled for the price of 16 ounces of beer. On the second Monday of the month, members meet from 5 to 7 p.m. to taste the latest brews and vote on a beer for SBC to produce. 64 oz. growlers, purchased for $11, are refilled for $8.
Soo Locks Park & Visitor Center. This is the place to get really close-up views of giant freighters, plus see some interesting exhibits ... more
Soo Locks Boat Tour. This 2-hour excursion provides a dramatic look at the big locks, the quaint Canadian locks, and the Twin Soo's waterfronts. ... more
River of History Museum. Life-size dioramas bring to life scenes from Sault Ste. Marie's long history and prehistory. ... more
Riverfront walk along Water Street and Brady Park. See upbound boats waiting at the locks at beautiful Brady Park, site of the 19th c. fort. See interesting historic monuments from Sault Ste. Marie's aspiring years, including idiosyncratic Chase Osborn, the only U.P. governor. ... more
Bingham Avenue historic buildings. An avenue of grand 19th-century buildings, from a time when locals saw a grander future for the city than actually unfolded ... more
Tower of History. An oustanding view of the area from a 21-story tower. ... more
St. Mary's Pro-cathedral. This 1880s cathedral has a wonderful interior, with richly colored stained glass and striking wall accents ... more
Water Street Historic Block. Three of the earliest and most significant houses in Upper Peninsula history ... more
George Kemp Downtown Marina . A nice picnic area at a beautiful marina ... more
Museum Ship Valley Camp . A 1917 Great Lakes steamship is the vehicle for an interesting maritime museum ... more
St. Mary's River Lighthouse Cruise. A 4-hour journey past landmarks like the lighthouse at the entrance to the St. Marys River ... more
Edison Sault Power Plant & Alford Park. This 1902 quarter-mile-long landmark never attracted the industries it was built to serve, but still generates electricity ... more
Mission Point, Aune Osborn Park & Sugar Island Ferry. It's been called the #1 place anywhere to see Great Lakes freighters in motion ... more
Sugar Island. Once a favorite Chippewa sugaring spot, the island still has many maples and still is a popular stop for migrating birds ... more
New Fort Brady/Lake Superior State University. Begun in 1893 as an Army fort and barracks for 20,000 troops, this overlook now is the site of 3,300-student Lake Superior State University ... more
International Bridge. Connecting the 5,000-mile Trans-Canada Highway with 2,000-mile I-75 to Florida, this 1962 bridge does much more than connect the two Soos ... more
Hunt's Map Guide to the Upper Peninsula
• 13 detailed U.P. maps
• Full color, on sturdy, water-resistant paper
• Folds out to 12”x38”
• Only $6.95
To learn more & buy online, click here
