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NatureBeaches, Lakes & Rivers

Close To The U.S.-Canadian Border, Sugar Island, Michigan Is One Of The Most Unique Places You’ll Ever Visit

Sugar Island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula offers a remote and nature-filled vacation spot perfect for disconnecting from technology.

Published Apr 19, 2023

Written by 

Emily Tieman

The Upper Peninsula has many popular tourist attractions that bring in visitors every year such as Tahquamenon Falls, Pictured Rocks, and the Porcupine Mountains. But the Great Lake State still has some remote locations that have preserved natural beauty without the crowds. Sugar Island, Michigan is an underrated vacation spot for nature lovers and is the perfect place to disconnect from technology.

Sugar Island is an island in the Upper Peninsula in the St. Mary River between the United States and the Canadian border.

Map showing a location marked with a red pin near the northern tip of Michigan, close to Lake Huron and Ontario.
Google Maps

The island is 49 square miles and only 683 residents choose to live in this remote location. Overall, Sugar Island is primarily uninhabited and is the perfect place to see wildlife such as moose, swallowtail butterflies, and migratory birds.

Sign for Sugar Island with a wooden figure, fire department notice, and local organization emblem. Lush greenery in background.
Ryan Coe/Google

You can only access the island by a 24-hour ferry from Sault Ste. Marie which is 10 miles from the island. The ferry is equipped to hold vehicles so you can pack your car full for your trip.

A yellow tour boat navigates blue waters near a red cargo ship and tree-lined shore under a clear sky.
Ryan Coe/Google

With its close proximity to the Soo Locks, you will be able to see large freighters pass by the island.

Sugar Island is a nature lover's paradise and is an excellent spot for kayaking, swimming, and fishing. St. Mary’s River has some of the best fishing in the state with salmon, walleye, and northern pike swimming below.

A wooden dock extends over a calm lake at sunset, with a kayak resting nearby and trees silhouetted in the background.
Michigan.org

You can stay on the island at the Sugar Island Resort which has a sandy beach for swimming. There is no cable TV or internet connection so get ready to enjoy uninterrupted sunsets and a peaceful vacation away from technology.

A serene lakeside view featuring two houses, a trailer, and a partially submerged boat near the shore.
Sugar Island Resort

While Sugar Island may not be the first place you think of for a Michigan vacation, it certainly is a unique experience you won’t forget.

Vibrant autumn trees with orange and yellow leaves line a grassy path under a partly cloudy sky.
Vicki Wiley/Google

To book your stay, visit the Sugar Island Resort website. Have you visited this quiet and remote island before? Tell us all about your experience in the comments below. Do you have an underrated place in Michigan that you want to see featured? Submit a nomination form and we might write about it.

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