Pointes des Chênes

N 46°28.390’ W 084°31.088’

46.47316 -84.51813

A little different than all the other beaches on the list, this one is huge and in the heart of Sault Ste. Marie, close to the airport. Michigan is right there and some huge great lake freighters are always passing in through your view. Last year the Soo kept the park closed for Covid and it was autumn, so it was deserted. I’d pull up to the gate and there would be three or four cars (other people) in the whole park. I got into some of my heavier elixirs of spiritual enlightenment and took myself down a few groovy little rabbit holes. This year it was business as usual, so I just hung out and stuck to just weed when I was driving through the Soo. The miles of beach are laid out with sections divided by gabion (like wire bales of stone) walls that I'd suppose were to stabilise the sands against erosion. They really give you a sense of separation and privacy. Each section has one or two picnic tables and it becomes your own personal piece of beach. Lots of space to enjoy, the area is huge and woven through with paved paths. More picnic tables are strewn through the treed areas above the sand. Trust that if you spend any amount of time there on a hot day, you’ll really appreciate the shade. Parking is free and there are all the amenities on top of a nice clean beach. Incredibly shallow, you can walk out forever (and ever and ever?). You could easily tuck yourself away and do guerrilla camping its so big,

On my map is a closed Trailer Park (directions) and the parking lot outside the gate is legal, but i'd still keep a low profile. security leaves about an hour after the beach closes. You Can also Guerrilla camp just down the road at Marks Bay. One of the things you might notice is the line where the Northern Ontario dark waters (tannins from the deciduous forests create a tea stain colour) mix into the clear waters moving between the Great Lakes. Most days its plainly visible from the shore.

​

Pointe des Chênes Webpage