Take a Daytrip to some of the most beautiful and relaxing sandy beaches in Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie has some of the best sandy beaches in Ontario. Our beaches are incredible! All around our city you’ll find perfectly beautiful, long sandy beaches with crystal clear water that are perfect for a swim, a play in the sand or just to relax and soak up the sun. Great beaches are just one reason Sault Ste. Marie is the perfect place for a summer vacation.
Check out this list of 6 of the best sandy beaches in Ontario, all just a short drive from Sault Ste. Marie. And check out our Summer in the Soo video too!
No.1 – Pancake Bay Provincial Park and beach
A leisurely 45 minute drive north on the Trans-Canada Highway along the stunning Lake Superior coast is Pancake Bay Provincial Park Beach – one of the best sandy beaches in Ontario.
This beautiful area is known for its more than 3 km of golden sand beach and crystal clear, Caribbean blue water. The Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout hiking trail gives an incredible panoramic view of the lake if you are looking for some exercise before relaxing on the sand.
The Park is one of the area’s most popular camping destinations with excellent and comprehensive facilities.
No.2 – Batchewana Bay Provincial Park and beach
Just south of Pancake Bay lies lies Batchawana Bay Provincial Park, another great Ontario beach on Lake Superior. Batchewana Bay’s sun-soaked, 5 km beach is the perfect place to spend a summer’s day with the family. The water here is shallow, warm and perfect for swimming! Facilities include picnic tables and bathrooms.
Passes for this day-use provincial park can be made online or at the visitor center located on Highway 17.
To complete the day visit Agawa Crafts and the Canadian Carver and eat at the Voyageurs Lodge and Cookhouse
No.3 – Agawa Bay Beach
At the southern end of Lake Superior Provincial Park lies Agawa Bay Beach, a stunning 3km long sandy beach. The water at Agawa Bay can be a little chillier than the more sheltered beaches further south, even at the height of the summer, but this doesn’t impact the natural beauty of shore where stunning hills and cliffs of the Canadian Shield frame the beach on either end.
There are plenty of options for recreational water activities be it paddling, body surfing or swimming. There is also a fantastic visitor centre, featuring stories from Lake Superior and information on local wildlife. Just to north of the Bay is the Agawa Rock Pictographs, one of the most famous Indigenous pictograph sites in Canada.
Agawa Bay is part of Lake Superior Provincial Park, which is one of the largest provincial parks in Ontario. The park boundaries extend north all the way to Wawa, bisected by the Trans Canada Highway. Agawa Bay also has a fully equipped campsite, in case you want to extend your stay. If a daytrip suits you better, then a beautiful 90 minute trip up the Superior coast is a great way to beat the crowds and explore the beauty of Northern Ontario.
No.4 – Harmony Beach
Harmony Beach in Haviland Bay is the first beach you will encounter when travelling north on the Trans Canada Highway along the Superior coast from Sault Ste. Marie. This public beach is a local’s favourite, only a half-hour drive from Sault Ste. Marie and featuring 3.2 km of stunning sand and great swimming.
It’s also close to the Haviland Bay Voyageur Trail with stunning views that look out over the lake. So after your hike, take a swim!
No.5 – Point des Chênes Park and beach
Pointe des Chênes is a family-friendly sandy beach in Sault Ste. Marie city limits. This slice of paradise is only a short drive from downtown. It’s the perfect spot for building sandcastles and swimming. Located on Lake Superior at the mouth of the St. Marys River, this great Ontario beach is also an awesome spot to watch the big Great Lakes ships go by.
No.6 – St. Joseph Island Beaches
Peaceful St. Joseph island lies just to the east of Sault Ste. Marie on Lake Huron’s North Channel, off of the Trans Canada Highway. It’s a must-see for visitors, featuring many great Ontario sand beaches. The communities of Hilton Beach and Richards Landing have marinas for boaters, as well as restaurants and shops making it a perfect day trip. Best of all, the island’s wonderful beaches are uncrowded and pristine.
Hilton Beach is home to Forbes Beach and Community Park. This sandy beach features numerous picnic tables, a buoyed swimming area and a raft that swimmers can jump off. Public washrooms, change rooms and playground equipment make this a pleasant destination for an afternoon getaway. The Hilton Beach boardwalk connects the beach to the picturesque marina.
The community of Richards Landing is located on the west side of St. Joseph Island. Women’s Institute Park has a sandy public beach, safe swimming, playground equipment, picnic pavilions and a tennis court. The area is also home to amazing mountain biking and road cycling. Rentals are available at the Richards Landing Marina for those wishing to explore the numerous groomed trails and natural beauty of the island’s forests.
