Best Summer Activities in Sault Ste. Marie
Located in Northern Ontario on the St. Marys River and gateway to Lake Superior, Sault Ste. Marie is a summer destination for outdoor adventures, family attractions, and scenic road trips.
Things to do in Sault Ste. Marie in summer:
- Outdoor Summer Adventures
(Hiking, paddling, biking, beaches & Lake Superior) - Top Attractions & Tours
(Boat tours, train rides, sightseeing & family attractions) - Events, Culture & Local Experiences
(Festivals, Indigenous experiences, food & local culture)
Outdoor Summer Adventures
Discover Awesome new Mountain Biking Trails
Sault Ste. Marie is the best destination for mountain biking in Ontario. Discover trails for every age, ability or style from jump and flow trails to enduro-style trails carved out of the Canadian Shield.
Hiawatha Highlands, with over 65km of trails, is just a short ride from downtown. Visit in July and take part in the Salty Marie Trails Fest, happening July 24-26.
Visit out Mountain Bike page for more info or check our out post on spending a weekend mountain biking in the city.
Explore our incredible hiking and paddling trails
Enjoy The best 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.
For a family adventure, check out Family Friendly beaches around Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Experience Lake Superior
Lake Superior is wild, rugged and beautiful. It can be angry and violent, it can be calm with glassy water reflecting a perfectly clear blue sky. The sunsets can be some of most beautiful anywhere, and the maple forests that hug the coastline put on a fall colour display of bright reds, oranges and yellows so spectacular you’ll be telling your friends for years.
A drive along the coastline from Sault Ste. Marie will let you experience all of this. Get out of your car, RV or motorbike at any of the many stops along the way. Fill your camera up with countless shots of this beautiful coast. Visit in spring, summer, fall or winter for a different experience each season. Be inspired by the incredible Lake Superior coastal drive from Sault Ste. Marie.
Top Attractions & Tours
Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours
Climb about the Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours Boat a take a beautiful 90 minute cruise up and down the picturesque St Marys River.
Enjoy the downtown sights of both Canadian and US Sault Ste. Marie, then pass through both set of historic locks and underneath the spectacular International bridge. Wave to Lake Superior ‘lakers’ as well as pleasure boat riders on this famous waterway, or just can sit back and relax and take in the many sights of this beautiful boat ride.
Take a bucket-list train ride
The Agawa Canyon Tour Train is one of North America’s iconic train rides. See the boreal forests, rivers, and waterfalls that inspired Canada’s most iconic artists – the Group of Seven. If traveling in latter part of summer, witness some of the most incredible colours as the maple forests create a stunning palette of reds, oranges and yellows.
This year’s tour season will be from Aug. 1 through Oct. 19. More details on pricing and purchasing tickets can be found on the Agawa train website.
Ride the Big Ben Tour Bus!
Discover Sault Ste. Marie in style aboard “Big Ben,” the iconic red double-decker bus! Operating Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this all-day pass lets you explore the city at your own pace. With 11 convenient stops, including the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, Agawa Canyon Train Station, and the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site, there’s something for everyone. 🚌
You’ll Enjoy:
- Engaging audio-visual commentary in English on board.
- A multilingual web app offering walking tours, maps, and GPS guidance in English, French, and Spanish.
- Wheelchair-accessible buses (limited spaces available).
- The freedom to hop on and off at top attractions, including museums, markets, and the waterfront.
Visit the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
The Bushplane Museum, or the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre to give its full name, is one of Sault Ste. Marie’s top attractions. Perfect for kids to learn about bushplanes, women in aviation, forest fire prevention, plus, kids can run around, climb into planes and have fun exploring. For adults, it’s a museum full of beautiful and fascinating aircraft that shows the important history of bushplanes in Ontario.
Check out Entomica while inside the museum; a wonderful Insectarium where you can meet and hold some pretty interesting creatures!
Other cultural attractions include: Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, The Sault Ste. Marie Museum, Art Gallery of Algoma and Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site
Events, Culture & Local Experiences
Summer Events in Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie has so many fun events happening all through the summer. From the three mountain biking races to Rotary Fest and the much-loved Queen Street Cruise. Looking for a show or musical performance? Check out all the events listed at the Sault Community Theatre website.
As well as three biking races, we also have a number of running events happening in June; Run The Great Lakes as well as the Community Strong Festival – a series of races over a weekend in June, including a Boston Marathon qualifier!
Immerse yourself In Indigenous Culture
Traditionally known as Bawating (“the place of the rapids”), Sault Ste. Marie is a place of cultural importance. Follow this long weekend itinerary to experience and learn about Anishinaabe culture in our city.
Thrive Tours offer interpretive eco-tours offering a guided experience of vibrant celebrations of Indigenous life. Metis Tours offer walking and paddling tours that connects historic and community points of interest between the Sault Ste. Marie and and the St. Marys River. Walk Among The Trees specializes in simple, 3 hour walking tours Through an Anishinaabe cultural lens, participants will learn about the natural and cultural history, experience ceremony, storytelling, teachings and cuisine for creating important long-lasting memories
Visit our Indigenous Tourism page for more info.
Relax, Dine and Drink
After a day of adventuring you’ll want to refuel and recharge, and we have some great restaurants serving some fantastic food for any taste. From Syrian Shawarma to spicy Indian, delicious Italian or sizzling steak, the Sault has so many great restaurants.
We also brew our own beer! Northern Superior, Outspoken and the Canal District’s Soo Falls offer craft beers with names including ‘Rabbit’s Foot’, ‘Maglia Rosa’ and ‘Gitche Gumee’. Great beers, great atmosphere equals great times!
Get Inspiration from our new Insider Info Videos!
Frequently asked questions
Summer in Sault Ste. Marie offers something for every type of traveller. Popular activities include exploring hiking and paddling trails, relaxing at nearby beaches, taking a scenic boat tour, visiting local attractions like the Bushplane Museum, experiencing Indigenous tourism, and enjoying seasonal events, dining, and day trips.
Absolutely. Summer is one of the best times to visit Sault Ste. Marie, with warm weather, outdoor adventures, waterfront experiences, cultural attractions, and easy access to Lake Superior. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a longer road trip, there’s plenty to explore.
Outdoor lovers will find plenty to do in summer, from hiking, paddling, and mountain biking to swimming, beach days, fishing, and scenic drives along the Lake Superior coast. The area is ideal for both adventure seekers and travellers looking to slow down and enjoy nature.
Yes! Families can enjoy sightseeing tours, museums, interactive attractions, beaches, and outdoor adventures suitable for a range of ages. Whether you’re travelling with young kids or teens, there are plenty of summer experiences to enjoy together.