VILLAGE OF DETOUR
The quaint Village of DeTour, about an hour’s drive east of St. Ignace along scenic M-134, is perched on the very edge of the mainland of the eastern Upper Peninsula. Surrounded by water on three sides – the St. Marys River to the north, the DeTour Passage to the east, and Lake Huron to the south, the village is known as the “Gateway to the North Channel,” and is home to the Drummond Island Ferry, which provides transportation for people and vehicles going to Drummond Island, a one-mile ride across the St. Marys River. Downtown DeTour offers restaurants, parks, boat launches, swimming beaches, summer concerts in the park, a farmers market, festivals, freighter watching, and more. The Botanical Gardens along the St. Marys River feature individual memorial garden spaces, walking paths for contemplation, and benches for sitting and watching freighters slip by.
For more information about the DeTour area, visit www.detourvillage.org.
DRUMMOND ISLAND
Across the river from the Village of DeTour is Drummond Island, dubbed the “Gem of the Huron.” Known for its exceptional outdoor recreational offerings and rugged, pristine beauty, the Island features more than 100 miles of ATV and ORV trails, four seasons of fantastic fishing, and the Drummond Island Heritage Water Trail that circumnavigates the island. The trail is 140 miles long and takes several days to complete. The island is also home to a nature preserve and wildlife refuge with hiking paths and a birding trail where you can observe bald eagles, sandhill cranes, blue herons, several species or orchids, and rare ferns.
The Drummond Island Historical Museum offers a glimpse into the lives of the first settlers on the Island – the Indigenous Peoples – followed by the Finns who were farmers, the British, and Yankee settlers. Artifacts include items from the lumbering era, fishing and boating industries, sporting camps, and ferry boats servicing the island. Admission to the museum is free, however, donations are appreciated as they help support the operation of the museum.
There are two golf courses on the island; the challenging 18-hole championship course, The Rock at Drummond Island Resort, with fantastic views from every tee on its 400 acres, and a nine-hole township course built like old style English courses. The Drummond Island Township Course also offers the new sport of Fling Golf.
Fishing on and around Drummond Island is second to none. No matter the season, something is always biting! From the spring runs of smelt into the island’s rivers and streams to summer forays where northern pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, ciscoes, herring, whitefish, lake trout, and Atlantic salmon could be on the menu. When conditions allow, ice shanties pop up on the bays and anglers wet their lines for perch and pike.
Snowmobilers will enjoy the more than 80 miles of groomed snowmobile trails on the island as well as an ice bridge to St. Joseph Island in Ontario, Canada, when the ice is safe enough to cross. There are also 11 miles of groomed cross-country skiing trails and 12 miles of snowshoeing trails. Lodging options on the island range from high-end resorts and fully furnished rental cabins to tent camping.
For more information about Drummond Island, visit www.visitdrummondisland.com, or call (906) 493-5245.
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