Your safety is our number one priority when you arrive in St. Ignace, Michigan. We’re excited to welcome back visitors to experience the many things St. Ignace has to offer. In fact, St. Ignace is the perfect place for a safe and refreshing getaway in Michigan’s upper peninsula. Rest assured that St. Ignace businesses have safely reopened to travelers and we’re all following all the local, state, and federal guidelines.
Here are just a few activities that you can enjoy in St. Ignace while maintaining your social distance with the entire family.
Contact-Free Water Activities
Paddle the Beautiful Waters
Summer in Michigan is short so now is the perfect time to visit the Upper Peninsula’s many great lakes that call it home. If you love the water, St. Ignace is your place. Kayaking and Paddling the shoreline offers spectacular views in nature.
Explore Shipwrecks
Are you more of an underwater adventurer? The Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve is located between the northern top of Lake Michigan and Huron – with many surprises under the surface. Historically, these waters were known to be as dangerous to navigate as some of our oceans! You’ll be amazed by the number of shipwrecks just below the surface that you can view through the crystal clear waters of the Great Lakes. The Straits Scuba Center is the perfect place for you and your family to start exploring the shipwrecks hands-on.
Wide Open Spaces
Go Birding
The rich diversity of habitats that make up St. Ignace’s woodlands create the perfect scene for birding. The infamous North Huron Birding Trail spreading many miles of shoreline going from St. Ignace along the southeastern coast of the Upper Peninsula. The St. Ignace area is recognized as an important migratory stop for over 275 bird species. So, head on over to see species like the LaConte’s Sparrow, Indigo Buntings and a wide variety of others.
Gorgeous Trails
St. Ignace offers thousands of acres of forest and woodlands making it a popular outdoor activity area for visitors in the Upper Peninsula. The Hiawatha National Forest includes various trails including the North Country Trail and the Sand Dunes Trails. What are you waiting for? Head to St. Ignace to hit the miles and miles of trails!
Visitors Guide
Order your St. Ignace Visitors Guide today or view online.
Biking Adventures
A favorite outdoor activity loved by families is biking the several designated bike loops St. Ignace has to offer. Perfect for day trips with trails that run from ten to forty miles. Hiawatha National Forest offers a variety of mountain biking trails. The path parallel to the Whitefish River and the Mountain Bike Trail suggests an exciting adventure of 26 miles through the northern hardwoods forest.
All-Terrain Vehicles
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula offers hundreds of miles of trails with St. Ignace housing many of them. St. Ignace is the kickstart to the adventure of the Upper Peninsula. Create the ideal family day by headed to the trails at Trout Lake that stretch for 27 miles! Craving more of an adventure? TREK the Mighty Mac! This event has recently opened up to ATV’s and offers plenty of adventure and beautiful scenic views from the Mackinac Bridge! Bring your own or head to Voyager Inn to rent some.
Fantastic Fishing Spots
Nothing says family-fun than a good old-fashioned fishing trip. The Straits of Mackinac is known to be a perfect place to catch bigger game fish like salmon or pike. The inland lakes of St. Ignace such as East Moran Bay, Moran River, and Brevoort Lake are perfect spots for the whole family to catch bass, lake trout, perch, and everyone’s favorite – sunfish. Grab your rods and reels and make a weekend of trying to catch your next record-breaking fish.
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Beautiful Beaches
St. Ignace is home to some of the most remarkable beaches of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. In the heart of downtown St. Ignace is Kiwanis Beach. This beach offers a safe and family-friendly beach experience with picnic tables, benches and a small gazebo for those who like to stay out of the sun! You may also want to check out the Local Sand Dune Spot within the Hiawatha National Forest. Its 6 miles of sandy beaches can easily provide a fantastic backdrop for fun with the whole family.
Another must-go to beach is The American Legion Memorial Park. Although this may not be your typical sandy beach – this park offers a rock beach area and a playground. The park also has volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and a walking trail. Making this perfect for family gatherings and outings!
Family-Friendly Animal Parks
If your family loves animals, then St. Ignace has you covered! We’re home to Oswald’s Bear Ranch where you can see as many as 40 bears – sometimes even baby bear cubs. Oswald’s Bear Ranch is an educational facility that is dedicated to teaching all of us about rescued cubs and providing the care that these black bears need. Next on your family’s wildlife adventure is GarLyn Zoo Wildlife Park. This park is a small, family-owned facility that houses animals like reindeer, Siberian tigers and even alligators!
Outdoor Stays
St. Ignace is the ideal place to go camping because it’s the perfect hub for all your day trips across the U.P. On the shores of Lake Huron, Castle Rock Lakefront Campground offers 2,000 feet of sandy beaches and is just 3 minutes from the iconic Castle Rock. The campground also provides shuttles to St. Ignace favorites Mackinac Island Ferry Docks and Kewadin Shores Casino. For more campgrounds that St. Ignace has to offer, make sure to check out our Guide to the Best Campgrounds in St. Ignace.
St. Ignace has much to offer for a safe, family friendly trip! Be sure to wear your masks in public as courtesy to you and other visitors’ health. A friendly reminder to regularly wash your hands and if you’re sick – stay home! Feel free to request a visitor guide, sign-up for our newsletter, and book your stay today!