FUN ON WATER
If you love water, then make St. Ignace Your Home Port. For the boating enthusiasts, we offer adventure for everyone, kayaks to cruisers. If you like life under water, we have a variety of diving sites in the famous Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve. If fishing and swimming are your passion , choose from the Great Lakes or a variety of scenic inland lakes.
Boating
The Straits of Mackinac offer boating enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy sailing, fishing, cruising and paddling, in the waters connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. Bring your own watercraft or choose from locally available boat, canoe or kayak rentals.
There are plenty of marinas, boat launches, docking facilities and warm hospitality along the Straits of Mackinac.St. Ignace harbor offers a 136 slip state-of-the-art marina, capable of accommodating yachts up to 150 feet in length. The marina is conveniently located in downtown St. Ignace, near shopping, restaurants, boat supplies and groceries.
Diving
The Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve spans 148 square miles at the northern tip of Lakes Michigan and Huron, surrounding St. Ignace and Mackinac Island. This area has long held a reputation as one of the most treacherous passages in the Great Lakes, where storms funneling through the Straits intensify wind and wave action. Hidden shoals and shallow reefs have claimed countless vessels over the years, leaving behind a haunting legacy beneath the surface.
Many ships were driven ashore or lost entirely—some wrecks remain undiscovered to this day. The preserve currently includes at least eleven known shipwrecks, ranging from wooden schooners to steel freighters, all protected as part of Michigan’s underwater heritage.
St. Ignace Scuba offers seasonal dive charters to many of these wrecks, providing certified divers with an unforgettable way to explore the Preserve’s underwater history right from downtown St. Ignace.
Fishing
Fishing in the Straits of Mackinac area is nothing short of spectacular. The Straits offer extraordinary opportunities for migratory salmon and steel-head as well as small mouth bass, pike, muskellunge, and other freshwater species. St. Ignace’s location is an obvious advantage for fishing the big waters of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron but visitors are urged to consider fishing the many inland lakes and rivers as well.
The spring fishing season begins in April when the smelt begin to run and dippers arrive with their nets. Trout season begins in late April followed by walleye season which opens begins May 15 each year.
Summer is the ideal season for charter fishing. Brown trout, lake trout, salmon and steel-head are abundant throughout the summer months. July and August are the ultimate king salmon months. Fly fishing is also excellent during the summer and throughout the fall. Anglers seeking a quiet getaway can find solitude on one of the many brook trout streams flowing through the area.
Swimming
Summertime brings limitless opportunities for swimming as the sun warms the big lakes as well as the smaller inland lakes and rivers. St. Ignace boasts a safe, sandy beach in the heart of downtown at Kiwanis Beach. Beach-goers looking for more space to spread out and relax need only take a short drive down US-2 to one of the most spectacular beaches in the world. The ancient dunes of Lake Michigan extend to the water’s edge and the soft, sandy lake bottom and shallow water makes the beach a favourite for families.
Many of the hotels and motels in St. Ignace and the surrounding area have indoor and outdoor pools for visitors who prefer more consistent water temperatures.
Paddling
Paddling is a quiet thrill for the adventurous spirit. With miles of shoreline, island channels, winding creeks, and smooth inland lakes, St. Ignace is a paddler’s paradise. Glide through the bird sanctuary just west of the Mackinac Bridge for stunning views of sky, water, and wildlife, or explore Brevort Lake and the Les Cheneaux Islands for a more remote experience. For rentals, gear, and local guidance, check out Woods & Waters and Mackinac Straits Watersports Rental, both offering everything you need to get out on the water.
