Summertime is the perfect time for a picnic at the beach!
But a visit to Batchawana Bay Provincial Park is more than just a picnic by the sandy shore — this day use park is part of an amazing landscape just north of Sault Ste. Marie!
Here are five reasons you should visit
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1. Lovely and LARGE Lake Superior
Lake Superior isn’t just one of the Great Lakes, it’s the GREATEST lake!
Lake Superior is so big that all the water from the other four Great Lakes can fit into it with some room to spare.
Over 300 kilometres from east to west, Superior is more like an inland sea than a lake.
From Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay, Lake Superior’s north shore is ringed with a fantastic landscape of rugged hills, spectacular valleys and stunning coast.
Along Batchawana Bay these hills are the Algoma Highlands, which are an impressive backdrop to the waters of Superior and the sandy shores here.
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2. A sheltered and serene bay
This bay is a huge inlet along Lake Superior’s Algoma Coast.
Lake Superior is so big it makes its own weather, and its storms can be powerful. Batchawana Bay is sheltered, with a big island in the middle of its entrance. The shores are sandy within the park, and while Lake Superior is cold because of its size and depth, Batchawana Bay is sheltered and much warmer.
The sheltered nature and long shoreline of the bay makes it a great place for paddlers.
Kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding are perfect activities to pursue when you visit.
Exploring the shoreline of the bay or Batchawana Island, a large 2,000 hectare island in the middle of the bay, provide lots of opportunities for exploring. Please remember to always wear your PFD/lifejacket and review our water safety tips!
Parking and proximity of the beach at Batchawana Bay Provincial Park offers easy access for launching canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.
The Algoma Highlands provide a scenic backdrop to the bay itself, and the drive along its eastern and northern shores are a big part of the experience — it’s considered one of the most scenic drives in eastern Canada!
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3. Bask on the beach
Batchawana Bay Provincial Park encompasses a long sand beach, dunes, and a rim of forest along the shores of the bay.
Sheltered from the deep waters of Lake Superior, the park a warmer swim than further west along the shore.
When the bay is calm, the reflections of the clouds floating by make it a little piece of heaven.
Picnic facilities and a Welcome Centre with washrooms, and a Park Store with Lake Superior souvenirs (see reason 4), make it the perfect destination for a day trip.
The newly reorganized entrance and parking make stopping in a breeze for the highway traveler. An interior park road provides access to picnic spots and the beach for those who plan to stay longer.
Whether you go for a swim, build a sandcastle with the kids, paddle along the shore, or just relax and take in the scenery, it’s a great place to unwind and shake off the outside world for a day.
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4. A park worth appreciating
Batchawana Bay Provincial Park is an oasis along the shores of Lake Superior.
With easy access right off Highway 17, the Trans-Canada Highway that wraps around the big lake, Batchawana Bay is a convenient stop for travelers heading east or west.
It’s also a great day trip for visitors to Algoma Country and Sault Ste. Marie!
This convenient access combined with the park’s lovely day use facilities and services (camping is not permitted) make it a must-visit location for visitors and Algoma Country residents alike.
The newly-renovated Welcome Centre, washrooms, and park store, are now must-visits for travelers along Highway 17 — the washrooms are some of the nicest along the Trans-Canada!
We can’t recommend the park store enough — it’s a great place to pick up any forgotten essentials like sunscreen or a beach towel, or to pick out a souvenir to remember your visit.
Take your time perusing the store’s range of clothing, including Ontario Parks branded shirts and hoodies, along with hats, stickers, and other souvenir items. There’s lots of snacks, cold beverages, and ice cream treats, too!
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5. It’s just one piece of incredible Algoma Country
A day trip to Batchawana Bay is about more than hitting the beach or having a picnic.
It includes awe-inspiring Lake Superior and beautiful Batchawana Bay and their amazing landscapes.
It’s about the drive along the coast. Brilliant blue sky and brilliant blue water — a Lake Superior vibe.
It’s also about stopping in at the gift shops, cafés, and restaurants along Batchawana Bay. Picking up some butter tarts and apple fritters or having a fresh whitefish fish and chips lunch.
Getting that Lake Superior coffee mug that will remind you of that scenic coast when you’re back at work.
And if you’re from around Sault Ste. Marie, you probably know all these spots, and visit this amazing area regularly.
However, if you’re just passing through, you need to put Batchawana Bay on your bucket list!
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Planning a visit?
You can guarantee entry by booking your daily vehicle permit up to five days in advance of your arrival.
If you visit a lot of parks for the day, a seasonal permit is a great option to save you some cash! They’re available for purchase online or at the front gate.
Batchawana Bay is open until October 19, 2025.
