St. Joseph Island (Ontario)

St. Joseph Island is a large island in the North Channel of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, noted for its rural communities and outdoor recreation opportunities. The island is a long-established local centre for seasonal tourism and cottage country.

Low-density settlements, shoreline parks, marinas and trails used for boating, fishing, hiking and birdwatching. Several small villages provide shops, restaurants and basic services concentrated around sheltered harbours.

The island has been used for centuries by Indigenous peoples and later became the site of European military and trading activity; remains of a late 18th/early 19th-century military post are preserved as a historic site. Settlement and seasonal recreation developed through the 19th and 20th centuries.

Located in the North Channel of Lake Huron near the mouth of the St. Marys River, the island lies off the mainland of northwestern Ontario and is associated with the Sault Ste. Marie region.

• Location in Lake Huron: The island is located in the North Channel of Lake Huron and is closely associated with Sault Ste. Marie as the nearest regional centre.
• Outdoor recreation: Outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and hiking are primary attractions, with multiple small communities providing services for visitors.

What to See #

• Richards Landing: Richards Landing is the island's largest community and commercial centre, serving as a principal harbour and service point for visitors.
• Fort St. Joseph (historic site): Fort St. Joseph is a National Historic Site on the island with archaeological remains and interpretive displays about the site's military history.
• Hilton Beach: Hilton Beach is a smaller lakeside community popular for boating and seasonal recreation along the island's south shore.