The Canal, Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site

Today, Parks Canada maintains the lock for recreational use. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal operated as a large shipping lock until a structural failure in 1987 forced its closure. A new lock was constructed inside the historic lock chamber, allowing it to reopen in 1998 as a smaller, modern recreational boat lock.

"South St. Mary’s Island, layered with tons of rock and debris during the construction of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal, has since developed a thin layer of soil where plant life has become re-established. Along the Attikamek trail, keen-eyed observers may still see evidence of that construction through the trees and underbrush.

In the wetlands between South St. Mary’s Island and Whitefish Island, beavers are taking full advantage of the growing trees. The large rodents use their teeth to chew down shrubs and trees, using the materials to dam up streams and create ponds for their lodges. Some of these beaver dams are visible from the Attikamek Trail.

In this recent photo, a Parks Canada staff member is chatting with a visitor while standing on a boardwalk overlooking the wetlands of South St. Mary’s Island. A child in a red dress is looking over the railing into the water and the International Bridge is in the background."