Come explore Drummond Island!
Dubbed the "Gem of the Huron" for a thousand good reasons, Drummond Island is famous for both its outdoor pursuits and pristine beauty. If you're looking for adventure, explore over 100 miles of ATV and ORV trails, kayak the Heritage Water Trail around the island, or scuba dive to view multiple shipwrecks. Discover the wild side of the island by birdwatching during our migration seasons, hunt for whitetail deer, bear, and small game, or fish for pike, perch, and walleye. If it's relaxation that you seek, immerse yourself in the peace and tranquility by strolling along the beach looking for puddingstones or soak in the natural surroundings right from your deck chair. Boaters often call Drummond Island their home port. Whatever your desire, every season is the perfect reason to experience "island life".
Discover the Uniqueness of Drummond Island
From geologically significant areas and rare species, to shipwrecks and historical events, Drummond Island has many points of interest that you may not discover on your own. ?Study these interesting topics to enhance your vacation experience.
Drummond Island ORV and ATV Trails
What makes Drummond Island the ORV paradise of Michigan? Is it the miles of routes and trails resting beneath the tree canopy? Is it the scenic view of wildlife? The variety of trails and routes suitable for experts and novices alike? The easily accessed food, lodging, entertainment, service, or emergency aid? The clear signage indicating location, destination, and points of interest? Well yes, it is, but all of the items above make it a really good trail system, what makes it great is the ‘secret sauce.’ ?There you have it; that is what sets Drummond Island apart. It’s a riding adventure and the trails are fun. The off road vehicle (ORV) trails on Drummond are some of the most scenic and rugged in Michigan. Drummond’s DNR sponsored trail system is the largest closed loop ORV system in the state. With over 60 miles of ATV trails and 40 miles of ORV routes there’s a lot to explore! ?Also many non-riding outdoor enthusiasts have found the ATV trails great for hiking into the Island’s interior to explore or take photographs. Riding on the ATV and ORV routes is becoming popular in the winter too, but only on state land. Snowmobile trails crossing private property are not legal to ORVs.
Eco-based Adventures
Travel to a destination where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Drummond Island and its surrounding waters offer some the State's more pristine natural environments to explore. Environmentally conscious travelers can experience our fragile Alvars, crystal blue waters, and relatively undisturbed natural areas. These adventures are low-impact on our natural resources so that future generations may experience the same destination relatively untouched by human intervention.
Beaches on Drummond Island
?Big Shoal Bay Beach is considered a Township Park, but does not permit overnight camping. The park has a good sized parking lot, out-door toilet, narrow sandy beach, picnic tables and spectacular vistas out through the islands of the cove. On the beach you will find four enormous flat rocks which are very pitted but a great delight for the children. The floor of the swimming beach is mostly sand with a few round pebbles. The water does not deepen quickly, but be ever attentive to your children in the water.
Parks and Nature Preserves
This 695-acre island became part of the National Wildlife Refuge system in 1983 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services purchased it from The Nature Conservancy. Harbor Island is overseen by the Seney National Wildlife Refuge in Seney, Michigan. ? Harbor Island is today as it was when it was formed so many million years ago. It is a pristine virgin wilderness. It has never been timbered or dredged. Harbor Island is shaped like a giant horseshoe lying on top of another, to form two distinct spaces. False harbor, the one to the west as you approach the main harbor, is popular with sailboats for overnight moorings and with fisherman for pike, smallmouth bass and perch. The main harbor a large shallow inner harbor is over ½ mile wide. Harbor Island is zoologically and botanically rich. Harbor Island is part of the North Huron Birding Trail. Cooper hawks, osprey, northern harriers, common loon and bald eagles are all on the state's species of concern list and can be observed here. Of special interest to the botanist are orchids, gentians and lobelias. Walking the deep green forested hills is like walking the halls of a great natural cathedral. Harbor Island hosts a variety of habitats including a marsh that runs almost fully around the main harbor. On the north side there are sand beaches, on the east side across from Bald Island is a mature stand of white pine and if you head north from there you will come to what the locals call the narrows. In this area you will find an old growth forest of oak. There are at least thirty-one types of trees and shrubs on Harbor Island.
Drummond Island Fishing
All year long, the avid angler can find fantastic fishing on Drummond Island! April 1st brings great anticipation of the smelt run. As the days grow longer and air temperatures rise and the “Ice Out” allows these little silver delicacies to enter our creeks and streams to spawn. This is primarily nighttime fishing and all ages enjoy this annual event. Laughter is commonplace, as somewhere in the glow of a lantern or flashlight a young person excitedly proclaims, “Look, I got some!” On a clear night, you will be awed by the stars that appear to be so close you can almost touch them. If you look to the north, some nights will bring a spectacular display of flickering colors known as the Aurora Borealis, more commonly called the Northern Lights. This is an experience you will not soon forget.
Sailing, Boating, & Water Sports
Drummond Island is ideally situated for water sports, whether cruising, paddling, or day-sailing. It lies amidst smaller islands at a point near where Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior come together. Just 35 miles from the Straits of Mackinac leading to Lake Michigan, the waters of the St. Mary’s river flow from Lake Superior on Drummond’s west side, and the famed North Channel of Lake Huron starts on the north side of the island. In beautiful Potagannissing Bay with its many islands, the yachtsman can enjoy sailing from an anchorage at Harbor Island or a slip at Drummond Island Yacht Haven, returning in the evening after a day spent enjoying the up-close views and unfolding vistas of all the islands in the bay, as well as Canada’s St. Joseph Island to the north.