St. Joseph Island

Understand

St. Joseph Island has two towns: 1 Richard's Landing and 2 Hilton Beach. Its principal industries are maple syrup production, tourism and small-scale agriculture. It is popular as camp and cottage country for Sault Ste. Marie and Mid-western American families. Many small family farms or hobby farms operate on the island producing corn and other vegetables, beef, lamb, poultry and eggs.

History Little evidence has been found of human activity on St. Joseph Island before the 17th century. By the time the first Europeans arrived in the 1630s, the north channel of Lake Huron was shared by the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples whose Algonkian ancestors had come from the east around 1200. St. Joseph Island became a strategic mid-way point for French explorers, missionaries and fur traders on the long voyage between Quebec and Lake Superior. St. Joseph Island first appeared on European maps in the 1670s. Any French claim to St. Joseph Island ended with the conclusion of the Seven Years' War in 1763. France relinquished virtually all of its interests in North America to the British. By 1783 the Treaty of Paris effectively ended the American Revolution. The border it created between the United States and British North America ran through the middle of Lake Huron. While the treaty very clearly placed Mackinac Island on the American side, it was unclear how St. Joseph and its neighbouring islands that fell in the middle of the St. Marys River were to be apportioned. In 1798, the Ojibwe agreed to sell the island to the British for £1,200 Quebec currency of trade goods, an annual gift exchange and the right to continue to harvest the island and bury their dead there. In time, Fort St. Joseph became an important point for trade and commerce in the region. Settlers, many of whom had lived near the fort at Mackinac, and merchants of the Northwest Company followed the garrison to establish the first permanent European settlement on the island around Fort St. Joseph. Within wee

Getting there

St. Joseph's Island is connected to the mainland via a free bridge. To access the island, turn south from Highway 17 onto Highway 548.

1 St. Joseph Island Airport. A private airstrip about half way between Richards Landing and Hilton Beach consisting of a 732 m (2,402 ft) turf runway. (updated Dec 2018)

Getting around

The primary road system to and on the island is Highway 548, a 75-km (47-mi) secondary highway consisting of two separate segments: the north-south segment, that includes the St. Joseph Island Bernt Gilbertson Bridge, and a continuous loop route that circles the island. The north-south segment connects with Highway 17/Trans Canada Highway in the north and terminates at a T-intersection with the loop segment at Kent's Corners, 5.4 km (3.4 mi) south of Highway 17. The much longer 68-km (42-mi) continuous loop segment circles the island. To assist in navigation and street addressing, segments of the loop have been given suffix letters which generally correspond to the local road name. For example, the portion of Highway 548 which is signed along D Line is named 548D, along Huron Line it is named 548H, etc. The primary road system on the island has crossroads every 1.25 miles (2 km). Many of these are still gravel roads, however, the local municipalities have been paving many of the more frequently used routes.

See

Fall colours (September-October) 1 Adcock's Woodland Gardens. (updated Feb 2023)* Over the Rainbow Doll Museum, @ Rainbow Ridge Farm (2.5km west of Richards Landing), ☏ +1 705 246-2683. May-Oct, call for times. 1000-piece collection, antique to modern. Large groups welcome. $2, children free. 2 St. Joseph Island Museum, RR#2, Richards Landing (after crossing the bridge and reaching the first stop sign, proceed straight onto 20th side road to I Line), ☏ +1 705-246-2672, [email protected]. Open mid-June until early Sep: W-M 9:30AM-4:30PM. Founded in 1963 by the Historical Society, the St. Joseph Island Museum has over 6000 artifacts in six historic buildings, covering over 200 years of island history. The progression of the island is represented in four time periods: native encampments to Fort St. Joseph (1798-1814); pioneer settlements (1835-1890); to a period of almost complete private ownership by 1890; and the depression and war years (1900-1945). 3 AlgomaTrad, 1249 F&G Line, ☏ +1 705 782 4311, [email protected]. Non-profit organization dedicated to teaching & sharing traditional music, dance, and crafts. Puts on an annual concert series as well as a week-long music camp in summer. (updated Dec 2025)

Do

1 Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site of Canada, ☏ +1 705-246-2664. Jun–Sep: W-Su 10AM-5PM. Hike the trails, see the ruins,or watch brief historic film vignettes related to the site. The site is maintained by Parks Canada site. Its theme is the Fur Trade, the War of 1812 and the British military, and the Aboriginal people in the area with whom the British formed alliances. Wildlife viewing: deer, fox, bald eagle, racoon, bear, etc. Adults $4.25, seniors $3.75, under 18 free. (updated Feb 2023) Fort St. Joseph Ghost Walk, Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site. Third Saturday in August. A walk through the candlelit ruins of the old fort. Costumed spirit guides tell you tales of former Fort St. Joseph inhabitants with background music of bagpipes and traditional Indigenous drumming. $10. (updated Dec 2018) Country Road Open House, Various hosts (Map available), ☏ +1 705-246-2683. Self-driving tour to celebrate the harvest, weekend before the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. Various farms and rural entrpreneurs open their doors for two days. Activities could include, hay rides, quilting or sheep shearing demo. Farm produce available and seasonal menus at local establishments. 2 Mountainview Centennial Park, 3670 5th Side Road (next to the Jocelyn Township offices). Park with picnic area, disc golf course, and hiking trail. In winter the trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and a sliding hill is also available. (updated Dec 2025) Public Beaches: The island has several small parks that feature swimming areas. Facilities vary at each, but most have toilets, a playground, and a picnic area; none have lifeguards. Free. 3 Forbes Community Park, Water St at 3rd St, Hilton Beach. (updated Feb 2026) 4 Hilton Township Public Beach, Reid Rd (on Twin Lakes). (updated Feb 2026) 5 Women's Institute Park, Russell St, Richards Landing. (updated Feb 2026) 6 Beech Beach, at the east end of 4th Concession Rd. (updated Feb 2026)

Buy

Richards Landing (pop. 1200, permanent population approx. 400) is the commercial centre of St. Joseph Island with services including a bank, pharmacy, grocer, liquor store, artisan shops and galleries, fuel station, post office, hospital and medical centre. There is a marina, sportsplex and community centre, as well as a historic town hall, restaurants and accommodation, public parks, beaches and a tennis court. 1 Kentvale Home Hardware, 712 K Line Rd, ☏ +1 705-246-2002. Although i