soo locks boat tour canada

FAMOUS SOO LOCKS BOAT TOURS

Make your visit to the UP memorable with a trip through the Soo Locks.

Come Aboard Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours. Located 50 miles north of the Mackinac Bridge, come aboard an educational & fun-filled adventure in historic Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

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LOCK TOUR CRUISE

LIGHTHOUSE CRUISE

GROUP TOURS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours provides an educational tour of historic Sault Ste. Marie and an engaging experience of passing through the Soo Locks. Proudly operating since 1959, Famous continues the tradition of highlighting history and attractions for a relaxing and memorable experience for locals and visitors. Our yellow and blue boats, the Nokomis and LeVoyageur , accommodate 150 passengers and feature a full snack bar with beer, wine and hard seltzers.

The Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours team includes loyal and dedicated captains, crew and staff members. Captain Richard Brawley, who serves as President, is the son-in-law of one of the original founders of Famous Soo Locks Cruises, Inc. We are also proud to tell you about John Lowes, our senior Captain, who started his career with us at the age of 18, and celebrates 46 years with us this year. The entire Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours crew is committed to making your experience the highlight of your visit to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan!

515 East Portage Avenue

Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

(906) 632-2512 | Driving Directions  

Original Soo Locks Boat Tours

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Original Soo Locks Boat Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Tours Available Daily

Come join us for an adventure on the water!

Enjoy great views, a beautiful ride and amazing people on this one of a kind experience in the Soo.

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For Group Rates (20+ people) use code GROUP10 at checkout or email  [email protected]

A New View Of The Soo

Discover Sault Ste. Marie from the water

View Frequently Asked Questions

Hop On The Boat at: BeaverTails Waterfront Boardwalk 65 Foster Drive Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Email us at: [email protected]

Call us at: 705-989-4985

Original Soo Locks Boat Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Original Soo Locks Boat Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

2024 Lock Tour Schedule

All departures from dock #1.

June 15 – August 18

10:00 am   11:00 am   1:00 pm

 2:00 pm      3:30 pm     4:30 pm

Labor Day Weekend (August 30 – 31 )

10:00 am      1:00 pm      3:30 pm     5:30 pm

August 19 – October 12

10:00 am   1:00 pm   3:30 pm

Notices & Disclaimers

Rain or shine (7 days a week). Tour is approximately 1 3/4 hours. We may have additional early and late departures for motor coach groups where individual passengers are welcome to sail with the groups. Call for details. 

Most tours include locking through both US and Canadian Locks. Unforeseen circumstances may arise where the tour will lock upbound and downbound only through the US or Canadian Locks. 

Schedule subject to change without notice. Company reserves the right to cancel tour for less than 15 passengers. Company does not guarantee that every tour will ride with a freighter. 

Summer in the Soo

• March 8, 2024

Tour Boat, train, trails and outdoor adventures aplenty. Sault Ste. Marie is the perfect Summer Destination

By Sault Tourism

Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours

Introducing The Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours Boat , which last year officially launched for its first full year and is back in 2024!

The Miss Marie takes passengers on a 90-minute cruise up and down the picturesque St Marys River. Enjoy the downtown sights of both Canadian and US Sault Ste. Marie, then pass through both set of historic locks and underneath the spectacular International bridge. Wave to Lake Superior ‘lakers’ as well as pleasure boat riders on this famous waterway, or just can sit back and relax and take in the many sights of this beautiful boat ride.

Take a bucket-list train ride

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train is one of North America’s iconic train rides. See the boreal forests, rivers, and waterfalls that inspired Canada’s most iconic artists – the Group of Seven. If traveling in latter part of summer, witness some of the most incredible colours as the maple forests create a stunning palette of reds, oranges and yellows. 

This year’s tour season will be from Aug. 1 through Oct. 13. More details on pricing and purchasing tickets can be found on the Agawa train website .

Agawa Train

Discover awesome new mountain biking trails, mountain biking.

Sault Ste. Marie is the best destination for mountain biking in Ontario. Discover trails for every age, ability or style from jump and flow trails to enduro-style trails carved out of the Canadian Shield. Come and see why Sault Ste. Marie is being called Ontario’s new bike town. 

Visit the  Hiawatha Highlands , with over 55km of trails including 12km of newly built world-class trails — just a short ride from downtown. Visit out new Mountain Bike page for more info or check our out post on spending a weekend mountain biking in the city . For mountain biking events, read more here!

Explore our incredible hiking and paddling trails

Enjoy the best sandy beaches in ontario, sandy beaches.

Sault Ste. Marie has some of the best sandy beaches in Ontario. Our beaches are incredible! All around our city you’ll find perfectly beautiful, long sandy beaches with crystal clear water that are perfect for a swim, a play in the sand or just to relax and soak up the sun. Great beaches are just one reason Sault Ste. Marie is the perfect place for a summer vacation.

Click here to check out 6 of the best sandy beaches in Ontario, all just a short drive from Sault Ste. Marie.  

Enjoy so many unique events

Sault Ste. Marie has so many fun events happening all through the summer. From the three mountain biking races to Rotary Fest and the much-loved Queen Street Cruise . Looking for a show or musical performance? Check out all the events listed at the Sault Community Theatre website .

As well as three biking races, we also have a number of running events happening in June; Run The Great Lakes as well as the Community Strong Festival – a series of races over a weekend in June, including a Boston Marathon qualifier!

We also have the Fringe North Festival and an Italian Festival, which are very popular with locals and visitors alike. Stay up to date by visiting our Events page here!

Experience Lake Superior

Lake superior coastal drive.

Lake Superior is wild, rugged and beautiful. It can be angry and violent, it can be calm with glassy water reflecting a perfectly clear blue sky. The sunsets can be some of most beautiful anywhere, and the maple forests that hug the coastline put on a fall colour display of bright reds, oranges and yellows so spectacular you’ll be telling your friends for years.

A drive along the coastline from Sault Ste. Marie will let you experience all of this. Get out of your car, RV or motorbike at any of the many stops along the way. Fill your camera up with countless shots of this beautiful coast. Visit in spring, summer, fall or winter for a different experience each season. Be inspired by the incredible Lake Superior coastal drive from Sault Ste. Marie.

Visit The Bushplane Museum

The Bushplane Museum , or the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre to give its full name, is one of Sault Ste. Marie’s top attractions. Perfect for kids to learn about bushplanes, women in aviation, forest fire prevention, plus, kids can run around, climb into planes and have fun exploring. For adults, it’s a museum full of beautiful and fascinating aircraft that shows the important history of bushplanes in Ontario. 

Check out  Entomica while inside the museum; a wonderful Insectarium where you can meet and hold some pretty interesting creatures!

Other cultural attractions include: Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site , The Sault Ste. Marie Museum , Art Gallery of Algoma and Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site

Bushplane Museum

Immerse yourself in indigenous culture, indigenous tourism.

Traditionally known as  Bawating (“the place of the rapids”), Sault Ste. Marie is a place of cultural importance. Follow this long weekend itinerary to experience and learn about Anishinaabe culture in our city. 

Thrive Tours offer interpretive eco-tours offering a guided experience of vibrant celebrations of Indigenous life. Metis Tours offer walking and paddling tours that connects historic and community points of interest between the Sault Ste. Marie and and the St. Marys River. Walk Among The Trees specializes in simple, 3 hour walking tours Through an Anishinaabe cultural lens, participants will learn about the natural and cultural history, experience ceremony, storytelling, teachings and cuisine for creating important long-lasting memories

Visit our Indigenous Tourism page for more info. 

Relax, Dine and Drink

After a day of adventuring you’ll want to refuel and recharge, and we have some great restaurants serving some fantastic food for any taste. From Syrian Shawarma to spicy Indian, delicious Italian or sizzling steak, the Sault has so many great restaurants . 

We also brew our own beer ! Northern Superior and Outspoken offer craft beers with names including ‘Rabbit’s Foot’, ‘Maglia Rosa’ and ‘Gitche Gumee’. Great beers, great atmosphere equals great times. 

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Sault Ste. Marie Tour 1 – 2 Hours

The City of Sault Ste. Marie’s first European visitor wasn’t nearly as well received as your group will be when you tour the second-oldest city in the United States. What happened to Etienne Brulee, and why did he meet his end in such a horrible fashion?

His story is but one of the fascinating tales on the city tour of “The Soo” as it is known to the locals. You’ll visit the spot where the voyageurs portaged their trade canoes around the rapids, and see the place that today’s fishermen still catch “the big ones” as they attempt to jump the rocky ladder from the St. Marys river into the waters of Lake Superior.

The Soo Locks are the centerpiece of any visit to this border community. With a combined population of nearly 100,000 residents, the “Twin Saults” comprise the Ontario and Michigan cities that guard the locks and its equally important border crossing between the United States and Canada. Your guide can expedite your Soo Locks Boat Tour*   through the locks, assisting your passengers and answering questions throughout the tour. This trip is also available as a dinner cruise. The boat trip lasts approximately two hours.

Another option is to view the locks without the boat trip, instead stopping at the Locks Information and Visitors Center, which has clean restrooms and a 20-minute video about construction of the locks. The Center has an update board, which lists vessels that are upbound or downbound through the locks, as well as video monitors to see the giant ships from beyond the entrance to the lock channels. Your guide will take you to a covered viewing platform to watch the freighters as they pass through the locks. This creates a 60-90 minute visit.

Optional visits are available to the Museum Ship Valley Camp* , a 1920s era freighter now dry-docked for on-board tours; the Tower of History and River of History Museum*, which provides a panoramic view of the area plus Native American artifacts and exhibits; and the Kewadin Casino and Convention Center, the North’s largest gaming and entertainment complex.

Separate entrance or admission price for these attractions*.

Contact Us Today for Tour Pricing & Availability!

Mackinaw's ORIGINAL Step-On Tour Guide — serving motorcoach groups since 1992

© 2024 Straits Area Step-On Guide Service  |  Mackinaw City, MI  |  Website Design: MCG

• Spring Fever
• Warm Weather
• Bike Routes in Sault Ste. Marie
• Fishing and Charters
• Motorcycle Routes of the EUP
• Fall Color Tours
• Best Kept Winter Secrets in Sault Ste. Marie
• Winter Activities
• Winter Trails
• Snowmobiling in the EUP
• Snowmobile Trail Report
• Photography
• Hiking Trails
• BARmuda Triangle
• Bird’s Eye Adventures
• Day Trips from the Soo
• Entertainment
• Finding Freighters
• Golfing in the Soo Area
• Hunting in the Sault Area
• Local Dining
• Business Listing Submission
• Downtown Sault Ste. Marie
• Museum Ship Valley Camp
• Tower of History
• Point Iroquois Lighthouse
• Soo Locks Boat Tours
• 1,000 Foot Freighters
• Cloverland Electric Co-op Hydroelectric Plant
• History and Culture
• Tahquamenon Falls
• Kewadin Casino
• Voyageur Island
• George Kemp Marina
• More Attractions
• Calendar of Events
• Event Submission
• Event Newsletter Signup
• Soo Locks Engineers Day
• 14th Annual Michigan Paranormal Convention August 22-24, 2024
• International Bridge Walk
• 40th Powwow and Summer Gathering
• 55th Annual I-500 Snowmobile Race
• Sault Ste. Marie Riverfest
• I-500 Grant Update
• Business and Services
• Government, Schools, and Organizations
• New View of the Soo VR 360 Video’s
• Flying into Sault Ste. Marie
• How to Get Here!
• Our Local History
• Historical Downtown Buildings
• International Bridge
• Area Tourism Contacts
• Lake Superior State University
• Downtown Sault Sainte Marie
• Hotels and Motels

THE SOO LOCKS VISITORS CENTER IS OPEN

The Visitors Center is open daily 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. until the end of October. The Soo Locks Park and Observation Deck are open daily 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. in June, July and August; 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. in May, September and October; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. all other months of the year.

A WONDER OF ENGINEERING & HUMAN INGENUITY

Affectionately called the “Linchpin of the Great Lakes” by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Soo Locks are a remarkable feat of engineering and human ingenuity that connect Lakes Superior and Huron. The locks operate by raising and lowering boats between the levels of Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes using a series of gates and chambers. Water and boats are moved solely by the force of gravity. The Soo Locks date back to the mid-1800s and are a popular tourist destination, attracting an estimated 500,000 visitors annually.

The Soo Locks, located on the St. Marys River, allow freighters to navigate between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and international markets. This essential transportation link moves nearly 86 million tons of cargo annually, including 95% of the United States’ iron ore.

Most ships utilize the Poe Lock, which was rebuilt in 1968 to accommodate larger and more modern ships. The MacArthur Lock, which is closest to Sault Ste. Marie, is also still in operation and was named after General Douglas MacArthur. The Davis and Sabin Locks were built in 1914 and 1919 respectively, but currently, only the Poe and MacArthur Locks are operational. However, construction of a new Soo Lock is currently underway, which will be the same size as the Poe Lock.

Construction of a new Soo Lock began in 2019, and it is expected to take up to 10 years to complete. The project as of 2023 now costs $3.22 billion, more than three times its initial price tag, due to labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and material cost increases over the past four years. The new lock will be built adjacent to the Poe Lock and will be the same size, allowing for more efficient traffic flow and reducing delays. The project is seen as critical to the U.S. economy and national security, as the Great Lakes shipping industry is a vital part of the country’s transportation infrastructure. The new Soo Lock will ensure continued reliable and safe navigation of goods and materials through the Great Lakes, helping to support economic growth and maintain the region’s competitiveness in global markets.

CHECK OUT OUR 360° VIDEO BELOW

SEE THE SHIPS & EXPLORE THE PARK

Visitors to the Soo Locks can take in the sights and sounds of mammoth lake freighters and distinctive vessels, such as tall ships, sailboats, cruise ships, and military crafts locking into Lake Superior or Huron. The observation platform located in the Soo Locks Park provides a fantastic vantage point to watch the locking process. The park also boasts a lit fountain, manicured gardens, a beautiful Japanese archway, and trees representing those found throughout the Upper Peninsula.

The Soo Locks Visitor Center is located near the entryway into the park. The center offers a wealth of information about the history of the Soo Locks and the Great Lakes region as a whole. Numerous displays and interactive exhibits provide educational opportunities for all ages.

The historic 1899 US Weather Bureau Building is located to the left of the park’s main entrance and now houses the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. It offers a public exhibit, museum store sales area, and access to the Shipwreck Society’s noted Great Lakes Images and Papers Collection.

• The Soo Locks are 100% gravity-fed and require no pumps.
• To lift or lower a boat, the Poe Lock alone requires an astonishing 22 million gallons of water.
• During repairs, the locks are closed from January 15 to March 25 each year.
• The bedrock beneath the locks is 1,000 feet thick and is made from reddish sandstone.
• It would take 584 train cars to move 70,000 tons of cargo or one 1,000ft freighter.
• The Paul R. Tregurtha is the largest freighter that uses the Poe Lock. It measures in at 1,013.5′ feet long and 105′ wide.

THE FIRST LOCKS

The history of the Soo Locks dates back to the region’s earliest days when the Ojibway Indians portaged their canoes around the “Bawating” (rapids) to reach Lake Superior from the St. Marys River. The Ojibway were originally hunter-gatherers and traders, and they traveled extensively throughout the region by canoe. The area around the Soo Locks was an important gathering place and trading center for the Ojibway for many years. The Ojibway also used the rapids of the St. Marys River, which the Soo Locks were built to bypass, as an important fishing area.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE SOO LOCKS

As trade increased and larger boats became prevalent in the Northwest Territory, the process of unloading and hauling cargo around the rapids in wagons became necessary. In 1797, the Northwest Fur Company constructed a 38-foot navigation lock on the Canadian side of the river for small boats. This lock remained in use until the War of 1812, when it was destroyed. Subsequently, freighters and boats had to be portaged around the rapids once again.

In 1852, Congress passed an act granting 750,000 acres of public land to the State of Michigan as compensation to the company that would build a lock permitting waterborne commerce between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes. In 1853, the Fairbanks Scale Company, with extensive mining interests in the Upper Peninsula, undertook this challenging construction project.

The first chamber to be built was the State Lock, completed in 1855. This lock tamed the 21-foot difference in water levels between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes and made easy transport between the two possible.

The Federal Government took control of the property and the lock system in the 1870s. Boats that passed through the State Lock were required to pay a toll of four cents per ton until 1877, when the toll was reduced to three cents.

Within a few years, commerce through the canal had grown to national importance and the need for new locks became clear. The funds required exceeded the state’s capabilities, and in 1881, the locks were transferred to the United States government and were placed under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps has operated the locks toll-free since that time.

The Weitzel Lock opened in 1881, and the original Poe Lock, named after Orlando Poe, was completed in 1896. The Davis and Sabin Locks were built in 1914 and 1919, respectively. The MacArthur Lock, named after General Douglas MacArthur, was constructed in 1943, and the Poe Lock was rebuilt in 1968 to accommodate larger and more modern ships such as the 13 1,000 footers of the Great Lakes.

   MORE INFORMATION

Call (906) 202-1333 to find out when the next ship will pass through or check out our handy guide .

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• All Tickets
• All Cruises
• Classic Lock Tour
• Lighthouse Cruise
• Fireworks Tour
• Sip & Sail Cruise

If you have any unanswered questions please see below.

Home > FAQs

Can I travel with my firearm or pocket knife?

Short answer: NO. Famous Soo Locks Tour Boats travel within Canadian waters and sometimes traverse through the Canadian lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada as a part of our regular tour circuit. Canadian laws pertaining to firearms, and knives with 3-inch blades (or longer) prohibit anyone from outside Canada to carry into country such items on their person regardless of training, permit, government authorization etc. All guests personally possessing any of the aforementioned items are respectfully asked to leave said item behind in their personal vehicle until returning from your tour or see Famous management to make alternate arrangements while leaving the item behind. 

When are you open?

We are open daily from May 10 through October 15, 2024

Do the tour boats go through the Soo Locks?

Yes! We welcome you aboard so you can experience both the up bound and down bound lockage between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. Both the Famous Lock Tour and Lighthouse Tour pass through the Soo Locks.

What is the price of the tickets?

Adult Ticket (18+) $33 Youth Ticket (age 5-17) $13

Save $3.00 on each adult and youth lock tour ticket by booking online.

Lighthouse Cruise (Adult & Youth age 4 and above) $65 Fireworks Cruise (Adult 18+) $18 (Youth, age 5-16) $15 (Children 4 and under – Free)

Book online for a discount

Are reservations required?

No, you do not need to make an advanced reservation for the lock tour. However some cruises do sell out. Purchasing tickets online in advance is highly recommended. Reservations are required for our Lighthouse Cruise.

How long is the cruise?

Our lock tour runs approximately 90 minutes. However, at times there may be slight delays for locking due to freighter traffic. Our Lighthouse Cruise runs approximately 4 1/2 hours.

Do I need a passport if we go through the Canadian Lock?

No – a passport is not needed to pass through their locks, or to travel into Canadian waters.

Is free parking available?

Yes! Free day parking is available for customers. Our large lot will accommodate all cars, RVs and motor coaches.

Do you offer dog kennels?

Yes! We are happy to offer free individual dog kennels for our customers. Please ask for your kennel lock at the ticket office when you arrive for your tour.

Is the boat handicap accessible?

Yes! Our boats are handicap accessible on our fully enclosed lower deck. All passengers board with a ramp to the lower deck.

Are there restrooms on the boat?

Yes! Indeed, we have restrooms on board.

Are food and beverages available on board?

Yes! We are pleased to feature a snack bar complete with soda, beer, wine, and hard seltzer.

What is your refund policy?

A purchased ticket will be eligible for a refund or an exchange up to 24 hours before the scheduled cruise departure time. If Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours cancels a cruise, you will be provided with a full refund. All exchanges are dependent on availability. No refunds or exchanges will be granted after the time of your scheduled cruise. To exchange or refund your ticket for another time please call  906-632-2512.

Is the tour narrated?

Yes! Our tours feature live narration. Our knowledgeable narrators will share the many interesting sights and history of the area as you cruise the beautiful St. Marys River and up bound and down bound lockage through the Soo Locks.

Purchase Tickets Today!

Call us at (906) 632-2512 or book online.

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We welcome you to share your tour photos with our Facebook fans. We will offer this once a month on our Facebook page, so stay tuned.

All photo submissions are eligible for a gift. Follow Famous Soo Locks Boat Tours to stay informed about our tours and special events!