Soo Locks
The Soo Locks are a set of parallel locks, operated and maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, that enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes.
A dam inside Sault Ste. Marie
Plan where you’ll sleep
No town within 30 miles has many hotels or campgrounds. Look at the towns below, or plan to camp. Where to stay ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 8°, with about 120" of snow a year. When to go ↓
One of the most looked-up attractions in the U.S.
About 64K people a year read its Wikipedia article, more than for 95% of the 7,799 attractions we track.
Established in 1855
Soo Locks dates from 1855. About ↓
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 67–76°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Sault Ste. Marie. Green months are the mild ones.
Soo Locks
The Soo Locks are a set of parallel locks, operated and maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District, that enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. They are located on the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, between the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. They bypass the rapids of the river, where the water falls 21 ft (6.4 m). The locks pass an average of 10,000 ships per year, despite being closed during the winter from January through March, when ice shuts down shipping on the Great Lakes. The winter closure period is used to inspect and maintain the locks.
- Type
- Dam
- Established
- 1855
- Listed
- National Historic Landmark (1966) · National Register of Historic Places (1966)
- Wikipedia readers
- 64K a year
Where to stay near Soo Locks
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Superior Township (4).
Compare 5 towns
| Town | From Soo Locks | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sault Ste. Marie | in town | — | — | 13,083 | $139K | C+ |
| Superior Township 23% vacation homes | 18 mi southwest | 25 min | 4 2 motels · 2 lodges & cabins | 1,267 | $160K | — |
| Kinross Township | 21 mi southwest | 30 min | 2 1 campground · 1 RV park | 6,790 | $127K | A+ |
| Bay Mills Township 32% vacation homes | 21 mi west | 30 min | 2 2 campgrounds | 1,623 | $166K | — |
| Rudyard Township 22% vacation homes | 24 mi southwest | 35 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 motel | 1,290 | $145K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Soo Locks
Other well-known places within 53 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
51 mi LakeLake Michigan–Huron
1in town MuseumSS Valley Camp
43 mi WaterfallTahquamenon Falls46 mi Park & preserveMackinac National Park
53 mi Ancient siteFort Michilimackinac
2in town MuseumTower of History
47 mi LandmarkFort Mackinac
34 mi MuseumGreat Lakes Shipwreck MuseumPhoto credits
Lake Michigan–Huron: ChongDae, Public domain · SS Valley Camp: Cason at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Tahquamenon Falls: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 · Fort Michilimackinac: WMrapids, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tower of History: P199, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Mackinac: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0 · Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: Doug Coldwell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Visiting Soo Locks
Is Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie?
Yes. It’s inside Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
When is the best time to visit Soo Locks?
June, July, August and September, with highs of 67–76°.
What is the closest airport to Soo Locks?
Chippewa County (CIU), about 19 miles away.
Where should I stay near Soo Locks?
Superior Township (18 mi, 4 places to stay).
Tips from people in Sault Ste. Marie
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Sault Ste. Marie’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.