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Lake
St. Clair and the Detroit River Area (19-6)
By Steve Fennell
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Big-city
services and small-town friendliness combine to provide
a passageway of unforgettable experiences.
The Detroit River and Lake St. Clair offer cruising
excitement at its finest. Explore a narrow canal, enjoy
the fruits of rural living or take in the action in
the bustling shoreline cities. No matter what your pleasure
is, these interconnecting waterways are ready to serve
your every need.
Detroit River
 From
the southwestern end of Lake Erie, the Detroit River
stretches approximately 51 kilometres north to Lake
St. Clair. While this passage has a maximum width of
only four kilometres, several scattered islands combine
with sparkling blue water to provide an unforgettable
boating experience.
From Lake Erie into the Detroit River, follow the inside
passage to Amherstburg. Considered to be one of the
oldest towns in Ontario, Amherstburg is a town with
award-winning wineries, specialty shops and a compelling
history, which is reflected in its many museums.
Visit Fort Malden National Historic Site and stand in
the exact location where soldiers fought in the War
of 1812. You can also view the restored memorabilia
and check out the original stone barracks built by the
British following the war. Some other historic attractions
include the Park House Museum and the Gordon House,
which was built in 1798 and totally restored in 1996.
Aside from its history, you may want to schedule your
visit around the town’s exciting annual events
including the Garden Tour & Fair in May, Military
Heritage Days in July/August or the Festival of Hawks
in September.
While heading north from Amherstburg to La Salle, boating
traffic will increase since this is a common waterway
for large commercial freighters – be sure to proceed
with caution.
To the west, across the border in the United States,
is Grosse Isle. This large community is home to an airport,
a private yacht club plus several services if you need
supplies. However, just north, on the Ontario side,
is a full service marina offering fuel, a launch ramp,
pump outs and shore power. There’s even a pool,
a playground plus nearby overnight accommodations.
Just past the marina, after the entranceway to the Canrad
River, the main passage opens up slightly. However,
follow the western shoreline until you reach Fighting
Island and the town of La Salle.
Considered to be the fastest growing community in Essex
County, La Salle is a beautiful town that encompasses
so many marinas, Main St. is labeled the nautical mile.
If the marinas are full during peak season, try docking
at the local launch ramp at Gil Maure Park. There are
two launch ramps and seven transient slips with overnight
docking for a fee of $10.
La Salle has several public parks spanning over 100
acres, with some equipped with playgrounds, pools, baseball
diamonds, volley ball nets, picnic tables and shelters.
Several restaurants and plus excellent shopping can
be found in its scenic downtown core. A popular annual
event is the Strawberry Festival at Gil Maure Park.
This three-day spectacle appeals to the young and old
with its fascinating parade, live entertainment, amusement
rides and fire works. Other annual events include a
bike rodeo, Street Rod Car Show and the Rick Hansen
Wheels in Motion rally.
Leaving La Salle, the Detroit begins to narrow as you
pass the entrance to Turkey creek towards Windsor. (Page
Top)
Windsor
 The
last major stop on the Detroit River, Windsor offers
three marinas with transient dockage, fuel, shorepower,
a launch ramp plus marine supplies. You can also tie
up near the manicured Dieppe Gardens, which affords
a spectacular view of Detroit across the river.
Once on shore, Windsor is a gateway to a myriad of activities
with several exquisite restaurants, pubs and Casino
Windsor, which boasts 100,000 square feet of gaming
space including 3,000 slot machines and more than 130
gaming tables. It also has several restaurants, bars,
lounges, live entertainment and a hotel with 21 floors
of elegant rooms.
But if gaming isn’t your forte, check out the
Ford Discovery Centre - home of the original Canadian
Ford Motor Company plant. In addition to a series of
outdoor murals depicting Ford City’s rich history,
the Discovery Centre holds an art enrichment program
for children 8-13 and a Heritage Gallery displaying
historical and cultural exhibits.
Some other points of interest include the Windsor wood
carving museum and Mackenzie Hall, which was once the
home of Alexander Mackenzie, Canada’s second Prime
Minister.
Some other attractions along Windsor’s shoreline
include Ojibway Park and Conventry Gardens, which hosts
10 acres of parkland and the spectacular Peace Fountain.
A trip to Windsor wouldn’t be complete without
a visit to Jackson Park. Spanning 65 acres, this is
considered Windsor's most classic and elegant grounds,
earning the Ontario Parks Association Award for the
best-lighted garden in Ontario. Four of these acres
are occupied by the formal Rose Gardens, where visitors
can find more than 12,000 rose bushes among 450 varieties.
If you plan your trip during the summer, consider checking
out the International Freedom Festival, a two-week celebration
held over Canada Day and Independence Day. This event
is considered to be the largest trans-border festivals
in the world and is highlighted by the Hudson’s
Fireworks, the second largest display in North America.
(Page Top)
Lake St. Clair
 Lake
St. Clair is approximately 26 miles long, 24 miles wide
with an average depth of only 10 feet. The deepest part
of the lake, however, is 29 feet in the shipping channel.
But don’t let its small size fool you. This heart-shaped
body of water is often considered the sixth Great Lake.
Located just the south of the entranceway is Tecumseh.
In addition to several convenient services, Tecumseh
attracts thousands of visitors each year with its exciting
Corn Festival in August. Visitors can enjoy the live
entertainment, midway, arts and craft booths, a small
town parade, and of course, the delicious hot-buttered
corn-on-the-cob.
Another destination on Lake St. Clair is the town of
Lakeshore, which encompasses 30 miles of coastline from
the Puce River to the Thames River.
In 1999, Lakeshore amalgamated with Belle River, Maidstone,
Rochester, Tilbury North and Tilbury West, which resulted
in some of the finest cruising in the area.
One of the most popular destinations is Belle River,
offering three marinas complete with transient docking,
fuel pump outs and shorepower. The town also recently
renovated Lakeview Park by adding a new splash pad,
boat launch, playground and a restaurant.
If the weather isn’t cooperating during your visit,
take a short trip to Belle River’s beautiful downtown
core. In addition to interesting shops, art galleries,
fine dining, there are 32 flower stone pots and 13 flowerbeds
along the main drag. These displays are so impressive
they have been featured in the Netherlands' Landscape
News.
Back on the water, cruise further east to Deerbrook
where there are two marinas geared specifically to local
anglers. Floating docks are available and can be rented
by the day or season. A 72-hole golf course, restaurants
and accommodations are also located nearby.
Heading east towards the Thames River, which empties
in to Lake. St. Clair, you’ll come across Lighthouse
Cove with two full service marinas and the Lighthouse
Inn. For more than 40 years, this has been a diner’s
delight with its delicious perch and pickerel dinners,
BBQ ribs and beefy steaks.
For a pleasant day trip, head east up the Thames River
to the community of Chatham. Its municipal docks offer
a launch ramp, fuel and easy access to town’s
beaches, golf courses, and downtown shopping.
Heading back down the Thames River to Lake St. Clair,
the journey from Lighthouse Cove to Mitchell’s
Bay is a scenic one. Many locations offer quiet anchorages
and if fishing is a favourite pastime, the entire area
is famous for its smallmouth bass and walleye.
With a population of only 350, Mitchell’s Bay
is big on attractions. The full service marina offers
250 boat wells (seasonal and transient), eight launch
ramps, fuel, pump-out station, bait and tackle shop,
shower facilities, and a laundromat. This marina is
also just 15 minutes from downtown Chatham or Wallaceburg.
(Page Top)
St. Clair River
 When
you enter the St. Clair River, the passage branches
into several channels, creating a broad delta region
that is considered to be one of the largest fresh water
deltas in the world. In fact, it’s easily comparable
to the 1,235-square-mile Peace-Athabasca Delta in northern
Alberta and the 6,000-square-mile Okavango Delta in
the Kalahari Desert of Botswana. Stretching 66 kilometres,
the St. Clair River flows in a southerly direction from
Lake Huron and has a low-lying, level shoreline with
water views at every turn.
While it’s known to have the look and feel of
the Atlantic tidewater, the water is fresh and boasts
some of the finest cruising anywhere with its easy-to-navigate
channel. But this is also a busy waterway with commercial
vessels, so proceed with caution.
Several popular events include the Offshore Super Series
Powerboat Racing Association’s St. Clair River
Classic plus Wal-Mart FLW Tour's $1 million Forrest
Wood Open, which attracts anglers from across North
America. The annual Sarnia Salmon Derby is also hosted
every May.
One of the major stops on this waterway is Port Lambton,
offering two marinas with one featuring transient slips,
fuel, marine supplies, a launch ramp and pump outs.
Reservations are recommended during peak season.
The last stop on the St. Clair River, at the mouth of
Lake Huron, is Sarnia. Labeled Ontario’s Beautiful
Blue Water Country, this vibrant waterfront community
is located on the south shore of Lake Huron, just across
the St. Clair River from Eastern Michigan.
With two full service marinas, there’s plenty
of transient docking and easy access to the city’s
many services. Sarnia bustles with activity all summer
long with its 100 acres of well-maintained parkland,
beautiful waterfront and 15 miles of walking, hiking
and biking trails.
Make your way to its downtown core and you’ll
be treated to some fabulous shopping and great dining.
You’ll find award-winning floral displays and
modern motels. Nearby are excellent golf courses–
so be sure to bring along your clubs. Another major
attraction in Sarnia is Hiawatha Horse Park & Entertainment
Centre, a horse track and 34,000 square-foot casino,
featuring 450 slots and a variety of gaming tables.
In addition to miles of sandy lakefront beaches and
fascinating swimming, Sarnia hosts some fabulous diving
around the mouth of Lake Huron.
The city’s most famous landmark is the Bluewater
Bridge over the St. Clair River, providing a quick gateway
to Michigan and the United States. In fact, this landmark
currently ranks as the fourth busiest Ontario international
crossing for total vehicles. It’s also the second
busiest for number of commercial vehicle (truck) crossings.
For added convenience, a number of facilities including
Currency Exchange and Duty Free Shops are located on
each side of the bridge. (Page Top) |
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