North Canal Township Park and Breakers Beach
North Canal Township Park has undergone dramatic changes over the last decade. Once a more lawless place (in a good way), the park now has a ton of fences and large rocks to stop cars and ATVs from entering certain areas. That said, it’s still a lovely view and an excellent place to walk the beach or have a picnic.
The two primary features of the park are the long breakwater, which extends out into Lake Superior to protect the Keweenaw Waterway, and the large, long beach, which is a dark red color. The park has a phenomenal view of the Keweenaw Waterway Upper Entrance Lighthouse at McLain State Park. If you walk the beach west, you can continue for quite a while, eventually running into a rocky point where the sand disappears and becomes more challenging to continue.
Upon entering the park, a picnic area with a pavilion overlooks the park from a higher altitude. I have to admit, all the fencing and rocks look a little odd, especially when there’s no one at the park. Still, I understand wanting to try and foster an environment where the coastal shrubbery can return, which protects the entire area from erosion. This area used to look like one big stamp sand deposit from the mining industry, but it’s changed a lot.
You aren’t allowed to camp at North Canal Township Park, though you used to be able to. The beach is known as Breakers Beach, and it is named for the breakwater that extends out into Lake Superior. In warmer months, this is a popular place to find people enjoying the water.
Whether you’re looking to take a dip in Lake Superior or the Keweenaw Waterway, want to have a picnic, or fancy a walk down the beach, North Canal Township Park and Breakers Beach are a short drive from downtown Houghton in the Keweenaw Peninsula and are calling your name!
