

Chippewa Falls and nearby Batchawana Bay are radio sites on the southeastern shore of Lake Superior, 35 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie. The falls consists of a roadside park with a plaque indicating the halfway point of the Trans-Canada Highway, while Batchawana Bay Provincial Park, 6 miles (10 km.) to the west, is a thin strip of beach and parking. Northern Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie, and Marquette are common here. During ideal conditions, the location of this site and the orientation of its shoreline is favourable for lake tropo originating from across both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in addition to usual Lake Superior signals.
CHIPPEWA FALLS / BATCHAWANA BAY, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 24, 2018 1445-1530 & 1545-1600 / 20°C & clear
Chippewa Falls Rest Area: 46°55’41.8″N 84°25’30.7″W (650 ft.)
Batchawana Bay: 46°56’40.1″N 84°33’19.2″W (610 ft.)
(additional monitoring 6.2 miles WNW of Chippewa Falls)
93 stations total / Average distance: 134 mi.
* station was received on seek

*88.1 CBON-18 ON Sault Ste. Marie / Ici Première / 3.59kw / 25dBµ, mono (24 mi.)
88.3 –
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (98 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (193 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 WPNE WI Green Bay / WPR News & Classical / 97kw / 5dBµ, mono (245 mi.)
89.3 WTLI Bear Creek Twp. / Smile FM / 50kw / good in car at bay (122 mi.)
*89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 25dBµ, mono (24 mi.)
89.7 WHND WI Sister Bay / WPR News & Classical / 22kw / 7dBµ, mono (173 mi.)
89.9 WHWG MI Trout Lake / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / 10dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
*90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (167 mi.)
90.3 –
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (124 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (199 mi.)
90.7 WMVM WI Goodman / V. of the Master //102.7 / 9.3kw / faint (206 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 7dBµ, mono (163 mi.)
90.9 WHRM WI Wausau / WPR News & Classical / 81kw / 5dBµ, mono in null (288 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
91.3 WJOG MI Good Hart / Smile FM / 6kw / 5dBµ, mono (102 mi.)
*91.5 WJOH MI Raco / Smile FM / 5.5kw / RDS / 20dBµ, mono (37 mi.)
91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 5dBµ, mono (124 mi.)
91.9 –
92.1 –
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
92.5 WFDX MI Atlanta / The Fox FM //94.3 100.5 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock //98.3 / 51kw / 10dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (188 mi.)
93.3 WKQZ MI Midland / Z-93 / 39kw / weak in car at bay (213 mi.)
93.5 WBCM MI Boyne City / Country //103.5 / 14kw / 5dBµ, mono (113 mi.)
93.7 WKAD MI Harrietta / The Ticket / 4.3kw / good in car at bay (191 mi.)
*93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (46 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
94.1 CKNR ON Elliot Lake / Moose FM / 90kw / very good in car at bay (92 mi.)
94.3 WFCX MI Leland / The Fox FM //92.5 / 20.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (161 mi.)
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono, weak (88 mi.)
94.7 –
94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (147 mi.)
94.9 WKJZ MI Hillman / Hits FM //103.3 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (134 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (202 mi.)
95.1 WUPN MI Paradise / Eagle 95.1 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (35 mi.)
95.3 WWSS MI Tuscarora Twp. / The Bear //98.1 / 17kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (109 mi.)
95.5 WGFE MI Glen Arbor / Rock 105 & 95.5 //105.1 / 21kw / 5dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
*95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (145 mi.)
95.9 WLJW MI Fife Lake / Fuel FM / 19kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
96.1 WHNN MI Bay City / My 96.1 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (236 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (113 mi.)
96.5 –
*96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 20dBµ, stereo (61 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 7dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
97.3 –
97.5 CBCE ON Little Current / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 21kw / per. in car at bay (135 mi.)
97.7 WCHY MI Cheboygan / Straits Country / 3.4kw / 3dBµ, mono, weak (88 mi.)
*97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 30dBµ, stereo (46 mi.)
98.1 WGFN MI Glen Arbor / The Bear //95.3 / 21kw / 3dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
*98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (32 mi.)
98.5 WUPS MI Harrison / UPS 98.5 / 100kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 5dBµ, mono (195 mi.)
*98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / RDS / 15dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 8dBµ, mono (204 mi.)
99.3 WATZ MI Alpena / Country / 17kw / RDS / 3dBµ, mono (149 mi.)
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (148 mi.)
99.5 WYSS MI Sault Ste. Marie / Yes FM / 1.3kw / 2dBµ, mono, weak (32 mi.)
99.7 WUGN MI Midland / Family Life R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (236 mi.)
99.7 WDKF WI Sturgeon Bay / Duke FM / 46kw / weak in car (221 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (108 mi.)
100.1 –
*100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (147 mi.)
100.3 WQON MI Grayling / Q100.3 / 60kw / perfect in car at bay (163 mi.)
*100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / RDS / 20dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (189 mi.)
100.7 CFRM ON Little Current / Glow 100 / 27.5kw / good in car at bay (136 mi.)
100.9 –
101.1 WGRY MI Roscommon / Y-101 / 3.4kw / perfect in car at bay (163 mi.)
*101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono only (34 mi.)
101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101-5 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
101.7 –
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 1dBµ, mono (153 mi.)
101.9 WLDR MI Traverse City / The Bay / ↓100kw / good in car at bay (161 mi.)
102.1 WLEW MI Bad Axe / Cruise 102.1 / 50kw / very good in car at bay (219 mi.)
102.3 WTHN MI Sault Ste. Marie / The Promise FM / 22.5kw / 20dBµ, mono (32 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 10dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 3dBµ, mono (233 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / RDS / 10dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
103.1 –
103.3 W277AG MI Sault Ste. Marie / Gospel Opportunities / 26w / 5dBµ, mono (31 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country //93.5 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
103.7 –
103.9 WCMW MI Harbor Springs / CMU Public R. / 12kw / 3dBµ, mono (103 mi.)
103.9 CHNO ON Sudbury / Rewind 103.9 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
104.1 –
*104.3 CJQM ON Sault Ste. Marie / Country 104.3 / 100kw / RDS / 25dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
104.5 –
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 //95.5 / 43kw / 5dBµ, mono (122 mi.)
105.3 CJMX ON Sudbury / KiSS 105.3 / 100kw / weak in car at bay (164 mi.)
105.5 WMKD MI Pickford / Country 105 / 700w / 5dBµ, mono (32 mi.)
105.5 WSRJ MI Honor / ESPN N. Michigan //106.7 / 17kw / 5dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
105.7 –
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (125 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (166 mi.)
106.3 WWMK MI Onaway / Mac FM / 31kw / 7dBµ, mono (88 mi.)
106.5 CJTK-8 ON Sault Ste. Marie / KFM / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (28 mi.)
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan //105.5 / 100kw / RDS / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
106.9 –
107.1 –
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 7dBµ, mono (163 mi.)
107.5 WCCW MI Traverse City / The 70’s Station / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (161 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 10dBµ, mono (155 mi.)
107.7 WHSB MI Alpena / The Bay / 100kw / good in car at bay (133 mi.)
107.9 –
Inconclusive signals: 101.7, 105.7
seek was not monitored and is approximated
Station notes:
95.3 WVVE MN Grand Marais is off the air with future sign-on in August //106.7
96.7 WUPG MI Republic is at 800w instead of the licensed 50kw
99.5 WYSS MI Sault Ste. Marie is at 1.3kw from a backup tower instead of 100kw
105.5 WMKD MI Pickford is at 700w from a backup tower instead of 100kw
106.7 KZJZ MN Babbitt is off the air with future sign-on in August //95.3

Recommendations for this radio site: Chippewa Falls and Batchawana Bay Provincial Park are both close to nearby services and minor attractions. All services are available in Sault Ste. Marie, 35 minutes to the south, while Agawa Indian Crafts, which offers crafts and souvenirs, ice cream, wood carvings, and gas, is 10 minutes west (northbound) of the falls and 5 minutes from the provincial park. The Voyageurs’ General Store offers food, gas, and souvenirs just beyond the park.
Accommodations are quite plentiful in the area. In addition to those in Sault Ste. Marie, more local options can be found at the provincial and private campgrounds. Sunset Shores Resort is a private campground lying between the falls and park; like most, it is open from May to October. For those who need more than a tent, Wild Rose RV Park can be found across the road from the provincial park and beside Voyageurs. Immediately after Agawa Crafts, Pancake Bay Provincial Park offers additional camping and services.
Location rating: Both Chippewa Falls and Batchawana Bay are ideal locations for radio, but they have some major drawbacks.
The most important of all is the lower elevation. While Chippewa Falls is 50 feet above lake level – still enough to enhance distant signals – due to Lake Superior’s colder water temperatures, ducts typically form more strongly at higher elevations over 100 feet. This means that without the added height, which isn’t available at all in this area, signals are less likely to be heard, at least not with greater signal strength. In addition to that is the site’s closer proximity to Sault Ste. Marie stations. Unlike much of the Superior shore that is a good distance from urban centres, this site is still somewhat closer to “civilization.”
None of these points are necessarily disqualifying for this site. With the right conditions, it can be easy to avoid Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Michigan signals and distant signals can still be heard despite the lower elevation.
The Chippewa Falls site also has bathrooms (permanent pit toilets anyway), picnic tables, and is immediately beside the falls, while Batchawana Bay Provincial Park has bathrooms as well. Services are close by and parking at the falls is free, though the provincial park has a high day use parking fee, easily avoided by keeping in close proximity to your vehicle for the rare time parking passes are checked.
Chippewa Falls is overall a good site to visit. It wasn’t originally a planned site due to many of the aforementioned factors, but was included spontaneously at the last minute. With that said, for better possibilities, skip ahead to the next site at Agawa Bay.