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Brimley State Park is a radio site along Whitefish Bay in the southeastern corner of Lake Superior just outside Sault Ste. Marie. Its position along the bay protects it from Lake Superior’s often-harsh conditions, but also somewhat shields it from the primary lake breeze circulation that fuels lake signal propagation. The site is beside Waiska Bay, a bay within the larger Whitefish Bay, and is at the mouth of St. Marys River leading to the Soo Locks. In addition, it is at lake level with no real elevation, therefore under the lake’s atmospheric ducts, further hampering reception.
Brimley is in the Sault Ste. Marie market and commonly receives Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Michigan stations locally, as well as Wawa (110 miles north), Thunder Bay (260 miles northwest), Houghton (195 miles northwest), and Marquette (135 miles west). Both night enhancement and daytime lake tropo were monitored at this location.
BRIMLEY, MICHIGAN BANDSCAN (NIGHT)
August 20, 2018 2310-0010 / 70°F & dense lake fog
Location: 46°25’01.2″N 84°33’18.8″W
612 feet (12 feet above lake level)
96 stations total / Average distance: 112 mi.
* station was received on seek
*88.1 CBON-18 ON Sault Ste. Marie / Ici Première / 3.59kw / 45dBµ, mono (18 mi.)
88.3 –
*88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 25dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
88.9 WGZR MI Alpena / Baraga R. / 1.5kw / 20dBµ, mono only (118 mi.)
89.1 WLKB MI Bay City / K-Love / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (199 mi.)
*89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (146 mi.)
*89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 55dBµ, mono (18 mi.)
89.7 WJOJ MI Rust Twp. / Smile FM / 31kw / 5dBµ, mono (128 mi.)
*89.9 WHWG MI Trout Lake / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / 30dBµ, stereo (24 mi.)
*90.1 WHBP MI Harbor Springs / IPR News R. / 8.5kw / 20dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
90.3 WBLV MI Twin Lake / Blue Lake Public R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (211 mi.)
90.3 CBEC ON Elliot Lake / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 264w / 5dBµ, mono (92 mi.)
*90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 40dBµ, stereo (90 mi.)
90.7 –
90.9 WTCK MI Charlevoix / Baraga R. / 5.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (67 mi.)
91.1 –
91.3 WJOG MI Good Hart / Smile FM / 6kw / 15dBµ, mono (67 mi.)
*91.5 WJOH MI Raco / Smile FM / 5.5kw / 50dBµ, stereo (5 mi.)
*91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 40dBµ, stereo (90 mi.)
91.9 IBOC (WCML)
92.1 –
92.3 –
92.5 WFDX MI Atlanta / The Fox FM //94.3 / 100kw / 25dBµ, stereo (97 mi.)
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock //98.3 / 51kw / 10dBµ, mono (97 mi.)
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (172 mi.)
93.3 –
*93.5 WBCM MI Boyne City / Country //103.5 / 14kw / 15dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
93.7 WBCT MI Grand Rapids / B-93 / 320kw / 15dBµ, mono (266 mi.)
*93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 40dBµ, stereo (26 mi.)
94.1 CKNR ON Elliot Lake / Moose FM / 90kw / 15dBµ, mono (127 mi.)
94.3 WFCX MI Leland / The Fox FM //92.5 / 20.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (126 mi.)
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 25dBµ, mono (52 mi.)
94.7 –
*94.9 WKJZ MI Hillman / Hits FM //103.3 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (101 mi.)
*95.1 WUPN MI Paradise / Eagle 95.1 / 25kw / 30dBµ, stereo (9 mi.)
*95.3 WWSS MI Tuscarora Twp. / The Bear //98.1 / 17kw / 20dBµ, mono (74 mi.)
95.5 –
*95.7 WCMB MI Oscoda / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 15dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
95.9 WLJW MI Fife Lake / Fuel FM / 19kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
96.1 WHNN MI Bay City / My 96.1 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (202 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 20dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
96.5 WHOH WI Rhinelander / Sports R. 96.5 / 6.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (229 mi.)
*96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country //99.3 / 42kw / 45dBµ, stereo (82 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (116 mi.)
97.3 –
97.5 CBCE ON Little Current / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 21kw / 15dBµ, mono (127 mi.)
97.5 WKLT MI Kalkaska / KLT The Rock Sta. //98.9 / 32kw / 10dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
97.7 WCHY MI Cheboygan / Straits Country / 3.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
*97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 40dBµ, mono only (26 mi.)
98.1 WEUL MI Kingsford / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / 5dBµ, mono (174 mi.)
98.1 WKCQ MI Saginaw / 98 KCQ / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
*98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 45dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
98.5 WUPS MI Harrison / UPS 98.5 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (147 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 3dBµ, mono (195 mi.)
*98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. //97.5 / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (191 mi.)
*99.3 WATZ MI Alpena / Country //96.7 / 17kw / 25dBµ, stereo (118 mi.)
*99.5 WYSS MI Sault Ste. Marie / Yes FM / 1.3kw / 25dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
99.7 WUGN MI Midland / Family Life R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (200 mi.)
*99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 40dBµ, stereo (77 mi.)
100.1 –
100.3 WQON MI Grayling / Q100.3 / 60kw / 10dBµ, mono (128 mi.)
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (139 mi.)
*100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / 50dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
100.7 WWTH MI Oscoda / Thunder Rock / 20.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (139 mi.)
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (172 mi.)
100.9 WQHN MI East Jordan / The Promise FM / 2.8kw / 5dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
101.1 WGRY MI Roscommon / Y-101 / 3.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (128 mi.)
*101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 40dBµ, mono only (9 mi.)
*101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101-5 / 50kw / 25dBµ, stereo (97 mi.)
101.7 CBON-5 ON Elliot Lake / Ici Première / 2.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (92 mi.)
101.9 WLDR MI Traverse City / The Bay / ↓100kw / 5dBµ, mono (126 mi.)
102.1 WLEW MI Bad Axe / Cruise 102.1 / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (188 mi.)
102.1 W271AG MI Mackinaw City / Gospel Opportunities / 19w / weak (46 mi.)
*102.3 WTHN MI Sault Ste. Marie / The Promise FM / 22.5kw / 40dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (97 mi.)
102.5 WIOG MI Bay City / CHR / 86kw / 5dBµ, mono (206 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 3dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
*102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 30dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
103.1 CHAW ON Manitoulin Island / Country 103 / 27.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
103.1 WGDN MI Gladwin / 103 Country / 11.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
*103.3 W277AG MI Sault Ste. Marie / Gospel Opportunities / 26w / 20dBµ, stereo (12 mi.)
103.3 WQLB MI Tawas City / Hits FM //94.9 / 15kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (146 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country //93.5 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (146 mi.)
103.7 –
103.9 WCMW MI Harbor Springs / CMU Public R. / 12kw / 20dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
104.1 –
*104.3 CJQM ON Sault Ste. Marie / Country 104.3 / 100kw / 65dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
104.5 = 104.3
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (134 mi.)
104.9 –
*105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 / 43kw / 30dBµ, stereo (87 mi.)
105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / faint (258 mi.)
105.5 WSRJ MI Honor / ESPN N. Michigan //106.7 / 17kw / 5dBµ, mono (136 mi.)
105.7 WZTK MI Alpena / News Talk Sports / 4.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (107 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
106.1 WTZM MI Tawas City / The Point / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (154 mi.)
*106.3 WWMK MI Onaway / Mac FM / 31kw / 30dBµ, stereo (54 mi.)
*106.5 CJTK-8 ON Sault Ste. Marie / KFM / 2kw / 30dBµ, stereo (14 mi.)
*106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan //105.5 / 100kw / 25dBµ, stereo (96 mi.)
106.9 WOOD MI Muskegon / NewsRadio 106.9 & 1300 / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (232 mi.)
106.9 WUPM WI Baileys Harbor / The Lodge / 6kw / faint (157 mi.)
107.1 WCKC MI Cadillac / The Drive / 2.75kw / faint (160 mi.)
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (142 mi.)
107.3 WBBL MI Greenville / Sports / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (238 mi.)
107.5 WCCW MI Traverse City / The 70’s Station / 50kw / 3dBµ, mono (126 mi.)
*107.7 WHSB MI Alpena / The Bay / 100kw / 30dBµ, stereo (102 mi.)
107.9 WLJD MI Charlevoix / Christian / 5kw / faint (82 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: 103.7
RDS was not monitored
Station notes:
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
BRIMLEY, MICHIGAN BANDSCAN (DAY)
August 21, 2018 0915-0955 / 68°F & light fog
Location: 46°25’02.0″N 84°33’19.9″W
607 feet (at beach level beside water)
89 stations total / Average distance: 103 mi.
* station was received on seek
*88.1 CBON-18 ON Sault Ste. Marie / Ici Première / 3.59kw / 40dBµ, mono (18 mi.)
88.3 CBLJ ON Wawa / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 4.807kw / 2dBµ, mono (111 mi.)
*88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 20dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (97 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (146 mi.)
89.3 WTLI Bear Creek Twp. / Smile FM / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (87 mi.)
*89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / 50dBµ, mono (18 mi.)
89.7 –
*89.9 WHWG MI Trout Lake / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / 20dBµ, stereo (24 mi.)
89.9 WLJN MI Traverse City / Christian //107.9 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono in null (125 mi.)
*90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
90.1 WHBP MI Harbor Springs / IPR News R. / 8.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
90.3 –
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (90 mi.)
90.7 CBON-27 ON Wawa / Ici Première / 890w / 5dBµ, mono (111 mi.)
90.9 WTCK MI Charlevoix / Baraga R. / 5.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (67 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
91.3 –
*91.5 WJOH MI Raco / Smile FM / 5.5kw / 60dBµ, stereo (5 mi.)
91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 15dBµ, mono (90 mi.)
91.9 IBOC (WCML)
92.1 –
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (139 mi.)
92.5 WFDX MI Atlanta / The Fox FM //94.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (97 mi.)
92.7 WRPP MI Manistique / Cl. Rock / 51kw / 10dBµ, mono (97 mi.)
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
93.1 WIMK MI Iron Mountain / 93 Rock / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (172 mi.)
93.3 –
93.5 WBCM MI Boyne City / Country //103.5 / 14kw / 5dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
93.7 –
*93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 45dBµ, stereo (26 mi.)
94.1 CKNR ON Elliot Lake / Moose FM / 90kw / 10dBµ, mono (127 mi.)
94.3 WFCX MI Leland / The Fox FM //92.5 / 20.5kw / 10dBµ, mono (126 mi.)
94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 10dBµ, mono, in/out (258 mi.)
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (52 mi.)
94.7 –
94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (139 mi.)
94.9 WKJZ MI Hillman / Hits FM //103.3 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (101 mi.)
*95.1 WUPN MI Paradise / Eagle 95.1 / 25kw / 30dBµ, stereo (9 mi.)
95.3 WWSS MI Tuscarora Twp. / The Bear //98.1 / 17kw / 10dBµ, mono (74 mi.)
95.5 WGFE MI Glen Arbor / Rock 105 & 95.5 //105.1 / 21kw / 10dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
95.7 WCMB MI Oscoda / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
95.9 WLJW MI Fife Lake / Fuel FM / 19kw / 5dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
96.1 WHNN MI Bay City / My 96.1 / 100kw / weak (202 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
96.5 –
*96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country //99.3 / 42kw / 25dBµ, stereo (82 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (116 mi.)
97.3 –
97.5 WKLT MI Kalkaska / KLT The Rock Sta. //98.9 / 32kw / 5dBµ, mono (117 mi.)
97.7 WCHY MI Cheboygan / Straits Country / 3.4kw / 10dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
*97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 40dBµ, mono (26 mi.)
98.1 WGFN MI Glen Arbor / The Bear //95.3 / 21kw / 10dBµ, mono (130 mi.)
*98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 45dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
98.5 WUPS MI Harrison / UPS 98.5 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (147 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 3dBµ, mono (195 mi.)
*98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. //97.5 / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (68 mi.)
99.1 –
99.3 CJJM ON Espanola / Moose FM / 1.41kw / 3dBµ, mono (133 mi.)
99.3 WATZ MI Alpena / Country //96.7 / 17kw / 3dBµ, mono (118 mi.)
*99.5 WYSS MI Sault Ste. Marie / Yes FM / 1.3kw / 20dBµ, mono (16 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / weak (271 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (77 mi.)
100.1 –
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (139 mi.)
*100.5 CHAS ON Sault Ste. Marie / KiSS 100.5 / 13.9kw / 55dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
100.7 W264CF MI St. Ignace / Big Country Gold //1240 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (52 mi.)
100.9 WQHN MI East Jordan / The Promise FM / 2.8kw / 5dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
101.1 –
*101.3 WSUE MI Sault Ste. Marie / Rock 101 / 100kw / 40dBµ, mono only (9 mi.)
101.5 WMJZ MI Gaylord / Eagle 101-5 / 50kw / 25dBµ, stereo (97 mi.)
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (263 mi.)
101.9 WLDR MI Traverse City / The Bay / ↓100kw / 10dBµ, mono (126 mi.)
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 3dBµ, mono in null (146 mi.)
102.1 W271AG MI Mackinaw City / Gospel Opportunities / 19w / 2dBµ, mono (46 mi.)
*102.3 WTHN MI Sault Ste. Marie / The Promise FM / 22.5kw / 35dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (97 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 2dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
*102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 30dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
103.1 CHAW ON Manitoulin Island / Country 103 / 27.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
103.3 W277AG MI Sault Ste. Marie / Gospel Opportunities / 26w / 15dBµ, mono (12 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country //93.5 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (146 mi.)
103.7 IBOC (WCMW)
*103.9 WCMW MI Harbor Springs / CMU Public R. / 12kw / 20dBµ, stereo (67 mi.)
104.1 IBOC (WCMW)
*104.3 CJQM ON Sault Ste. Marie / Country 104.3 / 100kw / 65dBµ, stereo (16 mi.)
104.5 = 104.3
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (134 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 //95.5 / 43kw / 15dBµ, mono (87 mi.)
105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (258 mi.)
105.5 WSRJ MI Honor / ESPN N. Michigan //106.7 / 17kw / 5dBµ, mono (136 mi.)
105.5 WMKD MI Pickford / Country 105 / 700w / 5dBµ, mono (16 mi.)
105.7 WZTK MI Alpena / News Talk Sports / 4.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (107 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (89 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WWMK MI Onaway / Mac FM / 31kw / 15dBµ, mono (54 mi.)
*106.5 CJTK-8 ON Sault Ste. Marie / KFM / 2kw / 35dBµ, stereo (14 mi.)
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan //105.5 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (96 mi.)
106.9 WOOD MI Muskegon / NewsRadio 106.9 & 1300 / 50kw / faint (232 mi.)
106.9 W295CU MI Tawas City / WIOS-AM 1480 / 250w / faint (154 mi.)
107.1 –
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono, faint (142 mi.)
107.5 WCCW MI Traverse City / The 70’s Station / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (126 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (147 mi.)
107.7 WHSB MI Alpena / The Bay / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (102 mi.)
107.9 WLJD MI Charlevoix / Christian //89.9 / 5kw / 5dBµ, mono (82 mi.)
Inconclusive signals: None
RDS was not monitored
Station notes:
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
Recommendations for this radio site: Brimley State Park is the main radio site in the Sault Ste. Marie area. With 237 sites, the state park is a cheap and convenient location for those wishing to stay close to the water in the Sault Ste. Marie area for radio purposes or simply to enjoy the water.
Sault Ste. Marie is just 15 minutes away via local roads with downtown another 5 minutes to the north. The state park is immediately along the shore with a small narrow beach that is accessible via many shoreline campsites just a moment’s walk through the woods. Because of its location along a bay of a bay (its at the entrance of Waiska Bay, a smaller bay of the larger Whitefish Bay), waters here are rather calm and more sheltered from the open lake. For those looking for beautiful scenery, this isn’t the place for you, but it can be a valuable home base to access scenic sites nearby.
Brimley is a quiet hamlet. It has a post office, school, a Family Dollar store, and a handful of small motels – the largest of which is Willabee’s – and some cabins. Four Seasons Market is immediately across the street from the park entrance and is a locally-run market.
There are numerous sights in the area. The beautiful Point Iroquois Lighthouse is just 15 minutes along the coast to the northwest and is run by the National Forest Service. Following the shore along the St. Marys River into Sault Ste. Marie, one can visit the large Sherman Park, a city-run park with a beach, various activities, and another 25 campsites, all rustic and first-come first-served at $20. Now and then, freighters will pass by heading to and from the locks.
Downtown Sault Ste. Marie is a great sight worthwhile of a visit. I was surprised by the old 1950s-style business signs along this stretch, not to mention the small souvenir shops, fudge shops, restaurants, and motels all within a moment’s walk of the Soo Locks. The locks are entirely free; just show up in the morning and check out the freighter schedule in the informative visitors centre to see the next arrivals through the locks. Be warned that these large boats travel extremely slowly into the locks, so that boat you spy heading toward the locks may not arrive for another hour and the viewing decks may get quite crowded in the meantime. There is always the option of boat tours here too.
Also on the Michigan side is the Kewadin Casino on the east side of town. Along with the casino, one can stay in their hotel with nice rooms for as low as $70, a great deal in comparison to others of its quality.
Don’t forget Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario just across the river and locks. While it doesn’t have such a vibrant downtown as its twin city across the water in Michigan, you can still check out the smaller locks for pleasure boats at the Canal National Historic Site. Coming into town, stop at the Ontario Travel Information Centre immediate after customs at Huron and Queen St. West no matter if you’re heading north along the shore or east toward Sudbury. Gateway Casinos, Station Mall, the waterfront boardwalk, and the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, a museum with a collection of small planes, are all along the water here.
Location rating: Because of its low elevation and position along a bay, both of which strongly count against reception across Lake Superior, this is not an ideal site for radio.
For those wanting to hear Northern Michigan stations, which are typical during land-based enhancement at night, it’s a good place to listen. Like Duluth at the opposite end of the lake, tucked along a narrow section of water, the lake’s geography does this location no favors.
The scenery at this site is extremely dull, though it is nearby numerous interesting tourist sites. Advantageous higher elevation does exist up to 400 feet above lake level just south of Nadoway Point, 15 minutes to the northwest just beyond the lighthouse, but the land is heavily forested and is accessible by sandy forest roads in deep wilderness, roads that are not maintained or suitable for travel, though if staying in the area, one could hike into the higher elevation.
Brimley State Park is a good location for a stopover on the way to the better radio sites of the region as it was for myself, but don’t make plans to make it a primary stop. Potential sites along the river on the east side of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan could prove interesting, however, as Lake Huron signals have been noted there in addition to others from across northern Lake Michigan that are heard even in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.