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Kama Bay Lookout is a radio site on the central north shore of Lake Superior. It is located 12 miles east of Nipigon at the furthest northern extent of Lake Superior. Right in the centre of the lake’s north shore, it is 240 miles northwest of Sault Ste. Marie and 240 miles northeast of Duluth on either side of the lake, 170 miles north of Marquette, and just 70 miles northeast of Thunder Bay.
The lookout is 360 feet above the water, placing it in the range of the strongest lake ducts, and has sweeping overlooks of Kama Bay. Behind it are the Kama Hills with cliffs towering up to 900 feet above the highway below. Typical reception at Kama Bay includes the Upper Peninsula, Northwoods and Central Wisconsin, and Northern Michigan.
KAMA BAY LOOKOUT, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 26, 2018 1345-1515 / 19°C
Location: 48°57’59.2″N 87°59’08.7″W
960 feet (360 feet above lake level)
81 stations total / Average distance: 191 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 WHJL WI Merrill / V. of the Master //90.7 102.7 / 63kw / 2dBµ, mono (262 mi.)
*88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 30dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
88.5 WGNV WI Milladore / The Family / 100kw / faint (311 mi.)
88.7 –
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 0dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
89.1 –
*89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 35dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
89.5 WCLQ WI Wausau / 89Q / 90kw / 1dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
89.7 –
89.9 WHSA WI Brule / WPR News & Classical / 92kw / 3dBµ, mono (240 mi.)
89.9 WLJN MI Traverse City / Christian / 100kw / faint (309 mi.)
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (181 mi.)
90.3 WHBM WI Park Falls / WPR Ideas / 35kw / 10dBµ, mono (234 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (282 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (320 mi.)
90.5 KDNI MN Duluth / Faith Radio / 2kw / 0dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
90.7 WTIP MN Grand Marais / N. Shore Comm. R. / 25kw / 1dBµ, mono (136 mi.)
90.7 WMVM WI Goodman / V. of the Master //88.1 102.7 / 9.3kw / 1dBµ, mono (221 mi.)
90.9 WHRM WI Wausau / WPR News & Classical / 81kw / 5dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (214 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 20dBµ, stereo (137 mi.)
91.3 –
*91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 45dBµ, stereo (60 mi.)
91.7 WXPR WI Rhinelander / Public R. / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (228 mi.)
91.9 WMTU MI Houghton / Michigan Tech Univ. / 4.4kw / faint (129 mi.)
92.1 WMEQ WI Menomonie / Cl. Rock 92.1 / 17.5kw / 2dBµ, mono (330 mi.)
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
92.5 WJJQ WI Tomahawk / Northwoods 92.5 / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (253 mi.)
92.7 –
92.9 WSCD MN Duluth / Classical MPR / 70kw / 5dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound //100.7 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
93.3 –
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
93.7 WCYE WI Three Lakes / Coyote 93.7 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (228 mi.)
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
93.9 WTBX MN Hibbing / Hot AC / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (256 mi.)
94.1 –
*94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 45dBµ, stereo (60 mi.)
94.5 WRJO WI Eagle River / Cl. Hits / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (204 mi.)
94.7 –
94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
95.1 CJOA ON Thunder Bay / UCB Canada / 250w / 3dBµ, mono (68 mi.)
95.3 –
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 1dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono + images (172 mi.)
95.9 WMQA WI Minocqua / Kool 95.9 / 22kw / 0dBµ, mono (232 mi.)
96.1 WJMC WI Rice Lake / Country / 50kw / weak (290 mi.)
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 15dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / behind 97.3 interference (201 mi.)
*97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 65dBµ, mono (15 mi.)
97.5 = 97.3
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (129 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
98.1 WEUL MI Kingsford / Gospel Opportunities / 1kw / faint (216 mi.)
98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock //92.7 / 2.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
98.3 WCMZ MI Sault Ste. Marie / CMU Public R. / 25kw / 2dBµ, mono (244 mi.)
98.5 WQLH WI Green Bay / Star 98 / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (298 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 5dBµ, mono + 98.9 (132 mi.)
*98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 65dBµ, mono (15 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono + 98.9 (200 mi.)
99.3 –
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / faint (171 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (205 mi.)
*99.9 CJUK ON Thunder Bay / Magic 99.9 / 250w / 5dBµ, mono (67 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (240 mi.)
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
100.5 WDTX WI Rothschild / Sports Fan 100.5 / 25kw / 3dBµ, mono, weak (297 mi.)
*100.7 CFNO-1 ON Nipigon / Hometown Sound //93.1 / 200w / 60dBµ, stereo (14 mi.)
100.9 = 100.7
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (163 mi.)
101.3 –
101.5 WJNR MI Iron Mountain / Frog Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (217 mi.)
*101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 30dBµ, stereo (63 mi.)
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 3dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
101.9 WDEZ WI Wausau / Country / 98.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (291 mi.)
102.1 –
102.3 CBON-29 ON Marathon / Ici Première / 3.862kw / 10dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
102.3 WHKB MI Houghton / K-Bear 102 / 6kw / 3dBµ, mono in null (129 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono + images (219 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master //88.1 90.7 / 98kw / 1dBµ, mono (275 mi.)
102.9 –
103.1 –
103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (164 mi.)
103.5 CKED ON Shuniah Twp. / Energy 103-104 / 10w / 5dBµ, mono (60 mi.)
103.7 WWIB WI Hallie / Christian / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (306 mi.)
103.9 –
104.1 –
104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (160 mi.)
104.5 WAXX WI Eau Claire / Country / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (329 mi.)
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (212 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 = 105.3
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 45dBµ, stereo (60 mi.)
105.5 = 105.3
105.7 WCUP MI L’Anse / Eagle Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
105.9 WEGZ WI Washburn / VCY America / 98kw / 3dBµ, mono (210 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 0dBµ, mono (295 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WGMV MI Stephenson / Maverick 106 / 50kw / 1dBµ, mono (231 mi.)
106.5 –
106.7 –
106.9 WUPM MI Ironwood / Stereo 106.9 / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
107.1 –
107.3 –
107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 15dBµ, mono (65 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
107.9 –
Inconclusive signals: 89.1, 89.7, 96.5, 107.3
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: Kama Bay Lookout is in one of many beautiful locations along the north shore of Lake Superior. Arriving from the west, one is met with the massive cliffs of the Kama Hills, while arriving from the east, one must drive up and down over high hills along the water. A listen to the radio in the car reveals changing conditions through these hills from the Upper Peninsula west into Eau Claire. Find the lookout at kilometre marker 684 marked with nothing more than a basic scenic lookout sign.
Services in the Kama Bay Lookout area are based in nearby Nipigon, 20 minutes to the west. Unlike other towns along the north shore, such as Terrace Bay and Marathon, Nipigon is only a fraction of the size and has fewer services. There are a few small shops downtown, including Zechner’s supermarket, a few trucks stops west of town, and one of very few Tim Horton’s (24 hours) in the region also west of town – the only location between Thunder Bay and Wawa.
Accommodations are limited here but a few motels exist west of town mainly along the Trans-Canada Highway and a few B&Bs can be found within town. A listing of places to stay can be found on the town’s website.
For additional scenery in the area, Kama Cliffs Trail is recommended and is just down the road on the right to the west of the lookout. Find the trailhead at kilometer marker 682 at Kama Bay Rd. (sometimes incorrectly shown on maps as Kama Rd.) 1 ½ miles west of the lookout entrance. Turn left on Kama Bay Rd. and there is a small parking area. The trail is marked, is of moderate difficulty due to high elevation rises, and climbs into the high hills 600 feet above Lake Superior, more than 200 feet higher than the lookout itself. Another 1 ¼ mile to the west at kilometer marker 680 is a roadside parking area to take in views of the Kama Cliffs.
Within Nipigon, the town built and opened the new 40-foot high Bridgeview Lookout Tower in 2018 overlooking the Nipigon River. The lookout tower can be found on Railway St., accessible just past the bridge while heading into town. This makes two area scenic lookouts included in the north shore’s must-see lookouts. Note that 5 of the 13 actually double as radio sites!
Additionally, there is a trail with scenic views of Ruby Lake a short distance west of the lookout. Take the unmarked dirt road at kilometer marker 665 down to the “Y” in the road. The trail is on the right and can result in great views assuming you can find the trailhead, which some have struggled to do. The trail is part of the Ruby Lake Provincial Park, but the park has no operations, facilities, or marked entrances.
Lastly, an interesting fact about the Trans-Canada Highway at this point: the Nipigon River Bridge crossing is the sole highway link between eastern and western Canada with no other road connecting the two halves. While the new bridge was under construction in early 2016, a critical mishap forced the bridge’s closure, instead rerouting all traffic through the U.S. south of Lake Superior.
Location rating: Kama Bay Lookout has amazing views of Lake Superior. It has bathroom facilities and paved parking on site. The lookout itself is basic and lies atop a rocky outcrop, though an area of trees separates the lookout into two halves. While it may be impossible to avoid other visitors at this site, the remote location of this section of shore means there aren’t a great deal of tourists and simply using the other half of the lookout can help with privacy.
The lookout is also close by to Nipigon and is therefore accessible to those staying in and around town or passing through and wanting to stop for a bite to eat or some exploration.
At 360 feet above Lake Superior, its immediately inside the range for strong lake ducts and is unlikely to disappoint. When it does, there are nearby options to access both lower and higher elevations. Local Nipigon stations do throw out some interference to the band, but it is largely confined to a few frequencies. Considering the average reception here with numerous locals included is 191 miles, a distance on par with other north shore locations, it could be argued that this is the best performing radio site on the north shore.
With that said, Kama Bay Lookout is a top-notch location both for its scenery and its radio. One would be absurdly silly to pass it by.