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Terrace Bay is a radio site on the central north shore of Lake Superior. The site is 100 miles east of Thunder Bay, 150 miles north of Marquette, 200 miles northwest of Sault Ste. Marie, and 270 miles northeast of Duluth, making it one of the most remote sites along the shores of Lake Superior.
The town of 1,400 is historically built upon the pulp industry, as many in the region are, and is home to a 50-foot lighthouse model constructed in 2011. The town is the only bandscan site on the Great Lakes to top an average reception of 200 miles, meaning half the radio dial originates from locations a distance of 200 to 370 miles away. Because of its location directly across the water from the narrowest section of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – just 40 miles across – Terrace Bay can also tap into the Lake Michigan radio dial with the presence of satisfactory conditions.
TERRACE BAY, ONTARIO BANDSCAN
July 26, 2018 0935-1035 & 1055-1145 / 13°C
Terrace Bay Beach: 48°46’17.0″N 87°06’58.9″W (615 ft.)
Pumphouse Beach: 48°46’34.9″N 87°05’16.6″W (645 ft.)
81 stations total / Average distance: 202 mi.
* station was received on seek
88.1 –
88.3 CBQT ON Thunder Bay / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 23.73kw / 3dBµ, mono (99 mi.)
88.5 WIAB MI Mackinaw City / Classical IPR //88.7 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (241 mi.)
88.7 WIAA MI Interlochen / Classical IPR //88.5 / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (318 mi.)
88.9 WCRR MI Manistique / K-Love / 24.5kw / 2dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
89.1 –
89.3 WSHN MI Munising / K-Love / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
89.3 CBON-20 ON Thunder Bay / Ici Première / 16.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (99 mi.)
89.5 CBSM ON Sault Ste. Marie / CBC R. 1 Sudbury / 46kw / brief (199 mi.)
89.7 CBEB ON Manitouwadge / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 4.78kw / 5dBµ, mono (63 mi.)
89.9 WLJN MI Traverse City / Christian / 100kw / faint (284 mi.)
89.9 WHSA WI Brule / WPR News & Classical / 92kw / 3dBµ, mono (262 mi.)
90.1 WNMU MI Marquette / Public R. 90 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (171 mi.)
90.3 WBLV MI Twin Lake / Blue Lake Public R. / 100kw / faint (364 mi.)
90.5 WPHN MI Gaylord / The Promise FM / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (287 mi.)
90.5 WPFF WI Sturgeon Bay / K-Love / 100kw / in null (268 mi.)
90.7 WTIP MN Grand Marais / N. Shore Comm. R. / 25kw / 2dBµ, mono (165 mi.)
90.9 WUPJ MI Escanaba / Strong Tower R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (201 mi.)
91.1 WGGL MI Houghton / Minnesota Public R. / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (141 mi.)
91.3 KUWS WI Superior / WPR Ideas / 83kw / 5dBµ, mono (270 mi.)
91.5 CKPR ON Thunder Bay / Hot AC / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
91.7 WCML MI Alpena / CMU Public R. / 92kw / 7dBµ, mono (287 mi.)
91.9 –
92.1 –
92.3 WJPD MI Ishpeming / Big Country / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
92.5 –
92.7 –
92.9 WJZQ MI Cadillac / Z93 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (302 mi.)
*93.1 CFNO ON Marathon / Hometown Sound / 50kw / 50dBµ, stereo (23 mi.)
93.3 –
93.5 WKMJ MI Hancock / Mix 93.5 / 25kw / 10dBµ, mono (135 mi.)
93.7 –
93.9 WNBY MI Newberry / Oldies 93 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (185 mi.)
94.1 WUPK MI Marquette / 94 Rock / 4.4kw / weak (157 mi.)
94.3 CJSD ON Thunder Bay / Rock 94 / 90kw / 15dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
94.5 WYPV MI Mackinaw City / WJML News R. //1110 / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (244 mi.)
94.5 WRJO WI Eagle River / Cl. Hits / 50kw / 10dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
94.7 –
*94.9 WUPZ MI Chocolay Twp. / The Bay / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
95.1 WLST WI Marinette / Cat Country / 100kw / faint, mono (258 mi.)
95.3 –
95.5 WIFC WI Wausau / CHR / 98.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (293 mi.)
95.7 WHWL MI Marquette / Gospel Opportunities / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
95.9 –
96.1 –
96.3 WLXT MI Petoskey / Lite 96.3 / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (260 mi.)
96.5 –
96.7 WMJT MI McMillan / Eagle 96.7 / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
96.7 WRGZ MI Rogers City / Country / 42kw / 5dBµ, mono (283 mi.)
96.9 –
97.1 WGLQ MI Escanaba / Magic 97 GLQ / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (183 mi.)
97.3 CBON-19 ON Nipigon / Ici Première / 2kw / 10dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
97.5 WTAQ WI Glenmore / NewsTalk 97.5 & 1360 / 3kw / faint (305 mi.)
97.7 WOLV MI Houghton / The Wolf / 6.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (132 mi.)
97.9 WIHC MI Newberry / Strong Tower R. / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (185 mi.)
98.1 CBON ON Sudbury / Ici Première / 50kw / fade-up (325 mi.)
98.3 WRUP MI Palmer / Cl. Rock / 2.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
98.5 WQLH WI Green Bay / Star 98 / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (290 mi.)
98.7 WGLI MI Hancock / The Rockin’ Eagle / 52kw / 5dBµ, mono (134 mi.)
98.9 CBQY ON Nipigon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 2kw / 5dBµ, mono (57 mi.)
98.9 WKLZ MI Petoskey / KLT The Rock Sta. / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (249 mi.)
99.1 WIKB MI Iron River / True Country / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (197 mi.)
99.3 WOWN WI Shawano / B99.3 / 14kw / fade up and down (284 mi.)
99.5 WNGE MI Negaunee / Oldies 99.5 / 3.6kw / 5dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
99.7 WIMI MI Ironwood / The Storm / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (219 mi.)
99.9 WHAK MI Rogers City / The Wave / 50kw / 5dBµ, mono (277 mi.)
100.1 WRHN WI Rhinelander / Jack FM / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (243 mi.)
100.3 WUPT MI Gwinn / The Point / 100kw / 10dBµ, mono (157 mi.)
100.5 –
100.7 WOBE MI Crystal Falls / Radio Now / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
100.9 –
101.1 WUPY MI Ontonagon / Superior Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (170 mi.)
101.3 –
101.5 WJNR MI Iron Mountain / Frog Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (209 mi.)
101.7 CBQ ON Thunder Bay / CBC Music Thunder Bay / 25kw / 3dBµ, mono (99 mi.)
101.9 WDEZ WI Wausau / Country / 98.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (293 mi.)
101.9 WKQS MI Negaunee / Sunny FM / 13kw / 2dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
102.1 –
*102.3 CBON-29 ON Marathon / Ici Première / 3.862kw / 40dBµ, mono (23 mi.)
102.5 WCMM MI Gulliver / The Moose / 60kw / 5dBµ, mono (196 mi.)
102.7 WRVM WI Suring / V. of the Master / 98kw / 2dBµ, mono (268 mi.)
102.9 WMKC MI Indian River / Big Country Hits / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (246 mi.)
103.1 –
103.3 WFXD MI Marquette / 103-FXD / 100kw / 3dBµ, mono (152 mi.)
103.5 WTCM MI Traverse City / Country / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (305 mi.)
103.7 –
103.9 WCMW MI Harbor Springs / CMU Public R. / 12kw / faint (246 mi.)
104.1 –
*104.3 WVCN MI Baraga / VCY America / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (158 mi.)
104.5 WZTC MI Traverse City / Bob FM / 1.75kw / in and out (284 mi.)
104.7 WHWA WI Washburn / WPR News & Classical / 17.5kw / 5dBµ, mono (231 mi.)
104.7 WYKX MI Escanaba / Kix Country / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (197 mi.)
104.9 –
105.1 WGFM MI Cheboygan / Rock 105 & 95.5 / 43kw / faint in car (272 mi.)
*105.3 CKTG ON Thunder Bay / Country 105 / 100kw / 15dBµ, mono (94 mi.)
105.5 WGKL MI Gladstone / Kool 105.5 / 20kw / 2dBµ, mono (205 mi.)
105.7 WZTK MI Alpena / News Talk Sports / 4.5kw / 3dBµ, mono (307 mi.)
105.9 WKHQ MI Charlevoix / 106 KHQ / 100kw / 5dBµ, mono (265 mi.)
106.1 –
106.3 WWMK MI Onaway / Mac FM / 31kw / 3dBµ, mono (251 mi.)
106.5 –
106.7 WSRT MI Gaylord / ESPN N. Michigan / 100kw / 2dBµ, mono (278 mi.)
106.9 –
107.1 –
107.3 WUPF MI Powers / Eagle 107.3 / 50kw / 2dBµ, mono (212 mi.)
*107.5 CBLM ON Marathon / CBC R. 1 Thunder Bay / 3.935kw / 40dBµ, mono (23 mi.)
107.7 WMQT MI Ishpeming / Q107 / 98kw / 10dBµ, mono (159 mi.)
107.9 –
Inconclusive signals: 88.1, 92.1, 93.9, 100.5, 104.1
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: Terrace Bay has two main locations for listening. The first is at the town’s main beach, Terrace Bay Beach, while the second is at an alternate beach frequented more by locals, which is Pumphouse Beach. Neither beach has any special features, but simply put, those are the options on this stretch of shoreline.
Terrace Bay Beach can be accessed easily via Beach Road through the golf course, 1 ½ miles from the Trans-Canada Highway. The beach has an on-site pit toilet and is primarily used as a boat launch parking area, as well as the trailhead for the Casque Isles Hiking Trail, a 33-mile shoreline trail. The quality of beach sand here is very poor, so it’s not at all recommended for its scenery. In addition, because most ducts on Lake Superior lie at 100+ feet, the beach’s elevation results in more sporadic signals, though this is partly to be expected due to the town’s distance from other cities in the region.
To counter the elevation issue, drive back into town and take Ridgewood Drive to Pumphouse Beach on the east side of town. There’s little scenic about this area; it’s purely functional. Ridgewood is a dirt road with a steady elevation drop to the pump house, which forms a loop in the road. This is an ideal location to park and monitor the band with a little added elevation. The beach itself is obscured by trees and unsigned with an entrance immediately under the pump house where the road loops around.
Another section of the dirt road continues into the forest ending in a dead end, which can be used for privacy if necessary. Without some planning, it is easy even for the most geographically-skilled travelers to get somewhat disoriented in this area as the road and trees all look the same, but rest assured, following the loop around will take you right back where you came from. At the top of the hill on Ridgewood where it meets the power lines is also a possible alternate site for more added elevation, though the area is more residential and somewhat inland. Marquette signals are very common strong in the higher inland areas.
Terrace Bay has services similar to those found in Marathon and Nipigon, the next towns of any size, an hour in either direction. The town has a hospital, shops – especially at Simcoe Plaza where a 50-foot model lighthouse was constructed in 2011 (free to climb) – and a few restaurants. It even has a Pizza Hut Express and Subway, which is a rare treat in these areas. Drifters Restaurant can be found immediately beside the lighthouse and is the finest dining you can find in town. Open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., they are the main dining option.
There is a sparse selection for accommodations in town, most of which feel like time travel to 1985 (as is common in all of Northern Ontario), but all are fine options. Drifters doubles as a motel and gas station, while Norwood Motel beside it is now co-owned by Drifters as well. Red Dog Inn is nearby. All three are suitable options, but space may be limited at the peak of summer.
Seven miles off shore is the Slate Islands Provincial Park, believed to be formed by an impact of a massive meteorite one billion years ago, offering backcountry camping (non-Canadians must obtain a Crown land camping permit) with a herd of woodland caribou. Access is limited to charter boats or your own modes of transportation. Closer to town, Aguasabon Gorge is only a minute outside town, is free, and worth a visit, rain or shine.
Location rating: Terrace Bay isn’t the best radio site on the north shore. It’s not especially scenic and doesn’t have adequate elevation. However, there are few strong local stations in the area, it is still possible to hear distant signals, there are plenty of services in town and still a few things to see and do if things don’t go your way. All in all, sometimes average is still pretty good, because when you’re 3 ½ hours from the nearest major city in the region, you’re really out there and you can’t expect radio signals to come pounding in as they may in areas 50 or 100 miles closer.
Terrace Bay may not be the greatest site around, but it’s still worthy of a visit. Climb the model lighthouse, explore a few shops, spend the night, and see what you can hear.