Sault Ste. Marie Forest Service Road 3338 St. Marys River Backcountry Access
Voyageur route with Great Lakes shipping views
Forest Service Road 3338 follows the ancient voyageur portage route along the St. Marys River, where French fur traders once hauled canoes around the Sault Rapids. This 24-mile backcountry access road provides spectacular views across the shipping channel to Ontario’s wilderness coast while navigating through mixed hardwood forest and rocky outcrops. The notorious Devils Elbow section at Mile 16 features loose rock switchbacks and a steep descent to Harmony Beach, where massive Great Lakes freighters pass within a few hundred yards of your campfire.
Stock high-clearance vehicles can handle most of the route, though the final 8 miles require 4WD for loose sand and rock gardens. Spring mud season turns sections into axle-deep quagmires, so wait until June. No permits required for the forest service portion, but camping requires Michigan Recreation Passport. Bring extra water — creek sources aren’t reliable. This route offers unbeatable Great Lakes wilderness camping with front-row seats to international shipping traffic and some of the UP’s most pristine backcountry.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 780 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |
| Land manager | Hiawatha National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
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