Soo Locks

Soo Locks

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
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  • Brian
    Tampa, Florida9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Totally worth stopping by to watch a freighter pass through
    Free to visit and well worth it to watch the freighters come through. There is a great observation deck where you can stand and watch the freighters. It almost seems like you can reach out and touch them when they are in front of you. It is very cool to see them on the lakes but when they pass by 20-30ft in front of you it is definitely a perspective that is worth going to see.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 May 2024
  • Treker650
    Kaysville, Utah206 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must do!
    A must do! We were fortunate to watch a barge go through the locks. Fascinating history and engineering. The hotline for ships passing through the locks is 906-202-1333, call so you won't miss the opportunity to watch the locks in action.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 June 2024
  • Elizabeth M
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must see
    Fun to watch and experience. Plenty of places to view. If you have a family member that wants to sit and watch and you don't want to also stay, you can mosey across the street and go shopping. It is free to get in and there are security checks at the entrance.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 June 2024
  • jpete02
    Lansing, Michigan993 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Civil engineering in action
    If you don’t feel like going on a two hour boat ride through the locks, this is a good option to quickly see the locks in action. Fairly recently renovated two level watch area directly next to the smaller lock and nicely done indoor exhibits about the locks themselves. Inside the visitors center, they have a board listing the scheduled freighters passing through for the day. If no freighters scheduled, then you still should be able to see one of the many tour boats go through the locks. The locks raise the water levels for boats going towards Lake Superior and lower them for boats going toward Lake Huron. Takes about 10-15 minutes for the boats to go through. Nice strip of souvenir and snack shops across from the locks. No entry fee.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 July 2024
  • LE368
    Upper Sandusky, Ohio286 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great place to stop
    Great place to visit! My Dad has always wanted to see the locks and we went to UP so we could visit. Well worth a stop. Parking is all metered, but we were able to find a spot not far away. There is a checkpoint to check bags, but it's all free. We got there just in time to see a freighter go through. The volunteer was able to answer some questions. Visitors center was interesting.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 August 2024
  • A. M.
    100 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Soo Locks Visit
    Soo Locks Visitor Center a good place to visit. It's interesting to see the ships come into the locks viewing from the two-level platforms located behind the visitor center. There is a schedule check in at the center. The tourist area near the Soo Locks is just okay. We saw the locks and left.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 September 2024
  • BrianandFaithFalkowski
    Spring Lake, Michigan45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Original Soo Locks Boat Tour
    Absolutely must see. We took the Original Soo Locks Boat Tour. Very informative. Staff were excellent! Let the young children on the boat into the pilot house when moored so their parents could get a picture of them “driving” the boat. It was a fabulous tour! Highly recommend!!!
    Visited October 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 5 October 2024
  • Eisme77
    Janesville, Wisconsin2,194 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun to Visit
    After our time through Canada, this was a hard a fast return to traffic, crowds, and souvenir stores as we reentered the States. However, we really wanted to see the Locks since we were there. Parking is on-street and can be hard to come by on busy days. Expect to have bags searched upon entry. There is an interesting interpretive center available to wander through before heading out to see the Locks. While we just missed a large freighter coming through, we were able to climb the steps of the observation deck to see two tourist boats go through, so it was fun to see them in operation when we were there. Good activity for families and nice grounds to wander between the building and the canal.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 January 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1 737 reviews
Excellent
1 225
Very good
427
Average
66
Poor
14
Terrible
5

Dream630193
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
The Visitor Center was very informative and the viewing platform was good. Entrance was free, but parking outside on the streets may be bothersome at peak season. Use their website ahead of time for the telephone number to get an update of any ships traveling through the locks.
Written 27 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike A
Oshawa, Canada239 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
We saw a sign that sent us to this place while we travelled around the great lakes. This controlled access park is free admission and the lock viewing deck is good. The Historic Shipwrecks building is super informative and free to walk through ($1 donation appreciated). The washrooms are clean. Along with a visit to the shops and pubs in the area and a person could spend a whole day here!
Written 27 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

chasinUpstateNewYork
Romulus, NY707 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
I've been around water and boats and canale all my life, so locks are not a mystery to me. I've locked thru the St Lawrence Seaway, even. I'd never seen the SOO LOCKS, and so now one more bucket on my list is checked.
Post-911 security means we tourists are kept well away from the workings of the locks, Watching a "Footer" (the ships of 1,000 ft length or greater) enter the locks is a testament to the pilot's skills, it was WINDY straight astern as the ship (which barely fits the locks) made her way in.

You can look on line to check the ships scheduled to transit the locks, helping you plan your visit time. I'd suggest allowing at least 45 minutes, if the ship is on approach, longer if the ship isn't already entering the chamber. NOTE parking on the steet adjacent to the locks is PAY.
Written 27 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William W
Vacaville, CA481 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
Admission to the park, the viewing tower, and the visitors center are all free. Do it! With the free information in the visitors center about boats coming up and down the Saint Mary and the MarineTraffic app on my phone, I had a blast! I was thrilled that some iconic ships came through during my visit, including the Queen of the Queen of the Lakes, the Paul R Tregurtha. If you are fortunate to see this ship in the Locks, remember . . . she is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. It takes some time for the large ships to enter, but their time being raised or lowered is less than 30 minutes.
Written 26 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tedwards
USA255 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
This is the focal point of Sault Ste. Marie, basically a large park surrounded by a (nice-looking) iron security fence. Because it's a government facility run by the Army Corps of Engineers, you'll be asked as you walk through the entry gate if you're bringing any weapons or drugs in, and they may search your bag. It was always a very quick process for me (I made multiple visits), and the guards are very professional.

Once inside, you can get very close up to the Locks themselves, and really appreciate the size of the ships that pass through. The viewing stands (for a higher up view) were closed as of July 2020, but you can still get right up to the fence for some great photos of the ships, as well as the historic Administration Building and the Locks themselves. There are also informational banners attached to the fence that do a nice job helping you understand the importance of the site, and of Great Lakes shipping in general. The Visitor Center was also closed, but they had a table out front with brochures and information, and a ranger who was very friendly and willing to answer to questions.

Across the street from the Locks are souvenir and other shops. Prime parking in town is metered, so be sure to have some quarters handy. If you don't mind walking a little, there is free parking a little further down. I recommend grabbing some fudge from "Fudge du Locke" across the street first, then enter the park and find a nice spot to enjoy watching the ships lock through.
Written 27 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robi0376
Minneapolis, MN41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
We drove over from Tahquamenon Falls (highly recommend) and parked our camper on the street (easy RV labeled street parking). We walked in, someone said a ship was coming in. We quickly walked up to the second level viewing deck (free) and a volunteer was standing there and told us all about what was happening, history, length of boat, and anything we could want to know about that particular boat or the locks themselves. It was a VIP type experience we just walked into by chance and was amazing. Highly recommend finding a volunteer standing on the deck. I do think the volunteer could have been wearing something that made it look like he worked there (I don't think people knew). Then we went into the visitor center (great building and information and all free). We learned so much. We were only there about an hour in total and my kids all agreed it was very interesting. They are 16, 13, 11 and usually don't love this type of thing, but it was presented so well, I think they actually got it!
We then went to the gift shop across the street, then the Superior Coast brewery at the end of the street for a few apps and beer/cider. It was a great purchase and we bought several to go!
Written 19 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dstampor
Troy, MI58 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Ah, the Soo Locks. One of those wonders that every one needs to see. It is truly an amazing feat how these massive ships are raised and lowered to continue on their journey to transport various resources. The size of the ships is something to behold, and learning the history and process of the Locks adds to the experience. As cool as it is conceptually, the actual raising/lowering of a boat (we saw one of the large ones 1000 footer) is cool for not the entire time. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the ship to be raised or lowered. It does get a bit long. And, while you can keep an 11 year old entertained for a bit, it is asking a lot for him to wait the whole time. Still, something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. You can get a boat tour, but not sure how much a child would appreciate the experience.
Written 28 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JanJ
Lisbon, NH125 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021 • Couples
Such an interesting place to visit. The visitor center requires face masks while indoors and social distancing outdoors. Our timing was perfect because there was a freighter waiting to enter the lock. We were able to see the ship go through the lock, the water raised so the ship could continue on it’s voyage. The weather was perfect but it is a little chilly on the platform because the platform is covered.
Written 14 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevots
Philadelphia, PA158 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
The Soo Locks are an engineering marvel, providing a connection from Lake Superior to Huron. Stop at the welcome center first. It is chock full of historic and technical info about the origins, construction and ongoing improvements. A two-story observation walk borders one of the two locks. You can always see tour boats passing through the locks, but check the board in the welcome center to see what large ships are scheduled to come through. There is likely a way to find out this information ahead of your visit, so you can time your arrival appropriately.
We watched two ships come through, first in the far lock and next in the lock right next to the observation walk. The size of the ships is incredible and the width of the lock barely accommodates the ship, so it requires expert navigation. It’s kind of slow, but worth staying for the 45 minutes it takes for the ship to pass through.
Highly recommended! Kids may get a little antsy, due to the time it takes for the entire process.
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carol W
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
Finally made it to the Soo Locks. We were so lucky to arrive minutes before a 600 ft. cruise ship came into the locks and we spent 20+ minutes watching them raise the large ship 12+ feet to be able to enter Lake Superior. It was fascinating. The only complaint I have is the observatory deck hasn't been cleaned in some time. there are cobwebs and friends in all the corners and upper area of the glass.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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SOO LOCKS (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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