Beaches on Drummond Island

Big Shoal Bay Beach
​Big Shoal Bay Beach is considered a Township Park, but does not permit overnight camping.  The park has a good sized parking lot, out-door toilet, narrow sandy beach, picnic tables and spectacular vistas out through the islands of the cove.  On the beach you will find four enormous flat rocks which are very pitted but a great delight for the children.  The floor of the swimming beach is mostly sand with a few round pebbles.  The water does not deepen quickly, but be ever attentive to your children in the water.  
The beach is a wonderful place to launch your kayak or canoe.  Intermediate kayakers will enjoy the 3.5 mile (one way) trip around the point to Scammon Cove, where you can paddle over the wreck of the schooner barge TROY which sunk due to fire in 1920.  The Troy was 187 feet in length, made of wood, is lying in 5-10 feet of water with parts of her ribs sticking out of the water.  This has great interest for the snorklers also.  About .25 to .5 miles to the west and south just off Meade Island lies the tug SILVER SPRAY in 5-10 feet of water.  Although still on the Marine Registry in 1939, it is believed this vessel sunk in the 1920’s.  This is a good way to spend the better part of a day exploring these vessels.  Paddle with caution, you will be exposed to the south prevailing winds
Big Shoal Bay Beach is located on the southeastern end of Drummond Island.  From the Visitor’s Center at the Four Corners proceed east on Johnswood Road (approximately 6.5 miles) to Bass Cove Road.  On Bass Cove Road go to the second right turn onto Big Shoal Bay Road (approximately .5 miles), then proceed one more mile to the beach.  The road is paved from Four Corners to the beach parking lot.  Good bicyclists will enjoy this long ride on a paved road with very little traffic.
Camping is allowed at Glen Cove with the proper DNR Camp Registration Card. This can be picked up at the Drummond Island Visitor’s Center or your local DNR office (they are free, but required).
Glen Cove
Glen Cove Beach is located on the eastern end of Drummond Island. From the Visitor’s Center at the Four Corners proceed east on Johnswood Road (approximately 6.5 miles) to the left hand turn onto Kreetan Road. When Kreetan Road intersects with Turkey Ranch Road make a sharp right onto Glen Cove Road (sometimes referred to as Sheep Ranch Road). Johnswood Road is paved and the Kreetan/Glen Cove Road is hard packed gravel, you can make this trip in a 2 wheel passenger car, a bicycle, or an ATV. From Johnswood Road/Kreetan Road/Glen Cove Road continue six miles and make a left hand turn to the Glen Cove Beach parking lot. Here you will find a large farm gate denying access to the beach by motorized vehicles. No matter, the view opens up to a large half-moon shaped cove, with sand beaches on the left and right and small “hard heads” on the rest of the one mile arc. It’s easy walking the entire distance and the kids enjoy looking for the pretty colored stones.
Tent camping is permitted on the beach and you may also build a campfire; be sure to extinguish the fire if you leave your campsite. The floor of the swimming beach is sandy and extends out quite a distance; however, keep an alert eye on your children, as there are no lifeguards. The sandy beach is great for launching your kayak or canoe for the cove is fairly sheltered from the wind. Intermediate kayakers would enjoy the 2.5 mile paddle from the Glen Cove Beach south to Pilot Harbor. Pilot Harbor is protected from the wind and since it is also state land, camping is permitted with the proper DNR Camp Registration Card.
 
The Glen Cove parking lot is a good place to leave your car if you are planning to hike the well marked trail to the Marble Head Viewpoint (six miles round trip). At the viewpoint you are 150 feet above the water on an outcropping of limestone looking into Lake Huron and two miles over to the Canadian island of Cockburn (pronounced Coburn).
Drummond Island Township Park Beach
The Drummond Island Township Park is located approximately 6 miles from the Ferry Dock. A directional sign on the left-hand side of M-134 leads you down a very winding hard packed gravel road to the park entrance (0.5 miles). It is a first come, first served park, no reservations. You can elect to use the park on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

One section of the park leads you to a sand beach, where the water is nice and shallow about 100 yards out. From the beach you can walk to a neighboring small island, which the kids really enjoy.