Sailing & Boating

At the hub of the Great Lakes, the north channel of Lake Huron has been described as one of the best boating regions on the planet.

The body of water Hilton Beach overlooks is known as the St. Joseph Channel. It is wide open water, but still sheltered from the large waves. A good, constant sailing wind is common.

With several islands, bays, high rock walls, hidden coves and large cottages along the shore, the Channel is a very scenic boating destination whether you’re powered by wind, motor or paddle.

A number of buoys, lighthouses, marks and signal lights make the channel easily navigable for most types of watercraft. Mega-yachts measuring over 250 feet long have anchored at Hilton Beach in the past.

Hilton Beach is about 1.5 miles south of the usual sailing track at the east end of the St. Joseph Channel and the approaches are clear whether coming from northwest, north or northeast. A white obelisk war memorial immediately northwest of the dock is prominent from the channel. The entrance is marked by a flashing red light (List Light 1052) and a port hand black day mark.

The Hilton Beach Marina is a full-service facility, featuring over 160 slips with at least 30 available to transient boaters. An 8 foot minimum depth is maintained at all docks, and yachts up to 75 feet long can be easily accommodated. Thirty amp and fifty amp electrical service and potable water hookups are available at every slip.

The Marina features a clean, modern service building, with shower, washroom and laundry facilities, competitively priced gas and diesel, and the Aqua Genic automatic pump-out service for boats.

It’s a secure, park-like environment with a scenic boardwalk following the shore, scattered with picnic tables and flowering crabapple trees. The eastern breakwall features a completely handicap-accessible pedestrian bridge and a scenic fishing/viewing pier from which you can view the entire marina and waterfront.

Marina staff are helpful and courteous, and can provide tourist information to visiting boaters. Staff can also arrange an on-site repair service for boaters in the event of a breakdown.