The Best Northern Ontario Road Trip

A road trip to Northern Ontario to experience the rugged coastline of Lake Superior is a trip like no other. It’s arguably Ontario’s best road trip and it offers up scenic vistas, waterfalls, fantastic hiking, and beautiful camping. While it can feel like quite the undertaking to get to the north, the drive is worth it. Over 9 days you can experience swimming in the chilly waters of Lake Superior, hiking the coastline, and hunting for precious gemstones in Thunder Bay.

This guide has everything for you to make the most out of your road trip to northern Ontario including the best spots for scenic views, where to sleep, and what not to miss. It’s a long drive to Thunder Bay but when you’re waking up to sunrises over Lake Superior, I promise you, it’s worth it to experience this part of Canada.

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Preparing for a Toronto to Thunder Bay Road Trip

The driving distance from Toronto to Thunder Bay and back is long. Driving directly, it’s almost 3000km roundtrip. But I’ve never been on a road trip where I took the quickest route and never backtracked, so prepare for more. The drive to Thunder Bay from Toronto is one of the best road trips in Ontario, as the views from the road between Batachawana Bay to Thunder Bay are beautiful.

All the usual advice for a road trip applies here. Make sure the car is in good condition, has good tires, windshield wiper fluid is topped up. But also, if you see a gas station, stop and fill up. There can be long distances between them and if you get stuck idling at road construction stops, you don’t want to run out.

Pack lots of snacks and a cooler with ice. It’s just really nice to have cold drinks and snacks for this drive. Gas stations as well as some of the campgrounds will sell ice if you need to top it up.

Try to avoid driving at night and be cautious around dusk and dawn. You will see a lot of roadside signs warning of moose and deer. Keep an eye on ditches for these as hitting one will surely ruin your trip.

The main highway you will be driving is Highway 17, part of the Trans-Canada Highway. There are a lot of improvements happening on it and it is quite busy with traffic, especially semi-trucks. Luckily many spots have two lanes or passing lanes in spots so you can either pass slow traffic or let people go by you. Even though the speed limit is 80 km/h many people are going much faster than that here.

Renting a Car for Driving Northern Ontario

If you don’t have your own car and need to rent one for this trip, I use Discover Cars for finding a good deal on rentals. Discover Cars compares pricing between local and international companies so you can find the best deal. Especially if you are traveling in the summer, make sure to book in advance to get the best deal and book with a highly-rated company.

Where to Stay in Northern Ontario

Even though I camped for this trip, I have included options for each place for hotels and motels as I know it’s not for everyone. Camping will mean less backtracking with driving but you can often find decent motels alongside Highway 17.

If you are camping, book well in advance for provincial parks as the best campsites go almost as soon as they are available and even the not-so-great spots are booked as well.

9 Day Northern Ontario Road Trip

Length: 9 days, 8 nights
Approximate km/miles: 2800 km (1739 miles), 30 hours round trip
Start and End Point: Toronto, but works with anywhere in Southern Ontario
Cities/Towns: Sudbury, Sault Ste Marie, Wawa, Thunder Bay
Top Sights: White River Suspension Bridge, Ouimet Canyon, Kakabeka Falls, Lake Superior Coastline

Day 1: Driving North and Pancake Bay

There’s no way around it, if you’re taking a road trip to northern Ontario, you’re going to have a couple of long days of driving. On the first day of driving my goal was to make it to Pancake Bay Provincial Park, past Sault Ste Marie. In total, it took 10 hours to get to Pancake Bay although I did stop along the way.

French River Provincial Park

The first stop was at French River Provincial Park. It’s right on the highway and it’s a good place to turn off for a bathroom break and stretching your legs a bit. It’s free to visit and park here. A short walk from the parking lot there is a beautiful pedestrian bridge with views over the French River.

Sudbury Nickel

Another possible place to stop on the drive up is in Sudbury at the Sudbury Nickel. It’s a little off course but it’s a classic stop on any northern Ontario road trip. If you have any extra time it’s located on the grounds of the Sudbury Science Centre.

After Sudbury, the next stop will be Sault Ste Marie for dinner before heading to the campsite at Pancake Bay. Don Burger in the Soo is fantastic and had amazing veggie burgers, I highly recommend stopping here on either the way up or back.

Pancake Bay is a fantastic place for a first-night stay after a long drive. I do wish I had a campsite a bit further from the highway but that’s on me for booking a last-minute campsite.

Where to Stay in Pancake Bay

Camping Pancake Bay Provincial Park has a beautiful beach and is a good spot to spend a night. I think the Hilltop Campground or campsites in the upper 400s would be your best bet for less highway noise.

Hotel If you aren’t a camper, check out the Voyageurs Lodge on Batchawana Bay. It’s right across the road from Lake Superior and you can still check out Pancake Bay if you want. There’s a restaurant on site.

If you want a shorter drive the first day, stop in Sault Ste. Marie and stay at the Fairfield Inn. I’ve stayed there before and it’s a nice hotel that is convenient to shops and restaurants.

Day 2: Pukaskwa National Park

I started off my day by swimming at Pancake Bay. Yes, even though I was there in August, Lake Superior was still very cold. The water here is extremely clear though and it is a beautiful beach.

After breakfast, I left for Pukaskwa National Park, a 3.5-hour drive from Pancake Bay. The stretch from Pancake Bay to Wawa is a beautiful drive as you are in Lake Superior Provincial Park and the forest stretches on across big hills with views out over Lake Superior.

Visit the Wawa Goose

Stop in Wawa to visit the famous Wawa Goose and to grab any last-minute groceries and gas. There is a parking lot with bathrooms at the goose statue. There is also a visitors centre and some plaques around the goose that talk about the history of Wawa and building the highway to Wawa, which goes through difficult terrain and was only completed in 1960.

After Wawa, I hit a ton of construction that slowed things down considerably so I ended up in Pukaskwa a bit later than expected. The great thing about Pukaskwa National Park is that the front country camping is all first come first serve so there is a pretty good chance of getting a great site. Most of the camping sites here actually seemed pretty great and it ended up being my favourite park that I visited on this trip.

Hike the Southern Headland Trail in Pukaskwa National Park

For my first evening in Pukaskwa, I did the Southern Headland trail hike which is only 2.2km and takes in views of the lake and Horseshoe Bay and ends at the beach. It’s definitely one hike I recommend doing as it’s easy and has gorgeous views.

Where to Stay in Pukaskwa National Park

Camping All the campsites are nice and private in Pukaskwa National Park. It’s first come first serve so no reservations are required. You do need a reservation for backcountry camping.

oTENTik If you aren’t a camper this is going to be the best option for Pukaskwa. oTENTiks are cabins located in the park that have mattresses and barbeques. You will need to book these well in advance.

Day 3: Coastal Hiking Trail to White River Suspension Bridge

For this day hike you do need to be moderately fit. It’s 18km round trip and can take between 5-7 hours depending on how quickly you hike. There are also quite a few uphill and downhill sections. Because some sections are across smooth stone including scrambling up and down them, I wouldn’t attempt this is if it was raining or the trail was wet. When I visited, it was August and I had zero problems with bugs and no need for bug spray. I think I got lucky though because I have read many reports of people being absolutely swarmed by bugs earlier in the season.

From the Coastal Hiking Trail there aren’t many views of Lake Superior as you mostly are walking through the forest. This isn’t a bad thing though as the forest is absolutely gorgeous. You start out by going through some forest and wetlands, including boardwalks and then descend into a mossy wonderland dotted with many mushrooms and berries. There are occasionally bear sightings here but the most exciting thing I saw on my hike was a Spruce Grouse who seemed quite okay with people being nearby, almost like a forest chicken.

The White River Suspension Bridge is a great view 23 meters over Chigamiwinigum Falls. It’s a great end to this hike and a good place to rest before returning on the same path.

After such a long day hike, it’s worth it to take a quick dip in Horseshoe Bay before settling in for a campfire. Horseshoe Bay is another one of those beautiful Lake Superior beaches and it’s generally quite empty. If you go in the morning there’s a good chance you will have it to yourself.

Day 4: More Hiking in Pukaskwa National Park

After a full day of hiking, it might not sound like a good time to do even more hiking but Pukaskwa National Park is so gorgeous it’s fun to explore all of it. There are also options here to rent kayaks or canoes if hiking doesn’t sound fun.

Hike Manito Miikana Trail in Pukaskwa National Park

The first hike I did was the Manito Miikana trail, a 2km hike that takes you up to really fantastic viewpoints over Lake Superior although it was foggy when I visited. This trail does require quite a few stairs and downhill sections but the lookout points are worth it. It takes you through blueberry bushes and over gorges. Despite being a short hike, there’s a lot of bang for your buck here.

Hike Bimose Kinoomagewnan in Pukaskwa National Park

The second hike I did today was probably my least favourite out of all of them but gives a different perspective on the park, Bimose Kinoomagewnan. This 3.7km trail is unique in that there are plaques there to explain the Seven Grandfather Teachings from Ojibway elders. These plaques alone make it worth the hike. The walk around Halfway Lake is nice and if you’re lucky, you will also make a butterfly friend like I did and have one land on you. This has to be one of the most magical things to happen while out in nature, a butterfly choosing you as a place to rest and feel safe.

Day 5: Drive from Pukaskwa to Thunder Bay

While the drive between Pukaskwa and Thunder Bay should only be 3.5 hours, the reality is that this is probably the most beautiful stretch of the road trip and there are many places to stop. If you can, I recommend stopping every time you see a sign that says there is a lookout and budget more time than you think you need.

Aguasabon Falls

I could have stayed at Pukaskwa National Park for longer than I did. It was just such a beautiful park but it was time to move on towards Thunder Bay so I got an early start as it was a packed day of sights. The first stop of the day was at Aguasabon Falls in Terrace Bay. This one is very easy to just drive by so carefully look for signs. It’s a quick walk to the falls and worth the stop.

Best Viewpoints: Rossport and Kama Bay

While there are many great places to stop for viewpoints, one of my favourite stops was at the Rossport picnic area. There are bathrooms here and you are at water level so you can appreciate how crystal clear the water is. After Rossport, a great place for a view is the Kama Bay lookout point over Lake Superior.

Hike to Ouimet Canyon

Ouimet Canyon was my next stop for a short hike to view the canyon. Ouimet Canyon is a 100m deep canyon that is so deep that at the bottom you can find plants that typically are only found in the Arctic. It’s worth the drive to see it as pictures just do not do it justice for how deep the canyon is.

Kakabeka Falls

From Ouimet Canyon, I headed towards Kakabeka Falls, which is just past Thunder Bay but not to be missed. This waterfall is worth the extra drive. Falling 40m, this waterfall on the Kaministiquia River was an important portage location used by voyageurs making their way north. Make sure to view Kakabeka Falls from both sides of the river as the side further from the main parking lot actually has the best views.

Before heading to my hotel I tried out Bonobo’s Foods vegetarian restaurant, the mushroom melt here was seriously delicious and well worth the stop. I took a break from camping and had a proper shower and bed at the Valhalla Inn. I really liked this hotel and found it to be in a convenient location.

Where to Stay in Thunder Bay and Sleeping Giant

Camping Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is a bit rustic as the site I stayed at only had outhouse toilets though a short drive away there were bathrooms with showers. I stayed in the Marie Louise Lake Campground and many of these sites did not have any kind of privacy and it seemed quite crowded. You definitely want a lakefront site that gives you more privacy and easy lake access. Try to book sites between 117-138.

Hotel Valhalla Inn was a really nice place to stay and I would definitely stay again. It’s next to the airport but is very quiet.

Day 6: Exploring Thunder Bay and Amethyst Mines

Today was supposed to be hiking the Top of the Giant trail in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park but the weather had different ideas. It absolutely poured rain. I didn’t work a rain day into the plan so because it’s an all-day hike, it ruined my chances to hike the giant on this trip. If it’s the main goal for you here, you may want to add an extra day to your schedule.

Thunder Oak Gouda Factory

Not wanting to let the weather ruin a good trip, my first stop of the day was out to Thunder Oak gouda factory. This cheese factory makes lots of different types of gouda and also sells other locally produced items like Wolfhead Coffee and imported Dutch food. It was well worth the stop as the cheese is super delicious.

Amethyst Mining

After stocking up on gouda, it was off to check out an amethyst mine. Thunder Bay is home to the world’s largest amethyst mine. There are a couple that you can visit in the area, I went to Amethyst Mine Panorama. You do have to pay admission to the mines but that includes a short tour and history of the mine. Then you are given a bucket and some tools and its time to set out into the field to look for some amethyst. I know it’s just picking through rocks but it’s more fun than it sounds. There’s great joy to be found in finding not a shard of amethyst but a piece that still has its crystal form. You pay by weight for your finds here or you can purchase something in the gift shop. I would budget for 1-2 hours here.

The rain started to subside so it was off to check into the campsite at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Unfortunately on the drive in it was very cloudy so there weren’t great views. The campsite was fantastic though. It was right on Marie Louise Lake with steps down to the beach.

Day 7: Sleeping Giant and Lake Superior

Even though I missed out on doing the hike I wanted to do at Sleeping Giant, I was at least able to do part of it by hiking the 2.4km Sea Lion Trail. It was a super short hike but had fantastic views of the lake and you end with seeing a rock formation the looks like a Sea Lion.

Thunder Bay Lookout over Lake Superior

While heading out of the park it’s worth it to stop at the Thunder Bay Lookout Road. The road is pretty rough and can be in bad shape as it is a dirt road so be prepared for some rough driving. The lookout from here is absolutely spectacular. It helped take away from not being able to do the lookout from the Top of the Giant. The lookout here is high above Lake Superior and it feels like the view goes on forever. It definitely was a highlight of Sleeping Giant.

Drive to Lake Superior Provincial Park

Afterward, do the 5.5-hour drive to Lake Superior Provincial Park. The drive back towards Wawa is probably even better than the way there as at some points you are going downhill with amazing views of Lake Superior in front of you. Because it’s such a long drive I wouldn’t plan for any viewpoint stops today or anything extra. The only major stop I made was in White River to see the Winnie the Pooh statue as this is the home of the real Winnie bear that inspired Winnie the Pooh.

I didn’t arrive at Lake Superior until the evening so there wasn’t time once there to do any sightseeing. It was just setting up the site and trying to (unsuccessfully) start a fire with wet wood. I stayed at Agawa Bay campground and while I am sure there are good sites as I saw them, mine wasn’t it. When booking it looked like there was space between the road and the campsite but realistically, there was a ditch, a few trees, and then my tent. Which meant listening to loud trucks on the highway all night. Agawa Bay has a beautiful beach and Lake Superior Provincial Park is well worth the stop.

Where to Sleep in Lake Superior and Wawa

Camping Lake Superior Provincial Park has two main campgrounds. I stayed in the Agawa Bay Campground as it is right on the main highway. Agawa Bay is beautiful, however, some of the sites are right next to the highway so it is loud at night. Try to book a site that is on the lake or looks like there is some space from the road (sites over 312). Rabbit Lake is the other campground which is quite a bit off the main highway and likely a bit quieter.

Hotel Wawa is your best bet for a hotel. I’ve stayed in the Mystic Isle Motel on past trips and it’s a very nice motel with easy access to Wawa and Lake Superior.

Day 8: Exploring Lake Superior Provincial Park

I started off the day by driving to Old Woman Bay. This is a super pretty beach and nice place to swim if you can handle the cold waters.

Nokomis in Lake Superior Provincial Park

From Old Woman Bay you can do the Nokomis hike. It’s just across the street from the parking lot. Nokomis is a 5 km hike and it gives you gorgeous views over Old Woman Bay. It does require a lot of uphill walking as you gain 200m in elevation. It was easily my favourite hike in Lake Superior as the viewpoints from the top give you very tropical vibes. You could almost be forgiven for forgetting you are in the middle of the boreal forest rather than looking out over a tropical beach.

Agawa Rocks

After hiking Nokomis, it was off to the Agawa Rocks. It’s a short hike to these pictographs that are right on the edge of Lake Superior. Actually seeing the pictographs is sort of challenging as they are right next to slippery rocks and you have to be quite careful to walk on this narrow trail. These pictographs are some of the most famous in Canada and it is a sacred site. One of the most recognizable pictographs is Misshepezhieu, a horned animal that is the spirit of the water.

Pinguisibi (Sand River) Hike in Lake Superior Provincial Park

The 3km hike along Pinguisibi trail in Lake Superior takes you alongside the Sand River to multiple waterfalls and rapids. This easy hike is well worth it as you get to see two main waterfall areas and it’s quite beautiful. You can get fairly close to the waterfalls and it’s a fun area to explore. I could have easily spent more time here walking along the river.

Katherine Cove

After hiking to Sand River Waterfalls it was off to Katherine Cove. By this time it was pouring rain so I did a short walk at Katherine Cove. It seems like a nice area to swim. I was hoping to visit Bathtub Island as this is where you start your visit from but the weather was working against me, the last thing I wanted to do was swim. If you have nicer weather than I did, you can check out directions to Bathtub Island here, as it is supposed to be a good experience.

After Katherine Cove, it continued to pour rain so it made for quite a soggy evening.

Day 9: Heading Home

After a fantastic week spent road tripping in Northern Ontario, it was a long day of driving back to Toronto. My first stop of the day was at Voyageurs Lodge and Cookhouse near Batchawana Bay. I had seen multiple billboards alongside the highway about their famous apple fritters so naturally, I had to stop. It’s a voyageur-themed restaurant and they make a good breakfast and super yummy apple fritters. They also sell some souvenirs in the shop.

Chippewa Falls

My last major stop on this trip was at Chippewa Falls, not far from Batchawana Bay Provincial Park. This waterfall is a short walk from the parking lot and has been featured in some of the Group of Seven paintings. It’s a nice place to stretch your legs before sitting in the car all day.

Northern Ontario’s Lake Superior Road Trip

This road trip to Thunder Bay was even better than I had expected. I had previously been in the area for work and while driving through to the West Coast but taking the time to explore the area turned was a great decision. The scenery around Lake Superior is absolutely breathtaking, and in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Ontario.

What to Read Next:
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