Road Trip in Northern Ontario

Your first stop is at Sudbury. This old mining town is home of the Big Nickel. It has grown rapidly over the past decade. There is plenty to see and do in town. You can visit the Dynamic Earth. It is a museum dedicated to geology. Check out their outdoor science park in the summer months. As soon as you enter, grab your pass for their underground tour. It will be the highlight of your trip as you descend 7 stories and walk in the footsteps of Sudbury’s miners while learning about the evolution of mining.

Drive west for 4 hours along the Trans-Canada Highway to Sault Sainte Marie. This town is one of the oldest settlements in North America. Sault Sainte Marie is the third-largest city in Northern Ontario. Enjoy its history and culture. The town is home to a number of amazing attractions, so you will need all the afternoon if you want to discover each of them.

Start your afternoon at the Sault Sainte Marie Canal National Historic Site. It offered passage from Lake Superior to Lake Huron for the shipping industry.

After your visit at the canal, discover the Art Gallery of Algoma. This art gallery is the only one collecting public gallery between Sudbury and Thunder Bay. Their collection of 5 000 pieces includes a wide variety of artists, including many Group of Seven originals as well as Aboriginal works.

Your third stop is the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre which is located just down the street from the art gallery. There are several planes where you can go inside! From versatile aircrafts like the DHC-2 Beaver to one of a kind experimental planes like the Macgregor MG-65.

The fourth stop is the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site. This old stone house built by Charles Ermatinger in the early 1800s is the oldest house in Northwestern Ontario.

Wander at your leisure while exploring the beauty of Lake Superior. The largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior is also the largest freshwater lake. The coastal drive can be as busy or as relaxed as you like, but take your time exploring the beautiful Lake Superior shoreline.

You will be driving through Lake Superior Provincial Park, so if you plan on stopping and exploring at all within the park’s boundary, head to the visitors’ centre to pay your entry fee. You will want to visit either way as they have a great exhibit there showcasing the history of Lake Superior and the area.

Other stops should include Chippewa Falls, Batchawana Bay, a hike to Agawa Bay for the amazing Agawa Rock Pictographs. At the end of the day return to Sault Sainte Marie at the Quality Inn & Suites Bay Front.

After your early morning breakfast, cross the street for an 8:00 am departure on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. You will hear about the history of the area as the train winds through the landscapes of Ontario. Enjoy gorgeous views of Trout Lake, the Batchewana River, the Montreal River Reservoir and more!

Once back to the town, enjoy the Hub Trail. It is a pedestrian walkway with great views of the Saint Mary’s River. Finish the day with stunning colours and the sun setting behind the International Bridge.

On this day, take the Trans-Canada Highway heading east back towards Sudbury. You can take a 45 minute detour to a beautiful area named Onaping Falls and the AY Jackson Lookout.

You have several options, depending on what time you arrive in Sudbury. The first option is discovering the street art in downtown. The second option is driving to the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. It offers several hiking trails with a number of lookouts. You can also go canoeing or kayaking in this area.

On this day, you should visit Science North. Home to an amazing science centre, an IMAX theatre, a planetarium and more, there’s lots to see and explore. There are plenty of exhibits across their four floors. Enjoy watching butterflies and identifying fossils on the second floor.

A the end of the day, wander through the Northern Forest exhibit outside towards the back of the building. You will find the Bell Park Boardwalk which leads along the shores of Hermit’s Bay. In the summer you will find plenty of yachts and canoes in the water.

After your breakfast, you can walk on the Bell Park Boardwalk before returning to Montreal.