Wrapping 700 kilometres around the northeast side of Lake Superior, this stretch of the Trans-
Canada Highway is a seven-hour drive from Sault to Bay, but could (and should!) be extended into a
seven-day adventure.a

It’s a Provincial Park paradise peppered with forests, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and Canadian history. Outdoor enthusiasts: You’ll want to pack up your tents, dust off your hiking boots, and make sure you have extra camera batteries to capture all that Mother Nature has to offer.

1. Take a boo at the Sault

This city is a great place to take in culture. Tour the Art Gallery of Algoma, where you can view more than 5,000 works by local artists; indulge in local flavours on a guided Blaq Bear Culinary Adventure; and shop at the Totem Pole for locally made moccasins, mukluks, jewellery, clothing and other souvenirs to commemorate your trip. artgalleryof algoma.com;blaqbear.ca; thetotempole.ca 

2. Photograph pictographs in agawa

A two-hour drive north of Sault Ste. Marie—we recommend picnicking at Chippewa Falls (the halfway point en route)—you’ll reach a remarkable piece of history: sacred pictographs painted centuries ago by Ojibway spiritual leaders. Look for the dragon-like Mishipeshu, a.k.a. The Great Lynx, the spirit of the Great Lakes and the mythical source of rapids, whirlpools and large waves. To reach this ancient artwork, you’ll hike through another iconic piece of Canadian history: the landscape that inspired the Group of Seven. algomacountry.com

 

3. Brake for birds in wawa

You’ll be awestruck by the rushing high water at Magpie Falls, which are only about one hour from the pictographs. Then, drive just 12 minutes more to reach a different birdstyle lookout altogether: The Wawa Goose. A 28-foot-tall steel goose built in 1967, this Ontario roadside attraction is as iconic as The Big Apple or the Big Nickel—it’s even been immortalized on a Canadian stamp. Wawa Township is also a great place to grab a bite and stock up on supplies. waterfallsofontario.com; wawa.cc

4. Double the diversion in two Parks

We couldn’t decide which park to recommend, so we decided to send you to two! Wild, secluded and spectacular, Pukaskwa National Park is home to lush boreal forest, driftwood beaches, granite shorelines, a suspension bridge over a rushing waterfall and paddling routes along still coves of Lake Superior that portagers won’t soon forget. Forty minutes north, Neys Provincial Park provides a different experience. Here, you’ll glimpse Pic Island, immortalized in one of Lawren S. Harris’s most renowned paintings, completed in 1924, and learn about the park’s checkered past as Neys Camp 100, which interned German and Japanese-Canadian POWs during the Second World War. Don’t skip the visitor centre, where you can examine a model and actual remains from the camp.  pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/pukaskwa; ontario parks.com/

5. herald the heights of canyon country

From Neys, you have a drive of two-and-a-half hours to build up the courage to face the daunting heights of Canyon Country in Dorion County. Start with the easy one-kilometre hike at the million-yearold Ouiment Canyon, which is 152 metres wide and almost a kilometre deep. From there, head to Eagle Canyon Adventures to really test your mettle on Canada’s longest suspension footbridge (183 metres across, 38 metres above the canyon floor) and zip-line, which cuts through the centre of the canyon. doriontownship.ca; ontarioparks.com/park/ouimetcanyon; eaglecanyonadventures.ca

 

6. Unearth amethysts in thunder bay

Gem country is so close to the canyons you can almost see the sparkle! Just 30 minutes away lies Amethyst Mine Panorama, a quarry for Ontario’sofficial gemstone. This family-owned and -operated mine offers guided tours where you can even dig out your own amethysts for a small fee and take home a one-of-akind souvenir to commemorate the last leg of your trip. amethystmine.com

7. Feel the thrill of Thunder Bay

Welcome to your final destination, where there’s lots to see and do. Immerse yourself in history at Fort William fur trading post, recreated as it existed in 1816, and explore the night sky at the nearby David Thompson Astronomical Observatory, which boasts one of the biggest telescopes in Canada. Climb the magnificent flattop, Mount McCay, where you can take in incredible views of another mega mesa: The Sleeping Giant. Visit Kakabeka Falls, one of Ontario’s highest waterfalls, to find out why it’s called the Niagara of the North. And last, but far from least, pay homage to a Canadian icon at the Terry Fox Monument, memorializing the last stop on this hero’s Marathon of Hope. visitthunderbay.com