We are expecting many first time Mar Mac clients this summer with whom we are beyond excited to share our region of beautiful Northern Ontario. The drive north of Sault Ste. Marie, ON will amaze you. This picturesque route is one of the main reasons many travelers come to the Algoma Region. The two and a half hour span between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa has been named one of the 10 prettiest drives in Canada. There are many beautiful sites to behold; the ocean-like waters of Lake Superior, long empty beaches, towering pre-Cambrian rock faces and stunning views of the mountainous boreal forest region. We make this trip multiple times a year and to this day, no matter the season, it still takes our breath away.
You can’t fully experience this fantastic natural area without getting out of your car. Here are our TOP FIVE recommended experiences along the way, in order from Sault Ste. Marie to White River. Choose a couple of these stops for the drive up and save the others for your return trip. Don’t forget your camera!
1 – Pancake Bay Lookout Trail – a 6km out and back hike, the uphill portion to the viewing platform is worth it! Take in great views of Pancake Bay and Whitefish Point where the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in 1975.
2 – Katherine’s Cove – explore the beaches and swim in Superior if you can handle the icy water! This is also your chance to contrast the cold water with a delightful visit to the famous Bathtub Island.
3 – Agawa Indigenous Pictographs – If you choose just one thing on this list, make it these Pictographs. Meet Mishipeshu and more. Agawa Rock is a sacred lakeside site located in Lake Superior Provincial Park, around 150 km north of Sault Ste. Marie. Once you see the pictographs, be sure to take a short stroll to the picturesque Sinclair’s Cove before returning to your car. This is a fantastic place to take a dip if you can handle Lake Superior’s frigid temperatures!
4 – Orphan Lake Trail – A magnificent, 8km loop, leading to a bird’s eye view of Lake Superior.
5 – Scenic High Falls – Just outside of Wawa, on the southern end of the Magpie River (yes, the same Magpie River that our beloved Esnagi Lake flows into) you can find these lovely falls.
There are countless other areas to stop along this route. It really was difficult to choose just five! Any signed lookout along the way is worthy of a stop. We highly recommend simply just pulling safely to the side of the road anytime you see something that interests you. It was super hard not to put Old Woman Bay on the list. Make sure you stop there too!
We are always free to help you plan a personalized itinerary for your drive. Contact us and let us show you the Northern Ontario we love!
Stay tuned, next week’s blog will be our TOP FIVE Businesses to check out along this famous route.
In the meantime, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter and check us out on social media by using the links at the top right of this page.
