The Canadian north shore of Lake Superior is renowned as one of the most scenic drives in the country. Whether traveling north from Minnesota or Michigan, the rolling terrain becomes increasingly rugged as the Canadian Shield emerges. This is the term used to describe the bedrock that covers over half of Canada. The topography is dramatic and includes scenic vistas of rocky shorelines and the open waters of Lake Superior.

The twists and turns of the Trans-Canada highway take its travelers from the Pigeon River, an historic canoe route that was used by the Ojibwa and the voyageurs, to the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie. The St. Marys River is the outflow of Lake Superior and from here waters flow to the upper Great Lakes system. Travelers will find an abundance of parks and campgrounds that range from interior campsites to full-service RV sites. Camping on “Crown Land” or provincial land is also an option; however, non-residents require a permit.

Ontario’s shoreline is the most forested and wild stretches of shoreline on the Great Lakes. In 2007, Parks Canada created the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area – the largest freshwater marine conservation area in the world. A second National Park, Pukaskwa, is home to the third highest peak in Ontario (Tip Top Mountain) and a small population of Woodland Caribou.

The area is also sparsely populated with a collection of small towns sprinkled between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie – two of the largest cities on Lake Superior.


Thunder Bay
Nipigon
Red Rock
Rossport
Screiber
Terrace Bay
Marathon
Manitouwadge
White River
Wawa
Batchawana Bay
Goulais River
Sault Ste Marie