Provincial Park Paradise

Only a half an hour from town.

Sault Ste. Marie's Naturally Gifted character is only enhanced by its proximity to Lake Superior. The spectacular coastal landscape north of the city is easily accessed via the TransCanada Highway, where visitors can enjoy several parks established along the largest of the Great Lakes and the inland lakes and rivers of Algoma Country.

Paula Trus

A half-hour drive from town and located within the embrace of a large bay, warm water, a long sandy beach, washroom and picnic facilities make Batchawana Bay Provincial Park a favourite destination for day-trippers.

0874Aurora ptrus

Pancake Bay Provincial Park is also centred around the clean, clear and refreshing waters of Lake Superior that wash up on a three kilometre long sand beach. The addition of a 325 site campground (160 electrical) means you can extend your stay in a tent, camper or RV to enjoy the swimming, paddling and 17km of hiking trails, venturing through wetlands, forested ancient beach ridges and up to several lookout platforms over Lake Superior.

Yurt camping is also available, each equipped with beds to sleep up to six. Another 60km up the highway brings you to the southern border of 1,600km Lake Superior Provincial Park. Brooding headlands, sand and cobble beaches, deep river valleys, cliff faces and the rounded granite mountains of the Canadian Shield make the 83km drive through the park one of the most spectacular in Canada. While it's a stunning landscape to pass through, sticking around for a closer look is an option in one of 207 campsites (58 electrical) in three full service campgrounds or in one of 200 backcountry campsites.

Paula Trus

The options for penetrating the backcountry are as varied and extreme as the terrain itself. There are eight maintained canoe routes that follow the interconnected lakes and white water rivers of the interior and along the remote coastline of the big lake. Eleven hiking trails, ranging from 2km nature walks to the rugged and demanding 65km Coastal Trail, lead to the natural and historic treasures of the park. One of the most well-travelled is the short, rugged trail that leads to the Agawa Rock Pictographs Site, where 35 red ochre images grip a sheer cliff face along the water's edge.
 

Paula Trus

Even more remote and offering similar Lake Superior wilderness travel opportunities is the 1,850km Pukaskwa National Park to the north west. A full service campground as well as backcountry sites along the Coastal Hiking Trail and several wilderness rivers accommodate travellers of this exemplary landscape. More accessible is White Lake Provincial Park, along the TransCanada Highway west of White River, where a full-service campground and good walleye or pike fishing on 20km long White Lake await. Farther inland, Missinaibi Provincial Park promises fishing and native pictographs sites on Missinaibi Lake and the possibility of following the historic canoe route along the Missinaibi River 500km north to James Bay at Moosonee. Tiny by comparison, the short walking trail at Potholes Provincial Park leads to the sculpted chutes and glacier-eroded circular potholes in the bedrock along the Kinniwabi River. All within a half days drive of Sault Ste. Marie.

About James Smedley

Professional photographer and writer James Smedley’s contributions—more than 400 pieces and close to 1,000 images—to U.S. and Canadian books, magazines, and newspapers have earned him over 40 national and international awards. In addition to teaching photography workshops, James is the travel editor at Ontario OUT of DOORS magazine. James has fly-fished for brook trout and arctic grayling in far northern rivers and continues to cast for trout, bass, and steelhead near his home in the northern Ontario town of Wawa where he lives with his wife Francine and daughters Islay and Lillian.

 

Visit James at www.jamessmedleyoutdoors.com

Recommended Articles

Guided Paddling and Hiking, Now Even Better

7 reasons to add Thrive Tours to your Northern Ontario Bucket List adventure.

Where to find the wild side of winter

By snowbile of course!

6 New Places You Must Visit

Get there before the holidays!

Good Things Come To Those Who Bait

Best Places To Fish and Tips From The Pros

First-Rate Sport Facilities

Play Where The Homegrown Athletes Do

Sault Ste. Marie's Best Festivals And Events: April 24 - Dec 31 2015!

September Is About Mud and Music: Your Guide Where To Find It In Sault Ste. Marie

Gros Cap Bluffs: A Snowshoe and Hiking Paradise Just 20 Minutes West Of SSM

Dream The Dream: The Musical Comedy Guild Takes You Behind The Scenes of Les Misérables

The Ultimate Caboose Camping Experience

9 Facts to Know about the Agawa Canyon Tour Train

Get ready for a bucket list experience in the wilderness of Northern Ontario.

Get sandy this summer in and around the Soo

6 best beaches for any occasion.

7 great bird-watching spots in Sault Ste. Marie

Perfect for both hard-core listers and family fun

Snowshoe away the winter blues

When your hinterland hibernation turns into claustrophobic carb-loading, it’s time to get outdoors

Freedom Of The Hills

Best Places To Connect With Nature

The Best Cosy Soo Cafes

Get your warm on

A four season destination!

Offering something for everyone, anytime of the year.

A Deliciously Affordable Trip

Great food on a traveller's budget.

For The Single Girls

10 Amazing Date Ideas To Take Yourself On This Winter

Sault Ste. Marie Is A Prime Cycling Destination

Here Are The Top Routes To Try