A Guide to Communities in the Algoma Region

Algoma Country is framed by Lake Superior and Lake Huron, and our region begins just east of Spanish, northwest of White River, up to Hearst, with Chapleau located in the heart of Algoma.

The list below may help you to plan stops while travelling across Canada, thinking of moving to the region or planning a getaway. The region offers everything you need from accommodations, dining experiences, shopping, festivals, events, and amenities.

Go North

Sault Ste. Marie

The largest city in the region, Sault Ste. Marie is situated on the St. Marys River, across from their twin sister, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The St. Marys River Rapids is a world-renowned fishing spot for Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout. Famed writer Ernest Hemingway fished the rapids in the 1950s. "The Soo", is known for being Naturally Gifted, as it's a gateway to many outdoor adventures. The city itself is home to many attractions and heritage sites: Agawa Canyon Tour Train, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Ermatinger•Clergue National Historic Site, Sault Ste. Museum, Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada, Mill Market and more. The city is well known for its delicious Italian cuisine, pizza parlours and dining experiences. Find many shopping centres and boutiques, festivals and its close proximity to outdoor adventures like hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and touring.
Visit: www.saulttourism.com

Wawa

Wawa (Michipicoten) is on Samuel de Champlain's 1632 map, making it one of the oldest place names. One of the things that visitors remember most about Wawa is their famous Wawa Goose Monument, which has proudly welcomed visitors since the early 1960s. The town itself has a rich history and has been many places to many people: Indigenous settlements, a fur trading post, logging camps, gold and iron ore mining. Wawa is now a hub for wilderness adventures with incredible fishing, hunting, hiking, paddling and touring experiences.
Visit: www.wawa.cc

Dubreuilville

A true Northern Ontario French Canadian Town, Dubreuilville is a friendly, vibrant community with a rich history. The story of Dubreuilville begins with the Dubreuil brothers of Quebec, who began harvesting lumber in the area and grew the business into a town. Today, the town is considered a sportsman's paradise with exceptional hunting, fishing, ATVing and snowmobiling.
Visit: www.dubreuilville.ca

Chapleau

Situated in the heart of Algoma Country, the town of Chapleau is just mere steps away from some of the finest wilderness in all of Ontario. Chapleau is home to the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve, the largest game preserve in the world. It encompasses more than 700,000 hectares and was set aside in 1925 to ensure this part of Northern Ontario's wildlife population stayed healthy and thriving. Because of Chapleau's location, there are incredible opportunities to enjoy the outdoors: fishing, hunting, ATVing, hiking and paddling adventures. Chapleau won Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town by the World Fishing Network. There are hundreds of lakes and river systems perfect for any angler.
How to get here: go by car and enjoy the beautiful Mississagi Valley on Hwy 129, or take the Budd Car via Sudbury.
Visit: www.chapleau.ca

White River

White River is best known as the birthplace of the real black bear Winnie, who inspired A.A. Milne to write his Winnie-the-Pooh stories. To celebrate this unique heritage, the town holds the annual Winnie-the-Pooh Festival each year in August. White River also has a rich rail history and is a great base for outdoor adventures: fishing, hunting, paddling, and hiking trails. This town is a must-stop on the Ride Lake Superior Motorcycle Route -- everyone wants to take a photo with the statue of Winnie in the town park, no matter their age.
Visit: www.whiteriver.ca

Hornepayne

Located north of White River, Hornepayne is situated in the heart of the Boreal Forest. This community is a haven for outdoor adventurers: fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and places to hike and paddle. There are many fly-in fishing lodges and resorts, some of which transform from fishing to hunting in the fall. Nearby Nagagamisis Provincial Park offers a truly northern experience: the clear water and sandy beaches are perfect for swimming, and there are canoeing opportunities, and excellent fishing.
How to get here: by road on Hwy 631, or by Via Passenger Rail.
Visit: www.hornepayne.com

Hearst

Discover the natural and cultural beauty of this northern community. Nestled in the Boreal Forest, Hearst is surrounded by beautiful lakes and rivers. There are many interesting attractions in town and area, and there are many events that take place throughout the year. You'll also find great shopping at the local boutiques and dining. Hearst is perfect for the outdoor enthusiast for fishing and hunting trips, paddling and hiking, or RVing.
Visit: www.hearst.ca

Go East

Prince Township

Located west of Sault Ste. Marie, Prince Township is a pretty community with rolling farmland and lots of outdoor activities: snowmobiling, fishing, hiking, paddling and a great area for cycling. The Saulteaux Voyageur Trail Club organizes hikes throughout the year on the township's section of the Voyageur Trail. Gros Cap offers a boat launch. In the summer, learn the area's history with a trip to the museum or enjoy the annual Tractor Parade. 
Visit: www.princetwp.ca

Echo Bay

Located along the shores of Lake George, the Township of Macdonald, Meredith & Aberdeen Additional is surrounded by rolling farmland, making it a favourite for those that love country driving tours. The boardwalk on Lake George offers visitors picturesque views of Lake George. There are many accessible freshwater inland lakes perfect for fishing, swimming and boating. In the winter, there is great snowmobiling! In the fall, enjoy the Sylvan Circle Tour, a popular art and artisan tour that leads visitors along the country roads lined with our region's spectacular fall colours.
Also nearby is Laird International Raceway.
Visit: www.echobay.ca

St. Joseph Island

St. Joseph Island is the second-largest freshwater island in the world and is situated in the channel between Lake Huron and Lake Superior. This island was once known as "Anipich" which in Ojibwe means "place of the hardwood trees", then renamed by Jesuit missionaries to honour the patron saint of the new church they were building. The island was also once home to the British-held Fort St. Joseph, now a national historic site in Canada. There are many outdoor recreational activities to do on the Island: boating and paddling, fishing, and swimming and it is also appealing for cycling and touring because of its open country roads. There are two villages on the Island: Hilton Beach and Richards Landing. A few other things you might want to check out are St. Joseph Island Museum and Adcocks Woodland Gardens.
Visit: www.sjichamber.ca

Hilton Beach

The Village of Hilton Beach has many services like restaurants, accommodations, gift shops, a general store and a full-service marina. The two biggest events that take place here annually are the Hilton Beach Car Show which features about 100 original restored cars and the Arts at the Dock. Another must is the Old Town Hall concerts which bring in some of the best Canadian musicians.
Visit: www.hiltonbeach.com

Richards Landing

As the largest settlement on St. Joseph Island, Richards Landing provides a wide range of businesses and services, such as recreational activities, culture and heritage. Incorporated in 1876, visitors will find a variety of shops, restaurants, historic sites and a municipal marina. There are many events and festivals that take place throughout the year in this community like the Maple Syrup Festival, concerts and art shows.
Visit: www.stjosephtownship.com

Johnson Township

The township of Johnson was established in 1889 and the area is home to many freshwater lakes, public beaches and boat ramps. Visitors will enjoy cycling the open country roads through the farmland. In the summer, buy fresh local produce, ingredients, handmade artisan items and more at the Johnson Farmers' Market. Enjoy the walking trails, and scenic lookouts and observe wildlife at the Kensington Conservancy. Annual events include the Family Pike Fishing Derby, the Big Buck Contest and more.
Visit: www.johnsontownship.ca

Bruce Mines

Bruce Mines is a pretty waterfront community that was founded in 1846 as Canada's first copper mine. There are many country roads to tour in the summer and fall, plus many inland lakes that offer great fishing, and paddling opportunities. The area is known for its rich farmland where sandhill cranes can often be seen in the fields. There is a unique shopping district here for antiques and flea market finds. The town also has accommodations, and restaurants and hosts a variety of events like the Cruisin' Car Show and the Fall Fair to name a few. Tour the Simpson Mine Shaft or visit the Bruce Mines Museum which houses over 7,000 artifacts.
Visit: www.brucemines.ca

Thessalon

Set on the beautiful river mouth on upper Lake Huron, Thessalon was once a lumber town. Today, it's an excellent base for adventure: canoeing, fishing, hunting, and hiking along a portion of the Voyageur Hiking Trail. In the winter, there are groomed cross-country ski trails, plus great snowmobiling trails. Art lovers will find many local artisans who love to share their works. The town itself has many restaurants, shopping and a municipal marina with excellent docking facilities.
Visit: www.thessalon.ca

Huron Shores

Huron Shores includes the communities of Little Rapids, Sowerby, Dalton, Iron Bridge, Dean Lake and other historical hamlets. There are many outdoor adventures to enjoy here: fishing, hunting, cycling; and in winter snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In the summer, there are many events and historic places to explore: Heritage Park Museum in Little Rapids, Iron Bridge Historical Museum, Fall Fairs, and the weekly Farmers Market.
Visit: www.huronshores.ca

Blind River

Located on the North Channel of Lake Huron at the mouth of the Blind River and the Mississauga River, the town of Blind River has become an outdoor recreational hot spot. Trail enthusiasts will love the 10 km of multi-season trails at the Boom Camp Interpretive Park. Explore the many opportunities for fishing, hunting, boating and water sports, or the full range of winter and summer festival events. Blind River also has an 18-hole golf course, shopping and dining.
Visit: www.blindriver.ca

North Shore Township

This township makes up 3 main villages: Serpent River, Spragge and Algoma Mills and is located along Trans Canada Hwy 17. The area is known for outdoor adventures like fishing, hiking, and camping. There are boat launches and docks for access to in-land lakes and the North Channel of Lake Huron. Visitors will enjoy a number of leg stretch stops at parks and beaches, nearby Kennebec Falls. In winter, enjoy snowmobiling. 
Visit: townshipofthenorthshore.ca

Elliot Lake

Surrounded by breathtaking pristine wilderness, Elliot Lake is home to many exciting adventures. It has one of the top ATV trail systems in Ontario, with over 300 km of trails within just 30 km of the city. It is home to an alpine ski hill, cross-country ski trails, snowmobiling, and a championship 18-hole golf course and is located at the heart of the Deer Trail Touring Route. There are many inland lakes for fishing and some incredible paddling routes. Mississagi Provincial Park is also nearby. This Park is known for its amazing hiking trails: Helenbar Lookout Trail in particular offers breathtaking views of the landscape.
Visit: www.tourismelliotlake.com

Spanish

The waterfront community of Spanish is home to amazing boating opportunities for power-boaters, yachtsmen and sailors on Lake Huron, as it is situated on Lake Huron, amidst the Whalesback and North Channel. It is close to the Benjamin Islands and the surrounding islands are popular anchoring spots for island-hoppers. There are two waterfront marinas to dock at: the Spanish Municipal Marina and Almenara en el Rio Marina. Besides boating and hiking, the town of Spanish also has amazing fishing opportunities with full-service lodges, resorts, housekeeping cottages and campgrounds that are easily accessible by car.
Visit: www.townofspanish.com

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