Ultimate Adventure Guide to Pancake Bay Provincial Park

Located about an hour’s drive north of Sault Ste. Marie, Pancake Bay Provincial Park is a highlight for anyone travelling along the Trans-Canada Highway and the Lake Superior Circle Tour. The park is best-known for its 3-km-long beach on Lake Superior. This impeccable stretch of fine white sand, with a gradual dropoff into sheltered water that warms to swimming temperatures in July and August, was a welcome campsite for the voyageurs of the Canadian fur trade, over two centuries ago. Just as the voyageurs hauled their birchbark canoes ashore, made camp on the friendly shore and feasted on flapjacks, you too can experience many of the same sights and sounds in Pancake Bay Provincial Park’s campground.

Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Pancake Bay was a popular destination for a day of swimming at the beach with my family. I’ve learned there’s much more opportunity for adventure in the park as I’ve returned to it over the years. Besides the amazing Lake Superior beach and drive-in campground, the park’s 1,659 ha of protected area includes unique coastal dunes, wetlands, hardwood-clad hills, streams and cascades, and provides habitat for a range of Northern Ontario flora and fauna. Hiking the 7-km trail to the spectacular Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout makes you appreciate Pancake Bay’s diversity as you trek through the woods to a lofty vista at a viewing platform high above Whitefish Bay, taking in the site of Lake Superior’s most famous shipwreck. 

Pancake Bay is a must-visit destination for campers, beach lovers, naturalists and adventures. This article will give you all the information you need to know and insider tips to make the most of your time at this amazing Ontario park. 

Planning Your Trip to Pancake Bay

Pancake Bay Provincial Park is located about 80 km north of Sault Ste. Marie—an easy one-hour drive on Highway 17. You’ll pass several excellent beaches on the drive to get there, including Batchawana Bay Provincial Park. Pancake Bay is definitely worth the additional driving time for its longer, larger and more pristine sand beach, fewer people and crystal-clear water.

Pick up a day use permit at the park gatehouse or online. Mid-summer is prime season at Pancake Bay, with the water reaching comfortable swimming temperatures on calm days throughout July and August. You’ll find plenty of space on the beach in the large day use area, with a gentle dropoff and smooth sandy bottom that’s great for children. Swimming conditions vary with wind and waves, which stir up Lake Superior’s infamous cold water—though more often than not, you’ll find pleasant water temperatures.

Camping at Pancake Bay Provincial Park is also best through July, August and into September—just be sure to book your campsite early using Ontario Parks online reservation service. Lake Superior drives the local weather: cool breezes put a damper on heat waves and the big lake has a moderating effect overall, making for comfortable days throughout the summer. Spring and autumn are more variable, with the possibility of hot temperatures on calm days and chilly conditions when it’s windy and damp. Be prepared for cold nights and frosty mornings well into May and after mid-September.

The shoulder seasons are an excellent time to visit Pancake Bay Provincial Park if you’re prepared for more variable weather. In particular, the number of campers thins out quickly in mid- to late September, just as the park’s maple forests reach peak fall colours. It’s a joy to feel like you have the campground and hiking trails to yourself during a midweek stay as summer gives way to fall. Early spring camping at Pancake Bay is similarly quiet, especially before the May long weekend, with the greatest highlights being on-hand to witness the budding of forest ferns, wildflowers and trees, as well as the return of migrating songbirds.

Camping at Pancake Bay

The Pancake Bay Provincial Park campground features 325 sites, including 160 with electricity, divided into five sections. There are barrier-free, accessible campsites available, as well as group camping sites that accommodate up to 40 people, three camp cabins and two yurts. Twenty-five sites in the Hilltop section, at the western edge of the campground, are designated generator- and radio-free. There are three comfort stations with showers and indoor washrooms, and two laundry facilities at Pancake Bay.

With so many campsites to choose from you have plenty of options depending on the space and amenities you’re looking for. Since the beach is the main attraction at Pancake Bay, it’s no surprise that waterfront sites have the highest demand. Many of these sites are connected to Pancake’s incredible beach by short trails for easy access, just bear in mind that waterfront campsites are more exposed to strong winds in bad weather.

While you might be able to score a great campsite at Pancake Bay without a reservation during the shoulder seasons of May, June and October, don’t expect to be so lucky during the summer months and at the peak of fall colours in September. Your best bet is to book online, using the Ontario Parks reservation system. You can book online up to five months in advance of your stay, and choose your site using up-to-date maps with photos of each campsite. While competition for campsites at Pancake Bay aren’t as fierce as the most popular Ontario Parks, it’s still best to get online early: bookings open at 7:00 AM, five months in advance of your first night camping. You’ll face less competition in booking campsites for weekdays. If you miss your chance to book early, keep tabs on the Ontario Parks reservations system website for last-minute cancellations.

Want to enjoy the adventure of Pancake Bay without camping? There are plenty of other accommodations in the Pancake Bay area. The Voyageur Lodge is a popular motel on Highway 17, about 15 km south in Batchawana Bay, that’s known for its clean rooms and great service (not to mention its world famous apple fritters—keep reading to learn more). Sunset Shores Resort, located at the mouth of the Batchawana River, offers tent and RV camping, as well as seven cabins, all available on a nightly basis. You’ll find lots of motels and hotels in Sault Ste. Marie, all located within an hour’s drive of Pancake Bay for easy day trips. A couple of favourites on the Trans-Canada Highway in the city’s north end include the tidy Ambassador Motel and the upscale Water Tower Inn.

Best Hiking Trails

Hiking is a great way to have an active and adventurous vacation at Pancake Bay Provincial Park. There are two main hiking trails at Pancake Bay, both offering unique glimpses of the park’s ecosystems. There’s something for everyone on the 3.5-km Nature Trail, which departs directly from the Pancake Bay campground. This easy trail traces the impressive shoreline, ascends ancient lake ridges and passes on a boardwalk through a wetland, with interpretive signs to help you understand your surroundings. A billion-year-old conglomerate boulder left behind by the glaciers is a highlight along the way.

The Lookout Trail system begins from a trailhead just across Highway 17, a short distance north of the main park entry and gatehouse. There’s a total of 14 km of trails with several options, depending on your available time, fitness and interests. Most popular is the 7-km (return) hike to the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout, a lofty viewpoint where you can pause and take in the huge expanse of water that swallowed the “Big Fitz” with a loss of all hands in 1975. The Lookout trails pass through a mature sugar maple and yellow birch forest that’s impressive with its mosaic of spring wildflowers in late May and eruption of fall colours in mid- to late-September. Tackling the full length of the trail brings you to scenic cascades on the Pancake River and several remote inland lakes.

Water Activities

With such a fantastic waterfront area on Lake Superior, swimming and beachcombing are usually the main attractions for visitors at Pancake Bay Provincial Park. Different areas of the beach are designated for different uses, including a day use area with picnic facilities and a dog-friendly beach (dogs are not allowed elsewhere on the beach). The drop-off is gradual along the entire beach making it ideal for swimming with youngsters.

Experienced paddlers can canoe or kayak along the relatively protected shoreline, being mindful of wind and waves. You can rent a canoe or kayak from Forest the Canoe in Goulais River, north of Sault Ste. Marie. Deliveries are available. Fishing opportunities are somewhat limited in the park, however diehard trout anglers will want to bring a compact rod while hiking the Lookout Trail to test their luck in the pools of the Pancake River. It’s also possible to catch steelhead trout and species of salmon shorecasting from the Pancake Bay beach in spring and fall. Be respectful of fishing regulations and be sure to have a permit. 

Don’t Miss…

It’s hard to imagine a more scenic place for a picnic than Pancake Bay Provincial Park. There’s plenty of space to set up a great summer meal behind the beach in the day use area, adjacent to the gatehouse.

Besides touring the quiet paved roads of the campground, the entire 14-km Lookout Trail is open to mountain bikers. As an avid trail runner, I love cruising the smooth-flowing hiking trails of Pancake Bay Provincial Park.

Birders are drawn by the area’s abundant songbirds, which are especially prominent when the mixed wood forests erupt with the chorus of spring. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded at the park. You can learn more about Pancake Bay’s natural heritage by participating in an interpretive Discovery Program activity.

Nearby Attractions and Adventurous Day Trips

Pancake Bay is a central attraction along one of Ontario’s best drives. Highway 17 north of Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa and Thunder Bay overwhelms the senses with mountain-like hills and sweeping views that will make you appreciate why Lake Superior is referred to as an inland sea. Check out the impressive waterfalls and picnic area at the Chippewa River, which punctuates the midpoint of the Trans-Canada Highway. The Voyageurs Lodge and Cookhouse is a popular attraction in Batchawana Bay. Each season, they cook up thousands of apple fritters: sweet, scrumptious and oversized deep-fried treats that rightfully earn the title of “world famous.” The River Rock gift shop, located next to the cookhouse, is one of the best between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.

You can also dine on fresh caught Lake Superior trout or whitefish and hand cut fries at Agawa Fish and Chips in Pancake Bay. Just across the road and minutes from the Pancake Bay Provincial Park campground, Agawa Crafts and The Canadian Carver feature a wide variety of unique gifts and last-minute grocery items—as well as hand-scooped ice cream.

Further north, Lake Superior Provincial Park spans over 80 km of Highway 17 corridor, south of Wawa. It’s less than an hour’s drive from Pancake Bay Provincial Park to the great beaches of Agawa Bay and Katherine Cove, as well as the challenging Towab Trail and Awausee Trail hikes into the renowned Agawa Canyon. From canoeing on backcountry lakes to sea kayaking Lake Superior, long-distance backpacking and some of Ontario’s best trout fishing, there’s truly an adventure for everyone in Lake Superior Provincial Park.

Don’t know where to start and looking for expert guidance? Reach out to Forest the Canoe in Goulais River to sign up for a hiking or paddling adventure with an interpretive guide, or check out Naturally Superior Adventures in Wawa.

Pancake Bay FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

o   How do I get reservations?

Use Ontario Parks’ online reservation system or call 1-888-ONT-PARK to book your Pancake Bay campsite up to five months in advance of your arrival date. The earlier you book, the better selection you’ll have—especially during the summer months. If you miss out, watch for last-minute campsite cancellations on the reservation website.

o   What is the best time to visit Pancake Bay?

The best time to visit Pancake Bay varies based on what you’re looking for. Beach lovers will want to go in July or August, when the weather and Lake Superior water temperatures are warmest. The shoulder seasons of May and October are best for crowd-free camping, and peak fall colours usually occur in the second half of September.

o   What are the best spots for photography?

Pancake Bay’s dynamic shoreline is ideal for landscape and nature photography. You can capture amazing images of Lake Superior’s oceanic expanse and the myriad patterns of wave-washed sand. For photographing plants and animals, including unique wildflowers and colourful songbirds, bring your camera along on the 3.5-km Pancake Bay Nature Trail. 

Plan Your Pancake Bay Adventure Now

Pancake Bay Provincial Park features one of Ontario’s best beaches, a family-friendly campground, spectacular hiking trails and more. Visiting this Lake Superior gem will make you feel like you’ve discovered a secret treasure—but the park is much closer than you think. Use Ontario Parks’ online reservation system to book a campsite and start dreaming of a great vacation on the shore of an inland sea.

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