The Soo in Every Season: 12 Photos That Prove You’ve Been There

Whether you’re chasing the emerald and fuchsia glow of the aurora borealis or are a fall colour thrill-seeker with your heart set on the region’s dramatic fall palette, Sault Ste. Marie is for you. In this Northern Ontario city, winter provides serenity in the snow or quintessential full-adrenaline sports. In spring and summer, world-class biking trails and the abundance of paddling opportunities reign. 

No matter what your season, if you are looking to go more than 10 feet beyond a parking lot, you can capture these twelve iconic shots and forever memories of "the Soo."

1. Look Up: Aurora Borealis Over Lake Superior

There’s lots to see in the Soo, but don’t forget to look up! Sault Ste. Marie’s northern latitude and lack of light pollution make it a premier destination for aurora hunting in Ontario. The aurora borealis can be visible from the city, but the shores of Lake Superior or Gros Cap offer a front-row seat to the dancing ribbons of light. White and pale colours can usually be seen with the naked eye, but for a dramatic "bucket list" image, take a photo in night mode on your smartphone. Check out Paula Trus' tips for capturing the northern lights.

2. Experience Local Indigenous Culture & Pow Wows

Sault Ste. Marie sits on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people at the heart of Turtle Island. Attending a local pow wow is a profound way to experience the vibrant regalia, drum songs, and traditions of the Anishinaabe people that have shaped this region for millennia. The Grand Entry is a breathtaking array of sound, colour, and movement. Look to the Batchewana First Nation / Garden River First Nation for dates, including the Gathering at the Rapids.

3. Agawa Canyon Tour Train: Ride Through the Canadian Shield

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train is a northern rite of passage. This winding 183 km (114-mile) day rail journey through the Canadian Shield offers front-row seats to stunning landscapes. It is particularly spectacular during the autumn peak. A quick climb to the top of 300 steps rewards you with a panoramic painting. One easily accessible waterfall that the Group of Seven painted is Bridal Veil Falls. The train departs from the train station in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, where you can also snap a picture of the LOVE lock sign at The Machine Shop.

4. Robertson Cliffs Lookout: One of the Best Fall Colour Hikes in Northern Ontario

The autumn hike at Robertson Cliffs rewards you with a sprawling tapestry of fall colours. Part of the Algoma Highlands Conservancy and Voyageur Trail, it offers an ultimate "I was here" photo op. In the spring the trail bursts with every colour of green and a roaring waterfall. Take a guided hike with Blaq Bear Tours or with Forest The Canoe.

5. Frozen Waterfalls and Vertical Adventure: Ice Climbing in the Soo

Towering frozen waterfalls provide world-class ice climbing routes for both beginners and experts. This rugged, vertical challenge plays out at Searchmont and the awe-inspiring Land of Giants (in the header photo). Grab a guide, don crampons and a pair of ice axes, and feel how tired your muscles can get after a few climbs with Superior Exploration.

6. Curling Culture in Sault Ste. Marie

Curling is a cornerstone of the Soo’s sporting DNA. Home to Olympic gold champions, the local curling clubs welcome visitors to ‘hurry hard’ and try their hand at curling at the Soo Curlers Association. Who knows who you might meet out on the sheet as you ‘rock out’ and embrace a true Canadian winter tradition.

The other local favourite spectator sport would be taking in a Soo Greyhounds OHL hockey game.

7. Wild Ice: Skating on Glassy Lake Superior

There is also nothing quite like the freedom of skating on "wild ice." When conditions align, the sheltered bays of Lake Superior or local inland lakes freeze into glass-like surfaces, allowing skaters to glide on mirror-like conditions. (But, always test for ice thickness before venturing out.)

More Winter Adventures in Sault Ste. Marie: Ice Fishing, Skiing, Snowshoeing & Fat Biking

When the snow falls, Hiawatha Highlands transforms into a winter wonderland. There are over 150 kilometres of some of the best cross-country ski trails in North America here, along with groomed snowshoe and fat-bike trails. Crimson Ridge Golf Course and Stokely Creek Lodge also have beautiful trail systems.

Other amazing winter adventures include ice fishing, downhill skiing at Searchmont Ski Resort featuring a 703-foot vertical drop, and ice skating at groomed locations across the Sault.

8. Ride, Paddle, Explore: Hiawatha Highlands

Sault Ste. Marie has become a hub for year-round urban cycling, mountain biking and fat biking, with wide family trails and intense, twisty single tracks. Hiawatha Highlands offers gentle and expert trails through red pine forests.

Kayaking and canoe opportunities also abound to get a different perspective on the land and waterscapes. Gear rental and tours are easily available through local guides and outfitters.

9. Cruise the Water That Named the Soo: Sault Ste. Marie Canal & Lock Tour

Experience the water that made the Sault a notable trading location and gave it its name (Sault means rapids in French). You can lock through the historic Sault Ste. Marie Canal on the Miss Marie Sault Lock Tour. Or witness it from above at Parks Canada’s Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. The Sault Ste. Marie Canal, built in 1895, was the world’s longest lock, the first to operate using electricity, and it has the world’s last remaining emergency swing dam. For more information, check out this guide to the Sault Ste. Marie National Historic Site.

10. World-Class Fly Fishing in the St. Marys Rapids

Right in the shadow of the impressive International Bridge, the St. Marys Rapids offer world-class fly fishing. Anglers from across the globe come here to wade into the rushing waters for Atlantic salmon, steelhead, and rainbow trout, all within walking distance of the downtown core. Here is the city’s guide to fly fishing in the rapids.

11. Sunset Walks Along the St. Marys River Boardwalk

Some contend that Sault Ste. Marie is best appreciated slowly. Stroll (or leisurely bike) the waterfront boardwalk. The Hub Trail and waterfront boardwalk offer several kilometres of scenic paths. It is the perfect spot for a post-dinner stroll to watch the sunset dip below the International Bridge, painting the sky and the shipping channel in soft pastel or even fiery hues.

12. Bushplane Heritage & Water Bombers

The Sault is the birthplace of Canadian bushplane history, which you can learn about along the St. Marys River at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. Get up close with legendary bushplane aircraft, enjoy educational movies and find family-friendly activities. Also watch for the yellow giant water bombers outside, who do training runs along the St. Marys River, scooping and dropping water in preparation for forest fire season (while making for some excellent photo ops).

Capture the Spirit of the Soo

Not sure where to start? Tourism Sault Ste. Marie has an extensive list of local guides and outfitters to help you plan the adventure that fits your season.

Whether you're chasing the northern lights over Lake Superior, riding the Agawa Canyon Tour Train through blazing fall colour, skating wild ice or casting a line into the St. Marys Rapids, the Soo rewards those willing to wander a little farther. 

And once you’ve captured your shot, treat yourself to a local poutine or a perfectly gooey Canadian butter tart. 

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