There are lakes, and then there is Lake Superior.

At more than 82,000 square kilometres, Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is so vast that it has its own weather, its own moods and, in places, a horizon that looks suspiciously like an ocean.

And if you really want to experience it, there’s a good argument for starting in Sault Ste. Marie.

Located where Lake Superior narrows into the St. Marys River, Sault Ste. Marie is one of the most accessible places to experience the lake's enormous scale – while still having all the things you want from a proper basecamp: places to stay, restaurants and breweries, outfitters, guides, trails and plenty to do when you're back from the wilderness.

Think of Sault Ste. Marie as your Lake Superior basecamp.

Wake up in the city. Spend the morning paddling, hiking, fishing or exploring the coast. Watch a freighter make its way through the Great Lakes. Grab dinner downtown. Then do it all again tomorrow.

And there's a lot to choose from.

Start where Lake Superior becomes a river

The St. Marys River is where the immense waters of Lake Superior begin their journey towards Lake Huron – and Sault Ste. Marie sits right at the transition.

You don't have to travel into the wilderness to experience it.

From the downtown waterfront, you can watch huge Lake Superior freighters passing through the shipping channel, walk along the boardwalk, explore Whitefish Island or watch anglers casting into the famous St. Marys Rapids.

The river is quite literally the reason Sault Ste. Marie exists.

And one of the best ways to understand this remarkable stretch of water is from the water itself.

Hop aboard the Miss Marie Sault Lock Tour for a cruise through the locks and along the St. Marys River, with views of both Sault Ste. Maries and the International Bridge. On summer evenings, a sunset cruise turns the river into something altogether more cinematic.

Or get closer to the water with a guided paddle.

The river is the perfect introduction to Lake Superior because it gives you a sense of just how much water is moving through this part of the Great Lakes.

Then head for the Big Lake

From downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior is only a short drive away.

Head north on Highway 17 and the city quickly gives way to Canadian Shield, boreal forest and increasingly rugged coastline.

This is where the scale of Superior starts to reveal itself.

At Gros Cap, about 20 minutes west of the city, Lake Superior opens out in front of you. The shoreline becomes rocky and exposed, the horizon stretches away and the water suddenly feels very, very big.

Gros Cap also marks the eastern terminus of the Lake Superior Water Trail, a paddling route that follows approximately 1,000 kilometres of the Canadian Lake Superior shoreline toward Thunder Bay.

You don't need to paddle 1,000 kilometres, of course. A short section west from Gros Cap delivers dramatic cliffs, gravel beaches and that unmistakable Superior feeling of wilderness and open water.

For experienced paddlers, it's an unforgettable introduction to the lake. For everyone else, the lookout is a spectacular place to simply stop and take it all in.

Drive the Lake Superior coast

One of the great advantages of using Sault Ste. Marie as a base is that you can experience the coast without having to pack up your entire trip every morning.

Point the car north and Highway 17 becomes one of Ontario's great road trips.

The Lake Superior coast is a constantly changing landscape of granite outcrops, boreal forest, hidden beaches, waterfalls and enormous views.

Around 90 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie, you'll reach Lake Superior Provincial Park, where the highway runs alongside some of the lake's most spectacular scenery.

The park offers more than 130 kilometres of hiking trails, canoe routes, backcountry campsites and fishing opportunities.

And you can make the drive part of the adventure.

Stop at Agawa Bay. Stretch your legs. Walk to the beach. Find a viewpoint. Explore a trail. Have a picnic. Then turn around and head back to Sault Ste. Marie for dinner. That's the beauty of a basecamp.

Hike above the lake

Lake Superior isn't just something you look at from the shoreline. In Algoma, you can climb above it.

Robertson Cliffs is around 30 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie and delivers one of the region's great hiking payoffs: a climb through forest and Canadian Shield terrain followed by a spectacular lookout over Bellevue Valley, the Goulais River and Lake Superior.

For something more ambitious, there's the Lake Superior Coastal Trail.

The 65-kilometre trail follows the shoreline through Lake Superior Provincial Park, linking rocky headlands, cobble beaches, boreal forest and remote campsites.

It is the sort of trail that makes you understand why people become obsessed with Lake Superior.

You don't have to hike the whole thing, either. Sections of the Coastal Trail can be tackled as day hikes, allowing you to experience the rugged shoreline before returning to your Sault Ste. Marie basecamp.

Fish the Big Lake – and the river

Lake Superior has been drawing anglers for generations, and Sault Ste. Marie puts you right in the middle of some remarkable fishing country.

The St. Marys River offers world-class fishing practically in the heart of the city, with salmon and steelhead running through the rapids and fishing platforms along the waterfront.

Head north and the opportunities expand dramatically.

The rivers and lakes around Lake Superior offer lake trout, brook trout, salmon, whitefish, walleye and northern pike, among other species.

And you don't necessarily need to know where you're going. Sault Ste. Marie's local fishing guides and outfitters can get you onto the water and help you make the most of your time here.

That's another advantage of using the city as your base: you can spend the day fishing somewhere wild without having to live like you're in the wilderness.

Paddle the shoreline

There is something different about seeing Lake Superior from a canoe or kayak.

From the water, the granite shoreline rises around you, beaches appear around corners and the enormous lake suddenly feels both intimate and intimidating.

Sault Ste. Marie has access to paddling on the St. Marys River, Lake Superior and countless inland lakes and rivers in the surrounding region.

Local guides can also take you beyond the obvious.

Explore paddling experiences around Sault Ste. Marie to find routes ranging from easy urban adventures to exposed stretches of Superior coastline.

Just remember that Lake Superior is not a lake to underestimate. Its water remains cold even in summer, and weather can change quickly. Experienced guides and appropriate safety equipment are strongly recommended for exposed coastal paddling.

Ride through Superior country

Lake Superior country isn't just for hikers and paddlers.

Bring your bike. Sault Ste. Marie has developed a reputation as one of Ontario's great cycling destinations, with mountain biking, fat biking, gravel and road cycling all available close to the city.

The Hub Trail provides an easy way to explore Sault Ste. Marie itself, including sections along the waterfront and through Fort Creek.

For mountain bikers, meanwhile, Hiawatha Highlands offers a network of purpose-built trails through the Canadian Shield landscape.

And if you're looking for a bigger adventure, the roads north of the city open up an enormous playground of forest, lakes and rugged terrain.

See Superior from the train

Not every Lake Superior adventure requires hiking boots.

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train leaves Sault Ste. Marie and heads 114 miles into the wilderness, travelling through forests, across trestles and alongside lakes and rivers before descending into spectacular Agawa Canyon.

It's also a remarkable way to understand the landscape that inspired the Group of Seven.

The train route passes through the same rugged Algoma country that captivated artists such as J.E.H. MacDonald and Lawren Harris.

In the canyon, you can walk to waterfalls, explore trails and climb to a lookout high above the railway.

Then, at the end of the day, the train brings you back to Sault Ste. Marie. No tent required.

Follow the artists

Lake Superior and the landscapes around Sault Ste. Marie didn't just inspire adventurers. They inspired some of Canada's most celebrated artists.

The Group of Seven's connection to Algoma is deep. Members travelled into the region beginning in 1918, painting the mountains, lakes, rivers and forests of Algoma.

Look closely at the landscape around Sault Ste. Marie and you'll understand the attraction. The exposed granite. The twisted pines. The islands. The enormous skies. The dramatic contrast between rock, water and forest.

Suddenly, a roadside viewpoint doesn't just look beautiful. It looks familiar.

Make the city part of the adventure

Here's the secret to using Sault Ste. Marie as your Lake Superior basecamp: You don't have to choose between wilderness and a city break.

You can have both.

Spend the morning hiking the Canadian Shield. Spend the afternoon paddling. Watch a freighter pass through the locks. Explore the Canal District. Visit the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. Grab a local beer. Eat dinner downtown. Then wake up tomorrow and head back into the wilderness.

The city itself is compact and easy to navigate, while the landscape beyond it feels enormous. That's a pretty good combination. Your Lake Superior basecamp

Lake Superior is too big for one trip and that's part of the appeal. You could spend a week chasing waterfalls and viewpoints. You could fish the river. Paddle the coast. Hike the Coastal Trail. Ride the Canadian Shield. Take the train into Agawa Canyon. Drive north through Lake Superior Provincial Park. Or you could simply find a rocky shoreline, sit down and watch the waves.

Sault Ste. Marie gives you a place to do all of it.

So don't think of the city as somewhere you pass through on your way to Lake Superior. Make it your basecamp. Come for the Big Lake, stay for the adventure and then come back to explore the parts you missed.

Plan Your Lake Superior Adventure

Ready to make Sault Ste. Marie your basecamp? Explore outdoor adventures in Sault Ste. Marie, find hiking inspiration, discover biking routes, plan a fishing trip, or connect with local guides and outfitters.

And when you're ready to stay awhile, start planning your trip to Sault Ste. Marie.

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