grand-algoma-tour-1

A Road Trip Around The Grand Algoma Tour – Part 1

Updated: By Heather Bot

A Road Trip Around The Grand Algoma Tour is a 3-part blog series.

This is how a one-day trip to Potholes Provincial Park turned into a full-day road trip on the Grand Algoma Route. That’s the fun of a road trip, you don’t have to plan much in advance; it’s fun to just go.

Sault Ste. Marie To Wawa

Born and raised in the area, I’ve seen these sites between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa at various times. My husband and I started our trip in Sault Ste. Marie but you can start this self-guided tour anywhere on the route. While we did the entire loop in one day, I really do recommend you take 2 days at a leisurely pace because there are lots of things to see and do and explore.

We left early in the morning after breakfast with plans to have lunch on the road and chose to fuel up before leaving the city. There are lots of great breakfast places in Sault Ste. Marie, from a full, sit-down meal to something quick and light. Heading north on Hwy 17, the landscape becomes instant mountains and thick green trees. As the road winds through the area, it begins to rise and fall; you’ll even get your first glimpses of Lake Superior.

the mile hill trans canada hwy 17

Local Beach Spots: Harmony Beach, Havilland Bay
Food: McCauley’s Restaurant
Fuel Notes: Timberland General Store

One of the first roadside scenic attractions on the route is Chippewa Falls. There’s parking, restrooms and a viewing bridge. You can hike along the side of the falls and venture out onto the rocks. The best time of year to view this waterfall is Spring when it’s roaring with water from the thaw.

chippewa-falls hwy 17

(Photo credit: Virgil Knapp)

A Visit To Ontario Parks

The next places we stopped were Batchawana Bay and Pancake Bay.

Local Beach Spots: Batchawana Bay Provincial Park, Pancake Bay Provincial Park
Food: The Voyageurs’ Lodge, Agawa Fish and Chips
Fuel Notes: The Voyageurs’ Lodge, Agawa Crafts and the Canadian Carver

We stopped at Pancake Bay Provincial Park to buy a park day pass allowing us access to this park and Lake Superior Provincial Park. We also wanted to see the Group of Seven interpretive panel that is located here and take a walk along the sandy beach.

pancake bay provincial park grand algoma tour

If you want to do some hiking the Pancake Bay Nature Trail, located next to the campground, is easy and takes about 1 to 2. The trail leads through a wetland, there’s a boardwalk and interpretive signs along the trail. A longer, moderate hike is The Lookout Trail about 5 to 7 hours across the street from the park. From the lookout, you see across to Whitefish Point. This stretch of Lake Superior is known as the graveyard of the Great Lakes where the famed Edmund Fitzgerald sunk in 1975.

Back on Hwy 17, we continued north, winding up the coast where the views become more spectacular with every turn.

Scenic Lookouts: Alona Bay and Agawa Bay (watch for signs)

Learn the power of Lake Superior at the Agawa Bay Visitor Centre through exhibits, and visit the gift shop for locally made products/arts/crafts and Ontario Parks swag.

lake superior provincial park visitor centre

Scenic Spots and Attractions: Katherine Cove, Sand River Falls, Old Woman Bay

katherine cove lake superior provincial park grand algoma tour

Heading Into Wawa

Once in Wawa, our first stop was to visit the Goose Monument and the information centre. The Wawa Goose has been welcoming visitors to the area since the 1960s.

wawa goose monument grand algoma tour

Nearby, the Heritage Doors tell stories of influential people from the area, there’s a playground for kids, a gift shop and locally found artifacts on display in the centre. Wawa has a rich mining history and you can experience what it was like to pan for gold many years ago.

We needed a Tim Horton’s fix so it was time to get a coffee. And the best place to enjoy it was Lion’s Beach on Wawa Lake.

lions beach wawa lake

Local Beach Spot: Lion’s Beach, Sandy Beach (a favourite spot for notables like the Group of Seven painter A.Y. Jackson and pianist Glenn Gould; visit the Story Telling Pavilion to learn about the area’s Indigenous history and culture)
Scenic Spots and Attractions: Scenic High Falls
Food: Kinniwabi Pines, Wawa Goose Bar & Grill

Seeing Lake Superior and going to the beach is one thing but being on Lake Superior is another experience altogether. If you’re looking to get out on the water, Naturally Superior Adventures offers Half-Day Kayak and Canoe Basics, or Learn to Stand Up Paddle: www.naturallysuperior.com

naturally superior adventures wawa

(Photo credit: Rob Stimpson Photography)

Stay in Wawa
There are lots of places to stay in Wawa: Beaver Motel, Rock Island Lodge B&B, Wawa Motor Inn, Wawa RV Resort & Campground

Read Part 2 of the Grand Algoma Tour Road Trip.

motorcycle-CTA-travel-guides

About Heather Bot

I'm a member of the Algoma Country Travel staff. I hope my blogs entice you to visit the beautiful region that I call home.

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