Sights along Lake Superior

[dedmiston]

We're camped in Sault St. Marie and planning to head around the northern coast of Superior to Thunder Bay. I've never been this way and I'm interested to know if there's anything we should make sure to check out along the way or any great places to camp.

[atreis]

Wow. Shame about the trading post, but no doubt a deserved retirement. I haven't been that way for a couple years, but was planning to go next summer.

[almcc]

atreis wrote:


Oh, and the trading post just before Pancake Bay PP.

...

For those that haven't been up that road this year, the trading post is closed. Last summer there was a sign "owner retiring", the signs on each side say "closed for the season".

If I recall correctly. decades ago the post was originally located at the bottom of Montreal River hill, probably same owners. They deserve the retirement!

At Pancake Bay PP, the staff used to do a reenactment of the voyageurs landing on the beach in a canoe in period costumes and explaining the history of the area, apparently Pancake Bay was named for the pancakes that the voyageurs ate while there, it was the only food left before they hit Sault St Marie to replenish.

[Tripalot]

Don't forget the big goose at Wawa. Last time we were there it was badly in need of a paint job and funds were being raised. Hope that has happened by now. It is a pleasant stop for a coffee or lunch break.

BTW - the big goose is a Canada Goose in case you didn"t know.

[atreis]

Old Woman Bay and other parts of Lake Superior PP. If you enjoy hiking, the Orphan Lake Trail is an especially good hike if you're up for a full day hike, Pukaskwa NP and it's many trails and both beaches are very nice. There are excellent views at some spots along the eastern shore between the Soo and Wawa. Some pretty spots after Marathon. Marathon itself is interesting, but it's challenging to get to the views.

There are some spots near Sleeping Giant where one can hunt/collect Amethyst at private mines. That can be a fun activity.

Oh, and the trading post just before Pancake Bay PP.

Conversation at that trading post some years back:
There was a foreign vendor (Indian guy) selling what the sign said were Reindeer pelts from northern Europe. My young daughter read the sign and it went like this:
Daughter (a little distressed): Reindeer Pelts??
Vendor: Yeah, reindeer pelts!
Daughter (horrified): Like Rudolph?
Vendor: Yeah yeah! Rudolph!

Had to spend some time explaining that reindeer are common in northern Europe and these weren't Santa's ...

[almcc]

All of the above and a couple of additions. Pukaskwa national park west of Marathon has some neat hiking trails on the rocks on the lake shore, campsites are OK but the fall service campground in Marathon is better (check Marathon's town website and book a site) , camp there and drive to Pukaskwa. Native pictographs in Lake Superior provincial park are also worth a look. Unless it is foggy, some spectacular views of the lake driving through LSPP!

[Dick_B]

We did that trip some years back and almost never had a view of the lake from the highway; too many trees.

[RICK-ards_Red]

The scenery north of the Soo is the best anywhere, Lake Superior provincial Park has a few nice spots to check out, Old Woman Bay, Pictographs. Whiteriver is home of Winnie the Poo bear with a nice little park, we stop to eat lunch there!
Ouimet Canyon is very cool but if you are towing you have to leave the trailer etc in a separate parking lot - tight corners and a small parking lot at the canyon. Terry Fox Monument is a must as is Kakabeka Falls about 15 Km west of Thunder Bay. Rossport is a nice scenic area as well.

Camping though - many campgrounds are closed or closing middle to the end of September, best to check the web sites for dates.

[Flyboy320]

The Terry Fox Memorial just before Thunder Bay is a must. If you don`t know the history of Terry Fox, google and read up on him. A truly great Canadian IMO. Here`s just one piece of info...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Fox

Whoops. Not a "clicky" You`ll have to copy & paste!!!

Can`t help you with campgrounds as we were through there 10 yrs or so ago.