Indigenous-inspired road trip in Northern Ontario
Experience Northern Ontario from the unique perspective of its First Peoples on a journey of a lifetime. Travel from the Bruce Peninsula to Lake Superior and witness the enduring history, culture and traditions of Indigenous Peoples who shaped this land.
Wikwemikong Tours, Manitoulin Island | James Smedley
Part 1: Bruce Peninsula
Forming the top extension of the Niagara Escarpment, the Bruce Peninsula is rich in First Nations stories explaining the formation of the land.
Travel to the Bruce Peninsula and plan to spend at least a day visiting Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park and exploring the coastal town of Tobermory.
Suggested time: 1–2 days
Things to do
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Bruce Peninsula National Park is renowned for dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear waters and lush forests. Hike the famous Bruce Trail, swim in the turquoise waters of Georgian Bay and spot various bird species and wildlife.
Location: Tobermory
Where to eat and drink
Naagan, A Foraged Feast
Treat yourselves to an Indigenous feast using locally grown, sourced or foraged food. Celebrity Chef Zach Keeshig is known for creating outstanding Ojibwe cuisine using modern techniques.
Location: 279 10th Street East, Owen Sound
Tobermory Brewing Company
Enjoy classic pub favourites, local craft beer and a great harbour view.
Location: 28 Bay Street, Tobermory
Crowsnest Pub
Located on the shores of Little Tub Harbour, the patio at Crowsnest Pub is the perfect spot to savour a cold beer with lunch.
Location: 5 Bay Street, Tobermory
Places to stay
Bruce Anchor Motel and Cottage Rentals
Stay in a waterfront suite, villa or cottage and book a glass-bottom cruise to Flowerpot Island.
Location: 7468 Highway 6, Tobermory
Big Tub Harbour Resort
This family-owned resort is located in the harbour with relaxing motel rooms, cottages, and watercraft rentals at the marina.
Location: 236 Big Tub Road, Tobermory
Harbourside Motel
Conveniently located on Little Tub Harbour, Harbourside is the closest motel to the Chi-Cheemaun ferry dock.
Location: 24 Carlton Street, Tobermory
Part 2: Tobermory to Manitoulin Island
Ferry from Tobermory to South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island: 2 hours
Your adventure continues with a ferry ride across Georgian Bay aboard the MS Chi-Cheemaun to “Mnidoo Mnising“ known as Manitoulin Island. Recognized as the world’s largest freshwater island, Manitoulin, or “Spirit Island” in Ojibwe, holds a sacred significance for the Anishinaabe People.
You’ll want to plan a few days to experience this beautiful place. View breathtaking waterfalls, hike scenic trails, relax on sandy beaches, visit charming towns and learn about the rich culture and stories of the First Nations.
Check the calendar for pow wows and other events, including the Wiikwemkoong Annual Cultural Festival, featuring dance, drumming, crafts and Indigenous cuisine.
Suggested time: 2 days
Things to do
MS Chi-Cheemaun
This scenic ferry accommodates everything from RVs to bicycles and features a cafeteria and spacious upper deck. Book well in advance and arrive an hour before sailing time.
Wikwemikong Tours
Wikwemikong Tours offers immersive, nature-based and cultural tours from a First Nations perspective.
Location: 2102 Wikwemikong Way, Wikwemikong
Bridal Veil Falls
The Bridal Veil Falls trail system includes access to several new public sculptures and heritage plaques along the way. Bring water, snacks, water shoes and a camera.
Location: Bridal Veil Falls, Kagawong
Cup and Saucer Trail
This 12-kilometre hiking trail is hugely popular. It features 70-metre cliffs and gorgeous views of the North Channel and Lake Manitou. The trailhead and parking area are off Highway 540, about 20 kilometres west of Little Current.
Location: 4097 ON-540, Sheguiandah
Where to eat and drink
North46 Restaurant
Located within the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre, overlooking the North Channel, North46 is a full-service restaurant serving breakfast to dinner.
Location: 66 Meredith Street East, Little Current
Elliott’s Restaurant
This family-owned restaurant offers casual dining with small-town hospitality. Fresh whitefish and pickerel are two of its most popular dishes.
Location: 28 Vankoughnet Street East, Little Current
Anchor Inn Hotel and Anchor Grill
Located in downtown Little Current, Anchor Grill is a welcoming restaurant and bar serving great food with waterfront views on the patio.
Location: 1 Water Street East, Little Current
3 Cows and a Cone
Tuck into your favourite comfort foods, including burgers, fries, poutine, fish and chips, pizza, sandwiches or wraps. Leave room for ice cream dessert.
Location: 64 Meredith Street East, Little Current
Manitoulin Brewing Company
Enjoy a brew or non-alcoholic beverage at the Farm Silo and patio at Manitoulin Brewing Company. The seasonal food truck on-site offers great food from late spring to the fall.
Location: 43 Manitowaning Road, Little Current
Places to stay
Among the Trees Glamping
This luxury geodome glamping is next-level camping! Be at one with nature while enjoying large outdoor decks and all the comforts you would expect from a boutique hotel.
Location: 131 McGregor Bay Road, Birch Island
Carter House and Manitoulin Island Luxury Teepees
Select from a luxury, custom-painted teepee or bed-and-breakfast room at Carter House, a 125+ year heritage home.
Location: 77 Main Street, Kagawong
Inn at Gore Bay
Recently renovated, this boutique motel offers waterfront rooms, cottage rentals and on-site dining at the Watersedge Pub and Restaurant.
Location: 1 Water Street, Gore Bay
Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre
Enjoy a range of services and amenities, including North46 Restaurant, at this full-service waterfront hotel designed with natural elements, including wood and stone inspired by First Nations traditions.
Location: 66 Meredith East, Little Current
My Friends Inn Manitoulin
Located in Manitowaning, My Friends Inn is an eight-room motel close to dining, shopping and local attractions. Open year-round, the motel welcomes guests travelling by motorcycle and features an outdoor gathering area with a BBQ.
Location: 151 Queen Street, Manitowaning
Part 3: Manitoulin to Sault Ste. Marie
Approx. driving time and distance: 345 kilometres, 4 hours
Take in breathtaking views departing Manitoulin Island over the Little Current Swing Bridge. More picturesque sights await along Highway 17 northwest, including one of the channels of Lake Huron.
One of Northern Ontario’s largest cities, Sault Ste. Marie is rich in First Nations history. Before Europeans arrived, it was called “Bawating,” meaning the Gathering Place. Oral Anishinaabe history tells of great fisheries and animals along the rushing waters that link Lake Superior and Lake Huron, waterways First Nations called the “Great Sea Water.”
Suggested time: 1–2 days
Highlights along the way and in Sault Ste. Marie include:
Things to do
Serpent River Trading Post Gas and Convenience
Stop at this beautiful log building to shop for unique gifts and products such as moccasins and other crafts and paintings by First Nations artists. The trading post is open from May through October. Fill up with fuel and stock up on other items at the First Nations gas bar next door.
Location: 479 West Canada, ON-17, Serpent River
Boom Camp Interpretive Trail
The Blind River and the Mississauga First Nations invite you to explore walking and cycling trails throughout forests and precious wetlands.
Location: 1-161 Boom Camp Trails, Blind River
Timber Village Museum
View curated displays of historical artifacts and art from Blind River and the surrounding area. The museum shares space, history and artifacts with the Mississauga First Nations.
Location: 1 Hagger Road, Blind River
Walk Among the Trees
Set out on a three-hour guided nature tour exploring Anishinaabe culture with storytelling, teaching and sharing of traditional knowledge.
Location: 780 Landslide Road, Sault Ste. Marie
Whitefish Island
Whitefish Island can be accessed by crossing the locks at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. A hub for fishing whitefish, the island became a meeting place along the trading route between the Great Lakes. Enjoy interpretive trails, boardwalks and scenic lookouts.
Location: Whitefish Island
Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre
This site is part of Algoma University; however, in the late 1900s, the original building was a residential school. Shingwauk Hall was built in 1873 and remained a residential school for First Nations children until it closed in 1970. Many years were spent collecting, organizing and displaying photographs and other materials to educate. Today, survivors, their families, communities and allies are all catalysts in growing the Healing Movement. Guided Truth Walks must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Self-guided walks may also be available.
Location: 1520 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie
Where to eat and drink
Brii-Co Miijim
This seasonal fast-food restaurant with outdoor seating serves fresh walleye dinners, burgers, poutine and First Nations delicacies like freshly made fry bread and Nish Tacos.
Location: 479B, Highway 17, Serpent River
The Pier Sports Bar
For generations, the Pier is a family-run restaurant that boasts the largest patio along the north shore.
Location: 1 Causley Street, Blind River
Silver Creek Golf Course and Restaurant
Stop for a round of golf followed by a delicious meal. Silver Creek hosts Fish Fridays and Caesar Sundays.
Location: 104 Belleau Lake Road, Garden River
Noel’s Place & Chummy’s Grill
Located just off Highway 17, the restaurant serves white fish, lake trout and pickerel on Thursday or Friday. A full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu is available throughout the week. The gift shop features beautiful, handmade crafts, including traditional carvings.
Location: 262 Frontenac Street, Sault Ste. Marie
Where to stay in Sault Ste. Marie
Quality Inn and Suites Bay Front
Steps from attractions like Station Mall and Sault Ste. Marie National Canal National Historic Site, this hotel also features a full-service restaurant.
Location: 180 Bay Street, Sault Ste. Marie
Quattro Suites and Conference Centre
One of Sault Ste. Marie’s largest properties, Quattro Suites offers a saltwater pool, a spa and on-site restaurant Quattro Vinotecca. More food and shopping options are nearby.
Location: 229 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie
Glenview Cottages
In the north part of the city, Glenview features cute, fully equipped cottage rentals for nightly or weekly stays. Enjoy fun activities like volleyball, fire pits, horseshoe pitches, a playground, a seasonal outdoor pool and access to trails.
Part 4: Lake Superior coastline
Approx. distance and drive time: 230 kilometres, 3 hours
Travelling north from Sault Ste. Marie, views of Lake Superior are mesmerizing. It is the largest freshwater lake in the world, containing 10% of the planet’s freshwater. Named “Gitche Gumee” by the Chippewa People, the lake holds great significance to the First Nations Peoples, who have been its stewards for thousands of years.
Suggested time: 1–2 days
Things to do
Agawa Crafts and the Canadian Carver
Open mid-May to mid-October at Pancake Bay, this First Nations-owned business is a must-stop along Highway 17. Fill up with gas, savour an ice cream and shop for beautiful, handmade crafts and gifts.
Location: 12502 ON-17, Batchawana Bay
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Learn about the area’s natural ecosystems and cultural history at the Lake Superior Visitor Centre on Agawa Bay. A short trail leads to Agawa Bay beach, with a breathtaking view of the big lake.
Location: Trans-Canada Highway, Agawa Bay
Agawa Rock Pictographs
One of the largest collections of First Nations pictographs is located on the shores of Lake Superior, within Lake Superior Provincial Park. In Ojibwe, the site is called “Mazinaubikiniguning,” which means “the adorned rock on Agawa Lake.” This culturally significant and sacred site should be respected and remain untouched. Visitors are asked not to photograph the pictographs.
Location: Algoma, Unorganized, North Part
Wawa Goose
The name Wawa is derived from the Ojibwe name “Wawungonk,” which means “a place of clear water.” A giant goose statue that stands almost nine metres tall in Wawa has become one of the most photographed landmarks in North America.
Location: 26 Mission Road, Wawa
Where to eat and drink
Voyageurs Lodge Cookhouse
Overlooking Batchawana Bay, the deli and bake shop at this popular roadside cookhouse is famous for its apple fritters. Be warned, they sell out fast.
Location: Highway 17 North, Batchawana Bay
Agawa Fish and Chips
Don’t miss the hand-cut fries, creamy coleslaw and hand-breaded whitefish at Agawa Fish and Chips. Located across from the Canadian Carver, it is open from mid-May to mid-September and also sells smoked fish and fresh fish fillets to take with you.
Location: 10212 ON-17, Batchawana Bay
Places to stay
Voyageurs Lodge
Overlooking Batchawana Bay, this three-season resort offers clean, comfortable rooms and a general store.
Location: Highway 17 North, Batchawana Bay
Wawa Motor Inn
Known for great service, a unique outdoor atmosphere and the Wawa Goose Bar, accommodations include standard rooms, log rooms and rustic log chalets.
Location: 118 Mission Road, Wawa
Beaver Motel
Enjoy newly renovated rooms and a convenient, central location at Beaver Motel.
Location: 148 Mission Road, Wawa
Rock Island Lodge
Perched on the coast of Lake Superior, just outside of Wawa, this cozy bed-and-breakfast-style lodge offers delicious home-cooked meals, outdoor activities and breathtaking lake views. Operating in partnership with Naturally Superior Adventures, book paddling tours or rentals.
Location: 10 Government Dock Road, Wawa
Part 5: Wawa to Sudbury and beyond
Approx. distance and driving time: 525 kilometres, 6 hours
From Wawa, head east along Highway 101 towards Chapleau, south on Highway 129 to Thessalon and east again on Highway 17 to Sudbury, Northern Ontario’s largest urban destination.
A favourite for motorcycle riders, Highway 129 is coined Ontario’s “Tail of the Dragon” for the scenic twists and turns as it follows the Mississagi River.
East of Sudbury, Killarney sits on the North Channel of Georgian Bay. The village was previously known as “Shebahonaning,” an Ojibwe name for safe passage. Road access to the village was forged in 1962, with the French River flowing through the municipality. The municipality of Killarney contains both the Killarney Provincial Park and the French River Provincial Park.
Suggested time: 1–2 days
Highlights include:
Things to do
Chapleau Game Preserve
At over 7,000 square kilometres, Chapleau is the largest Crown Game preserve in the world and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Look for moose, black bear, timberwolf, lynx, beaver, eagles, osprey and owls. Note that hunting is not permitted.
Location: Algoma and Sudbury districts
Aubrey Falls
Turn into Aubrey Falls Provincial Park to see Aubrey Falls. It’s a two-kilometre hike to a spectacular waterfall cascading down dozens of granite chutes.
Location: Algoma Region
N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre Annual Pow Wow
If your travel plans coincide, plan to attend this annual Pow Wow in Bell Park on June 21, which celebrates National Indigenous Day.
Location: Bell Park, Paris Street, Sudbury
Point Grondine Park and Campground
Visit the land of the Anishinaabe People on signed trails and paddling routes at this Indigenous-owned wilderness park. Guided nature and cultural tours are also available through a partnership with Wikwemikong Tourism.
Location: 675 Point Grondine Park, ON-637, Killarney
Killarney Provincial Park
Killarney is one of Ontario’s most beloved wilderness parks. It is famous for iconic hiking trails, including The Crack and Granite Ridge, backcountry canoeing and sea kayaking experiences. Year-round camping and yurt accommodations are available.
Location: 960 ON-637, Killarney
Where to eat and drink
Black Creek Outfitters
Enjoy snacks, hot beverages, soup and sandwiches in the outdoor picnic area at Black Creek Outfitters along Highway 129.
Location: 9538F, ON-129, Thessalon
Hiawatha’s Restaurant
North of Sudbury, Hiawatha’s Restaurant in Wahnapitiae First Nations is a great spot to stop. Chef and owner Hiawatha Osawamick’s menu focuses on local Anishinaabe cuisine utilizing local and seasonal ingredients. Popular dishes include fish tacos, fresh pickerel, elk meatballs and baked Bannock with maple butter.
Location: 35 Loonway Road, Capreol
Places to stay
Moose Horn Lodge
This award-winning, First Nation-owned and operated lodge just outside Chapleau has been described as “an oasis of luxury.” It’s worth a detour.
Location: 4 Sheppard and Morse Road, Chapleau
Northern Skies Resort
Another great option is Northern Skies, a fourth-generation family-run business that offers wilderness cottages and cabins, health and wellness retreats based on Anishinaabe teachings, and other nature-based activities.
Location: 8404 Highway 129, Thessalon
Clarion Hotel
Conveniently located close to downtown attractions and sporting facilities.
Location: 117 Elm Street, Sudbury
Know before you go
Indigenous sites and events
Appropriate respect and appreciation are essential when visiting sacred sites and culturally significant places.
Pow wows are social and spiritual gatherings to honour heritage and nature, renew friendships and celebrate with music, song, food, dance and storytelling. Not all pow wows invite non-Indigenous people to attend, but for the ones that do, it is a great privilege. The ceremony leaders provide cues to the audience on when to stand in respect, when to be silent and when photography is permitted.
Visiting Ontario Parks
Northern Ontario has some of Canada’s most scenic and iconic parks. Ontario Parks requires a daily vehicle permit, which can be purchased online. Camping sites should also be reserved well in advance; bring a printed copy of your reservation. Note that operating dates vary from park to park.
Stay safe and be prepared
Ontario is a four-season destination. Temperatures and weather change dramatically throughout the year, especially in Northern Ontario. Learn more about the weather in Ontario and get suggestions on what to pack and how to prepare for your trip.
Nature takes centre stage in Northern Ontario, so be prepared and aware of wildlife, both big and small. Pack bug spray to avoid the mosquitos if you’re travelling in the warmer months. While driving, be vigilant for animals on the road, particularly at dusk and dawn, including bears, moose and deer.
Emergencies aren’t always the first thing we consider when planning a vacation, but knowing who to contact in an emergency is essential.
Land acknowledgements
The territory, now known as Ontario, is covered by 46 treaties and other agreements.
Manitoulin Island
Traditionally, Manitoulin Island was under a confederacy of Anishinaabeg People, the Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi, known as the Three Fires Confederacy. The Manitoulin Island Treaty covers the island, also referred to as Treaty 45 or the Bond Head Treaty, signed by the Odawa and Ojibwe in 1836.
Algoma Country
Algoma Country is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Metis and other Indigenous Peoples. The area is known as the gathering place of the Three Fires Confederacy, an Anishinaabe alliance of the Ojibwe, Ottawa and Potawatomi groups. Algoma is under the Robinson-Huron Treaty territory and is the traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg, specifically the Batchewana First Nation, Garden River First Nation, Métis Nation of Ontario and Missanabie Cree First Nation.
Lake Superior coastline and Wawa
The Lake Superior coastline and Wawa are part of the Robinson-Superior Treaty signed by the Ojibwa chiefs along the Northshore. This land is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people. The First Nations played an instrumental role in the evolution of this area by sharing knowledge of strategic water routes.
City of Greater Sudbury
The City of Greater Sudbury is in the Robinson-Huron Treaty territory of 1850, and the land is the traditional territory of the Atikameksheng Anishawbek and Wahnapitae Nations.
This content was produced in partnership with Indigenous Tourism Ontario, which is dedicated to growing Indigenous tourism and supporting Indigenous People to tell their stories on their terms.
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Last updated: March 19, 2025