North of Toronto

Northern Ontario is a vast and beautiful region, with stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage, most of it totally hidden from popular tourism and public knowledge. With so much to see and do it can be overwhelming to plan a trip, especially with not a lot of info, but fear not! The Trans Canada Highway offers an excellent starting point and great landmark to avoid getting lost for exploring this incredible part of Canada, and the rest of it as well. I’ll be covering a common route and one of the quickest routes to Manitoba from southern Ontario. I’ve driven it about six times myself.

Highway 11 North begins in the bustling city of Barrie, just a short drive north of Toronto. It winds its way north through the heart of Ontario's cottage country, passing through towns like Gravenhurst and Huntsville. These communities are popular with summer visitors, who flock to the region to swim, fish, and enjoy the outdoors., They have some really cool canadiana, antique buildings, and a great local arts scene, each community with its own unique style influenced by the indigenous people in the area. This is where you experience the real Ontario and the real opinions and stories of its inhabitants, and not just the city of Toronto.

One of the natural highlights of this stretch of highway is Algonquin Provincial Park, one of Ontario's most popular wilderness destinations. The park is known worldwide for its breathtaking natural beauty and great river/lake system, with over 7,000 square kilometers of forests, lakes, and rivers to explore. Visitors can hike, bike, paddle, or simply relax and enjoy the scenery. It’s a great park for a first canoe trip or hiking trip given the short distances between bodies of water. The park is one of the most approachable national parks in Canada and one of the easiest to get to as well. It gives you a great piece of the untouched Ontario wilderness and is a huge recommendation for those who may have never made it to a national park before and or maybe haven’t even made it to Canada yet!

Continuing north on Highway 11, you'll eventually reach the city of North Bay. This vibrant community is situated on the shores of Lake Nipissing and offers a wide range of attractions and activities. History buffs will enjoy the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defense, which features a whole museum on the history of Canadian military aviation. The Canadian forces base on Airport hill in North Bay used to be home to NORAD operations and missiles! Possibly even nuclear! Now it is home to a small operation and the NORAD Santa Tracker! For nature lovers, the Duchesnay Falls Trails offer stunning views of waterfalls and rapids with very easy access off the highway. I you’re a little more adventurous there is a LOT of beauty in the region just off the path. Snowmobiling in the winter and Canoes in the summer are the easiest ways to see it! You can trip through the thousands of lakes and rivers in the area endlessly. North bay is also home to a cute main street, a staple of northern Ontario towns. This is right on the lake and home to tons of cute shops, definitely worth stopping through on the way past, the highway goes right through the town, and you won’t miss it.

From North Bay, the Trans Canada Highway takes over, leading travelers deeper into Northern Ontario.

The first stop about an hour in is Sudbury, carved into the rock It is a similar community to North Bay but more developed, this is your last place to go to shopping malls and get any spares you need for your vehicle without paying the remote community tax. Sudbury is an interesting mining community with some interesting old buildings, it developed along the road and is a very weird community to drive through. While you’re driving through Science North is a great stop for anyone with kids. It’s a genuinely really cool science center, they have an IMAX theatre and loads of exhibits with a focus around interacting with the exhibits. Its also Northern Ontario’s self proclaimed most popular tourist destination. There are several conservation areas and wilderness sites great for a quick hike. The city also has a really quite large rail museum and an agriculture museum in what was once one of Ontario’s largest dairy farms. There’s a lot here and you could definitely put a day or two aside to get a good picture of the area.

This iconic roadway spans the entire country, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. In Northern Ontario, it passes through some of the region's most spectacular landscapes. If you have the time, make sure to stop in Mantoulin Island after Sudbury for a really unique landscape on one of the largest freshwater lake systems in the world and some great views of it. There isn’t a lot between Sudbury and Thunder Bay, and like always make sure you have enough gas, there are some stretches without stations.

One must-see attraction along the Trans Canada Highway right after Sudbury is the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. This scenic train ride takes passengers on a journey through some of Northern Ontario's most breathtaking scenery, including towering cliffs, pristine lakes, and dense forests. The highlight of the trip is a stop at Agawa Canyon, where passengers can explore the canyon and take in the stunning views. Its located just north of Sault Ste. Marie and as there isn’t much in this part of Ontario it’s a really nice way to see views you would have to hike for days to see otherwise!

Easily one of the best regions in the world to Hike and Canoe trip! The infrastructure for camping trips is great as well, rescue services are common and quick and CAA roadside assistance can bring you piece of mind in every car related concern you would have.

The next town worth note along the Trans Canada Highway is the town of Wawa. This small community is known for its towering statue of a Canada goose, which has become something of a Canadian icon. Visitors can also explore nearby Lake Superior Provincial Park, which features rugged shorelines and stunning vistas. Wawa is a great little stopping point and has a ton of cool accommodation options for any type of travel. It is another great mecca for outdoor experiences, with a ton of excursions and opportunities in the area regardless of season.

As the Trans Canada Highway continues westward curving around the great lakes, travelers will eventually reach Thunder Bay. This bustling city is situated on the shores of Lake Superior and offers a wide range of attractions and activities. History buffs will enjoy the Fort William Historical Park, which is a living history museum that recreates life in a fur-trading post in the early 19th century. There is also a beautiful monument to a Canadian hero Terry Fox that is totally worth visiting. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore nearby Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, which features over 100 km of hiking trails and stunning views of the lake. The city also has a really cool niche restaurant scene and several breweries. This is accompanied by a neat main street with some really cool unrenovated older buildings and definitely some of the best shopping in Northern Ontario.

Further west, the Trans Canada Highway passes through the small town of Ignace before reaching the Manitoba border. It is a great place to get gas and your only gas station after Thunder Bay, before heading further into Manitoba.

Overall, Highway 11 North and the Trans Canada Highway offer an excellent starting point for exploring Northern Ontario, and the rest of Canada too. The trans Canada highway gives a unique road trip experience and intimate experiences with all of Canada! Whether you're looking to enjoy the great outdoors, learn about Canada's history, or simply take in some stunning scenery and go for a drive, this part of the country has something for everyone. So, pack your bags, hit the road, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure!