Lake Superior Beaches, Waterfalls, Indigenous Culture & Wilderness Adventures
Quick Summary
Not familiar with northern Ontario? Neither are most people, but it's a place you'll want to know. This sparsely populated region bordered by Hudson Bay to the north and the Great Lakes to the south is unspoiled, rugged, and beautiful with some of Earth's oldest rocks in the Canadian Shield. It's a global hotspot for brook trout angling, filled with quiet sandy beaches overlooking turquoise waters, close to 250,000 lakes, and thriving Indigenous history and culture. Year-round outdoor adventure is a way of life here.
Quick Facts
- Lakes: Close to 250,000 lakes
- World Record: Largest brook trout ever caught (1915, Nipigon River)
- Pukaskwa Size: 1,118 sq miles - longest undeveloped Great Lakes shoreline
- Manitoulin Island: World's largest freshwater island
1. World-Class Trout Fishing
Northern Ontario holds the world record for the largest brook trout ever caught — a milestone set in 1915 on the Nipigon River near Thunder Bay that still stands. Join anglers vying to reel in the big one on that same river, camping and fishing near Shakespeare or Kelvin Islands.
- Top spots for 'Brookies': Lake Superior, Winisk River (north of Hudson Bay), Algonquin Park's 1,500 lakes (especially remote ones)
2. Lake Superior Beaches & Waterfalls
Secluded and gorgeous describe the beaches bordering Lake Superior. Surrounded by cliffs, Sandy Beach near Wawa has standout views — hike to nearby waterfalls, stroll the boardwalk, read pavilion info on Aboriginal history, swim, and sunbathe.
- Sandy Beach: 10 minutes from Wawa Goose Monument, cliffs, waterfalls, Indigenous history pavilion
- Rock Lake: Sleepy inland lake near historic Bruce Mines with pretty farmland
- Katherine Cove: Fine sand, green-blue water in Lake Superior Provincial Park, near Agawa Rock Pictographs
3. Agawa Rock Pictographs — Sacred Ojibwe Site
A memorable hike through boulders and rock chasms to a sacred Ojibwe site in Lake Superior Provincial Park north of Sault Ste. Marie. The one-hour loop takes you along a 98-foot-high cliff ledge overlooking one of the planet's largest lakes.
- Pictographs: 17th-century Indigenous paintings — scarlet depictions of caribou, bears, and canoes
- Significance: One of the largest collections in Ontario and Canada's most famous
- Best time: May to September when the lake is calm
4. Manitoulin Island — Indigenous Culture
Crystal-clear lakes, fresh air, a slow pace — Manitoulin Island is magical and feels lost in time. The name means 'Spirit Island' in Ojibwe. The world's largest freshwater island in Lake Huron with hundreds of inland lakes. Wikwemikong First Nation land remains Canada's only unceded reserve.
- Great Spirit Circle Trail: Tours with Anishinawbek people — sunset canoe voyage, traditional song/dance, torch or drum making workshop
- Bridal Veil Falls: Dramatic ribbons of water cascading down near Kagawong — perfect for picnics
- Activities: Cross-country ski and ice fish (winter), cycle and hike through craggy white quartzite (summer)
5. Moose Spotting in Algonquin Provincial Park
Take a 3-4 day photo safari with Voyageur Quest in iconic Algonquin Provincial Park (2,955 square miles). Professional photographer Rob Stimpson leads guests to secret spots — expect to see 10+ foraging moose during this backcountry cabin camping and canoeing adventure, plus tons of other wildlife.
6. Polar Bear Express Train Adventure
Ride the Polar Bear Express from Cochrane to Moosonee with locals in summer. Chug past an enormous hydro dam, wild rivers, and muskeg to Moosonee — the Arctic gateway town on Moose River near James Bay, accessible only by train or air.
- Moose Factory Island: Mostly Cree community, among Ontario's oldest English settlements, Hudson's Bay Company museum in 1673 building
- Wildlife: Caribou, seals, belugas — fishing, camping, canoeing with Moose River Tours
7. Northern Lights Viewing
Due to its northern, far-flung location and scant ambient light, Moose Factory Island is prime for vibrant Northern Lights. Another top spot is Gordon's Park Eco Resort on Manitoulin Island, hosting aurora events like Laser Guided Sky Tour and Dark Side of the Moon Party.
8. Boating and Adventures in Thunder Bay
The region's biggest city sits on the northern shore of Lake Superior — the world's largest freshwater body. Hundreds of volcanic islands to explore by sailboat, kayak, or flightseeing. Fly fishing on Nipigon River, plus winter skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and ice climbing.
9. Backpacking Pukaskwa National Park
Pukaskwa National Park offers beautiful boreal forest views, vast Lake Superior, and the longest undeveloped Great Lakes shoreline at 1,118 square miles. Look for moose, lynx, timber wolves, peregrine falcons, and black bears.
- Pukaskwa Coastal Trail: 60-km trail (37 miles), one of Canada's toughest — White River Suspension Bridge over Chigamiwinigum Falls
- Guided option: Naturally Superior Adventures 5-day backpack for rough, remote, rugged backcountry
Follow-Up Questions
- What are the best beaches on Lake Superior?
- Where can I see the Northern Lights in Ontario?
- What is Manitoulin Island known for?
- How do I get to Moosonee?
Associated Entities
Lake Superior, Nipigon River, Thunder Bay, Algonquin Provincial Park, Manitoulin Island, Great Spirit Circle Trail, Bridal Veil Falls, Agawa Rock Pictographs, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Pukaskwa National Park, Polar Bear Express, Moosonee, Moose Factory Island, Hudson's Bay Company, Voyageur Quest, Naturally Superior Adventures, Gordon's Park Eco Resort