11 Incredible Things to Do in Sault Ste. Marie – Outdoor and Indigenous Experiences

There's something special happening in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario that is quite unique in the province, if not the country. With St. Marys River and Lake Superior at its doorstep, numerous parks, and boundless beaches, it's a hotspot for outdoor lovers. Combine that with Indigenous experiences that are accessible and truly awakening, this is 100% a road trip worthy destination.

While this northern Ontario city is quite the long drive, we made it a point to show that it's entirely do-able in a 4 day itinerary. Through our experiences, we've picked out 11 things to do in Sault Ste. Marie that will make you love this region as much as we did.

Where is Sault Ste. Marie?

Before we jump into our favourite activities and sights in Sault Ste. Marie, it's worth quickly showing you where it actually is and why there may be some confusion sometimes.

Sault Ste. Marie is the same name on both sides of the border in Michigan and Ontario with the International Bridge connecting the two and both sit adjacent to St. Marys River which connects Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

For the purposes of this article, we'll be focusing on Sault Ste. Marie in Canada.

Popularly called “the Sault” or simply “the Soo”, this is the territory of the Ojibwe who call it Bawating meaning “place of the rapids”.

From Toronto, this is a 7.5 hour drive, 8.5 hours from Ottawa, and 6.5 hours from London (if you go through Michigan).

We would also like to acknowledge that during our visit to Sault Ste. Marie, we were in Robinson-Huron Treaty territory and that the land on which we visited is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, specifically the Batchawana and Garden River First Nations, as well as Métis People.

Best Things To Do in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Whether you're a first time visitor or you've been before, the beautiful Northwestern Ontario city of Sault Ste. Marie has a lot to offer. The Soo is a city that's surrounded by enormous natural beauty and is an incredible place to learn more about Indigenous culture.

As our very first time, we wanted to build an authentic 4 day itinerary for those driving in from the GTA or anywhere in southern Ontario. Yes, there's a lot of driving but it's surprisingly easy.

Whether you do this as a long weekend getaway like what we did or you plan it as a larger road trip, these are our top picks for best things to do in and around the city if you're looking for outdoor adventure, and want to learn more about the Indigenous spirit, history, and future.

The list is, in by no means, any particular order so feel free to mix and match the things you'd like to see, do, and eat in Sault Ste. Marie.

Somewhere we started with for much of our research came from Tourism Sault Ste. Marie.

1. Attend a pow wow

Pow wows are cultural gatherings that are all about celebrating Indigenous culture, reconnecting the community, reviving the spirit, and ultimately having a lot of fun.

The best way to go to your first pow wow is by embarking on a guided eco-tour and educational experience with Thrive Tours, an Indigenous-owned business in Sault Ste. Marie. This is a great way for not only travellers but also locals, Indigenous and non-indigenous to learn how to pow wow.

Attending a pow wow is more than just being there to watch but with Thrive Tours, you become part of the celebration and you'll also gain a much better appreciation of Indigenous culture and history.

During the experience, you'll be able go through a tradition called smudging, honour the sacred fire with a tobacco offering, participate in inter tribal dances, eat locally made food, chat with members of First Nations, and celebrate the winners of the competitions.

With the beating of the drum, reverberating song, and skilled dancing, it's a palpable energy that'll touch your mind and spirit.

When planning your visit to Sault Ste. Marie, we highly encourage you to plan around a pow wow. They happen several times a year and between different First Nations. The one we had a chance to visit in August was the Garden River First Nations Pow Wow.

Learn more about Indigenous tourism in Sault Ste. Marie to find out other ways to explore and connect.

2. See the Agawa Rock Pictographs

Outlasting time, freezing and thawing of ice, beating sun, and pummelling rain are the sacred Agawa Rock Pictographs within Lake Superior Provincial Park that provide a connection to the past.

Generations of Ojibwe spiritual leaders came to this rock to record dreams, visions and events. Etched in crimson are canoes, fish, moose, crane, eagle, turtle, horse, bears, caribou, serpents, and mythical creatures.

One of the most recognizable painting is of Mishipeshu, a spined-horned lynx and spirit of the water.

To get to the pictographs, there's a short but steep descent through the woods, rocky chasms, and boulders that eventually opens up to Lake Superior.

With the help of ropes and chains, you'll navigate to the pictographs while carefully avoiding the downward sloping and slippery rock. With the numerous rescue ropes and lifebuoy, it'll be clear that you need to take this part seriously.

3. Explore the murals in downtown Sault Ste. Marie

Something that's quite noticeable in downtown Sault Ste. Marie is the amount of vibrant art that's on display in the community. In 2019, the city commissioned the creation of murals including talented Indigenous artists.

There are a total of 13 murals, 5 of which were part of a project with FutureSSM as part of a downtown revitalization project.

Whether you're staying at the Delta or you park along Queen Street East, the beauty of the murals is that they are close proximity to each other and you can easily string several or all of them together.

Each mural is culturally significant, meaningful, and vivid. Makes sure to read all about them in the walking tour guide of the murals.

4. Learn the history of the Shingwauk Residential School

Canada's dark past is brought to light in an eye-opening, thoughtful-provoking, and hopeful tour of the Shingwauk Residential School.

To learn more about the history of this residential school, we encourage you to reach out to Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) to do one of their site tours. These tours are by appointment only and must be booked two weeks in advance. They are restarting these tours starting early October 2022. These are free but donations via their website are welcome.

Across the street from the residential school is Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (SKG), one of 9 Indigenous institutes of higher learning which is right across the street. This is a fitting juxtaposition of an institution with an unsettling history with one of hope and understanding.

If you're lucky enough to visit, notice that the centre roof is representative of a teaching lodge which is representative of a mother's womb.

For tours of SKG, you can arrange them directly by e-mailing them at [email protected].

5. Relax at Katherine Cove and Bathtub Island

Located within Lake Superior Provincial Park, this is a popular cove for its sandy beach, crystal clear waters, convenient picnic tables, access to the Coastal Trail, and a launch point for canoeists.

This is one of those spots that you would easily miss if you didn't do your research but is a favourite for anyone passing through the park.

Often tied to Katherine Cove is the not-so-secret Bathtub Island. This isn't the island that you can see from the cove (that's Lizard Island) but is in fact around the coast towards the south.

To get to Bathtub Island, you'll need to follow the Lake Superior Coastal Trail. From the fragile dunes, you'll walk towards the beach and wade in a knee-high sandbar towards the island. You won't see the all-natural shallow basin right away but assured, it's on the the back side.

This is a natural swimming hole where the rock formation of the island keeps most the water in, with rippling water overflowing into the basin to keep the water fresh.

This legendary splash pad is a key highlight when it comes to the best things to do in Sault Ste. Marie.

6. Hike Pinguisibi/Sand River Trail

If you're exploring Lake Superior Provincial Park and looking for an easy hike to do with waterfall views, Pinguisibi or Sand River Trail is a fantastic choice.

The Ojibwe named for the river is Pinguisibi where pingui means “fine white sand” and sibi means “river”.

There's 6 kilometres of rolling cascades and rapids that this trail follows, making it exceptionally fun to do. In various locations, you'll be able to walk out to the rock to take in the view.

There are photo ops at every corner of this hike and the beauty of it is that there's no singular waterfall at the end that you're trying to get to. The waterfalls are similar throughout so you can go as far as you'd like, based on how much time you have, and then turn back.

7. Watch the sunset at Gros Cap Bluffs

25 minutes from downtown Sault Ste. Marie and a straight shot west towards the coast of Lake Superior is a local sunset hangout spot called Gros Cap Bluffs.

Drive right to the end of Second Line and park right at water's edge. You can hang out by the breakwater to watch the golden light glistening in the water. There's something quite magical about the perfect silhouette of the one tree that juts out from the top of the bluff.

There's also a way to hike up to the rugged and rocky cliff which offers a panoramic vista of the coastline and Michigan in the distance.

Take a pause here to take in that fresh air as the sky blazes with brilliant cotton candy hues.

8. Lake Superior Coastal Drive

This is a bit of a general catch-all but while based in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, you can explore a good part of the eastern coast of Lake Superior along the famed Trans Canada Highway (Highway 17).

Even if Katherine Cove or Old Woman Bay is as far as you go, there are a ton of sights, trails, and pitstops that are worth including in your trip plans.

Here are the stops that we'd recommend, starting with the ones closest to Sault Ste. Marie that we don't explicitly mention in this list on the best things to do in Sault Ste. Marie.

• Chippewa Falls – This is the official midway point of the Trans Canada Highway.
• Batchawana Bay Provincial Park – One of many great beaches along Lake Superior.
• The Voyageur's Lodge and Cookhouse – Pitstop with a general store that's known for their apple fritters and adjacent River & Rock Gifts with great to-go meals.
• Agawa Crafts & the Canadian Carver – Trading post-style tourist stop with Indigenous arts and crafts.
• Pancake Bay Provincial Park – Another wide open stretch of white sandy beach that's great for families. They also have the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout hike (6.1 km, 1.5 hours)
• Old Woman Bay – With its 200-metre cliff to the left and horseshoe shaped bay, this is an incredibly scenic part of Lake Superior Provincial Park. If you have time for a hike, The Nokomis Trail is very well-regarded.

9. Explore Whitefish Island

For the best views of St. Marys River where you get to see tumbling rapids with the backdrop of the International Bridge, you have to come to Whitefish Island.

The island is historically significant because this was an ancestral fishing station, meeting place, and burial grounds. Whitefish Island's 22 acres was returned back to the Batchawana First Nation of Ojibways in 1997.

As you make your way to Whitefish Island, you'll also be passing through the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. In fact, you'll need to cross the pedestrian bridge of this recreational lock, another great photo stop.

Your first bridge crossing will take you to South St. Marys Island. Continue further and you'll cross another bridge into Whitefish Island.

This is an easy island to walk around on its designated hiking trail and boardwalk. You'll find the island teeming with flora, fauna, wildlife, and history. What's also nice about the island is that there are plenty of lookout points with areas to sit.

10. Kayak St. Marys River

Another one of the best things to do in Sault Ste. Marie is being able to paddle the waters of St. Marys River. On your kayak, you'll be able to see the city from a new perspective and with Thrive Tours, you'll also connect the experience back to the significance of this waterway to the Ojibwe and hear an honour song.

The guided kayak excursion launches from the docks of Waterfront Adventure Centre. Thrive Tours provides all the gear you'll need and you'll be able to get out into the water easily and with confidence thanks to their their nifty kayak launching dock.

The advantage of booking a custom kayak tour is to not only help you navigate the currents and direction you should go based on the time you have, but to also bring Indigenous education into the experience.

In our case, we paddled all the way to a small bay in front of the Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (SKG) University. This is in fact most children of the Shingwauk Residential School were delivered by water. Brad from Thrive Tours sang an honour song to not only the past but also present and future of those impacted by residential schools.

11. Chow on fish fry at Chummy's Grill

A popular Indigenous-owned restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie is Chummy's Grill. They're an institution of sorts with travellers that swear by coming here every time they're in town.

The first thing you'll notice when you enter is the impressive showcase of traditional wood carvings that adorn the walls, alcove, window sills, and practically all corners of the restaurant.

Alongside the carvings, it's newly renovated which means it has a modern and clean layout, while honouring its Indigenous heritage.

Chummy's Grill is well-known for their breakfast but the secret is that every Thursday and Friday they offer fish fry on the menu. They offer white fish, lake trout, and pickerel.

Something that we immediately noticed was that fish fry is quite different from your traditional British-style fish & chips. While both deep fried, fish & chips are battered, creating a flaky shell that often separates from the fish whereas fish fry is predominantly breaded with seasoned crumbs that stays on the fish and gives it a ton of flavour even without the tartar sauce.

Map of Where To Go in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

The below is a map of how we planned our 4 day Sault Ste. Marie itinerary as someone an example of someone driving in from Toronto or just about anywhere in southern Ontario.

TIP: If you maximize the map and you're logged into your Google account, you'll be able to make a copy of the map and tweak it to your own liking.

Where to Stay in Sault Ste. Marie

These are our recommendations for where to stay in Sault Ste. Marie, whether it's a hotel or cottage you're looking for.

Closing Thoughts

This is a road trip like no other. With these 11 best things to do in Sault Ste. Marie, you'll be able to plan a fantastic stand-alone getaway or connect this by continuing along the Lake Superior coast.

The best way to describe our 4 days in the Soo is enlightening.

It was enlightening to discover all of the great outdoors that you often hear about but never get to see in person because of how far Sault Ste. Marie is always perceived to be.

It was also enlightening to learn about Indigenous culture through the guiding hand of Thrive Tours and to see pow wow so full of inclusivity, positive energy, and celebration.

Frequently Asked Questions