Walking the Trans Canada Trail in Northern and Northwestern Ontario: Research, Resources and Planning Information

Communities, resupply, camping and route considerations from North Bay to the Manitoba border

 

Preparing to Walk Across Northern Ontario

 
As we continued researching our proposed #Hike4Birds journey across Canada on the Trans Canada Trail in 2020, Northern Ontario presented some of the most complicated logistical questions we had encountered. Unlike the established rail trails and urban pathways of southern Ontario, the national trail network across the North and around Lake Superior includes extensive stretches of public roadway, a scattering of remote wilderness footpaths, shorter land trails and enormous water routes. Our preparations therefore required more than identifying the next community or campground. We needed to determine where the mapped trail could actually be followed on foot, whether wilderness connections were maintained and how to travel safely between sections that were primarily intended for paddlers.

 
The following guide brings together our original research for Northern and Northwestern Ontario, beginning at North Bay and continuing through Sudbury, the North Shore of Lake Huron, Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior and Northwestern Ontario toward the Manitoba border. We have condensed our extensive planning documents into an overview of communities, grocery and convenience stores, formal camping opportunities, distances and significant logistical considerations. Our research was undertaken in the summer and fall of 2020 and should be treated as a historical planning resource rather than a current directory. Given the remote geography and changing nature of some trail connections, future walkers must verify current services, access arrangements, camping regulations, trail conditions and transportation options before departure.
 

The Trans Canada Trail in Northern and Northwestern Ontario

 
The route of the Trans Canada Trail for this section begins in North Bay, turning westward through communities along the northern and western sides of Lake Nipissing toward Sudbury. From there, the Trans Canada Trail offers different possibilities for continuing toward Sault Ste. Marie. The Huron Shores route follows a combination of public roadways, community connections and shorter pathways through communities including Whitefish, Nairn Centre, Espanola, Massey, Spanish, Blind River, Iron Bridge, Thessalon, Bruce Mines and Echo Bay.

 
An alternative is provided by portions of the Voyageur Trail, a wilderness hiking network extending through parts of Northern Ontario. Our original research investigated the approximately 150.7 km Iron Bridge–Sault Ste. Marie section through Warnock Lake, Clear Lake, Shino Rapids and other remote areas. However, our notes explicitly caution that this alternative was not recommended on the information then available. We could not reliably establish the location and continuity of several sections, and the mapped route offered almost no dependable access to groceries. We therefore considered it a possibility requiring considerably more investigation rather than an established, continuous walking option.
 
West of Sault Ste. Marie, the character of the national trail network changes again. Our research identifies the beginning of the Lake Superior Water Trail, recorded at approximately 997.7 km, followed by additional water routes associated with the Path of the Paddle network across Northwestern Ontario. Together, these form part of the much longer Trans Canada Trail paddling connection toward Manitoba.
 
For walkers, however, the Lake Superior and Northwestern Ontario water routes cannot simply be treated as continuous land trails. Our research identifies individual walking opportunities, including the Lake Superior Coastal Trail, Pukaskwa National Park's Coastal Hiking Trail, the Group of Seven Trail, Casque Isles Trail and Nipigon River Trail, together with other shorter connections. These are separated by substantial distances where transportation or independently researched road alternatives (Trans Canada Highway) would be necessary.
 
The practical challenge is therefore different from that encountered elsewhere in Ontario. Rather than assuming that the marked Trans Canada Trail provides a continuous walkable corridor, our preparations must establish which portions are suitable for hiking, where each section begins and ends, and how any necessary transfers between them could be arranged.
 

Communities and Resupply

 
The following communities were identified during our original research as offering groceries, convenience stores, restaurants, accommodations or other useful services. They include settlements along the Huron Shores route, together with communities useful when investigating the separate land trails and water routes around Lake Superior.
 

Community or region	Supplies identified during research
North Bay	Extensive groceries, pharmacies, equipment, accommodations, hospital and transportation
Sturgeon Falls	Grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants and general services
Lavigne / Monetville	Limited local food and convenience opportunities
St. Charles / Hagar	Convenience and smaller community services
Sudbury	Major resupply centre with supermarkets, pharmacies, outdoor equipment, hospitals and transportation
Whitefish / Nairn Centre	Limited convenience and food-service opportunities
Espanola	Supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, general retail and medical services
Massey	Grocery and convenience stores, restaurants and accommodations
Spanish	Limited grocery, convenience and accommodation possibilities
Serpent River / Blind River	Convenience services in smaller settlements; more substantial groceries in Blind River
Iron Bridge	General and convenience stores, restaurants and accommodations
Thessalon	Grocery shopping, restaurants and other community services
Bruce Mines	Grocery and convenience stores, food services and accommodations
Echo Bay	Limited local grocery and convenience opportunities
Sault Ste. Marie	Extensive supermarkets, pharmacies, equipment, hospitals, accommodations and transportation
Wawa	Regional grocery, convenience, accommodation and other services
Marathon	Grocery stores, pharmacy, accommodations and community services
Terrace Bay / Schreiber	Grocery and convenience supplies, restaurants and accommodations
Rossport	Limited food services and accommodations
Nipigon / Red Rock	Grocery and convenience opportunities, restaurants and accommodations
Thunder Bay	Major regional resupply centre with extensive groceries, retail, medical services and transportation
Kenora	Extensive groceries, pharmacies, accommodations, medical services and transportation

 
Our research identifies North Bay, Sudbury, Espanola, Blind River, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, Marathon, Nipigon, Thunder Bay and Kenora as important potential resupply centres. Larger communities offer the most dependable opportunities for substantial groceries, equipment replacement and other essential supplies.
 
Along the Huron Shores route, several smaller towns provide grocery stores or general supplies, although the availability of services varies considerably. Named settlements should not automatically be assumed to contain operating shops, particularly where a trail connection passes outside the community centre.
 
The difficulty becomes greater around Lake Superior, where a settlement shown on a map may be separated from the intended hiking route by considerable distances. The availability of groceries in Wawa, Marathon or Nipigon does not necessarily mean those services can be reached conveniently from a wilderness trailhead.
 
Likewise, the Path of the Paddle network crosses vast areas where ordinary resupply is not available between access points. Any attempt to follow the water routes would require a different logistical approach, including planning around paddling distances, landing sites, equipment and transportation.
 

Distances and Significant Gaps Between Services

 
Our original research identifies several sections where the distance between dependable services, the condition of the route and the type of travel required present significant planning challenges.
 
North Bay to Sudbury
 
Between North Bay and Sudbury, the route of the Trans Canada Trail follows a succession of community pathways, secondary roads and highway connections around Lake Nipissing and the surrounding countryside. Sturgeon Falls offers substantial services, while the smaller communities farther west provide more limited supplies.
 
Although communities such as Lavigne, Monetville, St. Charles and Hagar appear along the TCT’s route, their presence does not guarantee dependable grocery shopping or convenient accommodation. Walkers need to consider distances between larger resupply centres and the additional time required for road connections.
 
Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie
 
Our original research identifies approximately 374.8 km along the TCT’s Huron Shores route across the region, including sections around Sudbury, Espanola, Blind River, Iron Bridge and Sault Ste. Marie. The route combines smaller community trails with substantial roadway walking, including connections near Highway 17.
 
The more substantial service centres include Espanola and Blind River, while communities such as Massey, Spanish, Iron Bridge, Thessalon and Bruce Mines provide varying opportunities for groceries and other supplies.
 
Our notes record approximately 40.5 km from Iron Bridge to Thessalon and approximately 128.5 km from Iron Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie along the Trans Canada Trail. These are planning estimates rather than exact distances between operating stores.
 
It should be noted that throughout much of this region the Trans Canada Trail is on roadways.  The roadway sections require particular attention to traffic, shoulder conditions and the availability of safe places to stop. A route that is practical for cyclists or motorists may present significantly different challenges to someone travelling on foot.
 

The Voyageur Trail Alternative

 
Our separate research document examines approximately 150.7 km of Voyageur Trail between Iron Bridge and Sault Ste. Marie.  This alternative was of particular interest because it appeared to offer wilderness walking away from the highway and regional roadways. However, our notes repeatedly question the continuity of the mapped pathway, including sections around Red Rock Falls, Shaw Dam, Highway 638 and the Upper Echo River.  These trails appear to have once been established and later have had only minimal maintenance.  Reports exist that many of the Voyageur Trail sections have “returned to nature” and are unhikeable now.
 
In addition, research identifies very limited or no dependable grocery services along these wilderness routes. Some campgrounds or lodges were found near lakes and highways, but their location did not establish that they could be reached conveniently from the trail.  Most importantly, our original guide specifically states that this route was not recommended based on the available information. We could not establish several connections with sufficient confidence to treat them as practical walking directions. Anyone considering this alternative must obtain reliable, current information directly from the relevant trail organization and should not rely on our preliminary route notes for navigation.
 

Sault Ste. Marie and the Lake Superior Water Trail

 
Our planning research identifies the Lake Superior Water Trail at approximately 997.7 km, beginning in the Sault Ste. Marie region and following the shoreline of Lake Superior toward Northwestern Ontario.  This distance is a water route, and not a continuous walking trail.
 
The original research identifies several disconnected hiking opportunities associated with the Trans Canada Trail along or near this corridor:

• Lake Superior Coastal Trail: approximately 62 km in the original notes

• Pukaskwa Coastal Hiking Trail: approximately 61.5 km

• Kwewiskaning Coastal Trail: approximately 10.5 km

• Group of Seven Trail near Marathon: approximately 21.3 km

• Casque Isles Trail: approximately 53.1 km in the route inventory, although another description in the original notes gives a different length

• Nipigon River Trail: approximately 10.2 km

 
These figures describe individual trail sections and should not be added together as a continuous route. Each pathway has its own access points, terrain, possible overnight facilities and logistical requirements.
 
For walkers, the most important question is how to travel between these separate hiking areas. A long-distance road alternative may be possible in some locations, but that is a different undertaking from following the designated water trail and must be researched independently.
 

Northwestern Ontario and the Manitoba Border

 
Beyond the Lake Superior region, the Trans Canada Trail continues through further water routes associated with the Path of the Paddle network.  Beyond this, there are only scattered community trails associated with the TCT and no continuous land trail. 
 
Our original research identifies approximately 1,958.6 km of combined water-route connections from Sault Ste. Marie toward Whiteshell Provincial Park in Manitoba, incorporating Lake Superior and subsequent paddling routes.
 
The presence of small local land trails should not be interpreted as indicating that the intervening water sections can be completed on foot without having to walk on the Trans Canada Highway. For anyone intending to walk from Thunder Bay toward the Manitoba border, a continuous route would require separate investigation of roads, trail access, services, camping and transportation.
 
These distances are historical planning figures. They should not be treated as a current continuous walking itinerary or as guarantees of access between trail sections.
 

Formal Camping Opportunities

 
Our original research identifies provincial parks, private campgrounds, recreational facilities and wilderness camping possibilities across Northern Ontario. However, the availability and accessibility of established sites vary considerably between the Huron Shores region and the remote land trails around Lake Superior.
 
Between North Bay and Sudbury, research identifies private campgrounds and lakeside recreational facilities in several communities. Their suitability for a long-distance walker depends on access from the proposed route, seasonal operation and whether overnight tent camping is available.
 
Along the Huron Shores route, formal camping opportunities appear near communities and highway connections, including facilities around Blind River and Iron Bridge. Our notes identify MacIver's Motel and Campground near Blind River, together with other private accommodations and campground possibilities farther west.
 
The alternative Voyageur Trail presents a different situation. Our research identifies possible facilities around Warnock Lake, Clear Lake and the Bruce Mines region, including campgrounds located away from portions of the mapped wilderness route. However, some access arrangements were uncertain, and we could not establish that the trail provided a reliable connection between these sites.
 
Around Lake Superior, research identifies provincial and national parks that may provide formal or designated wilderness camping opportunities. These include areas associated with Batchawana Bay, Pancake Bay, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Pukaskwa National Park, Neys Provincial Park and Rainbow Falls Provincial Park.
 
Backcountry camping on designated wilderness trails may be possible but also might involve permits, reservations, park-specific regulations and restrictions on where overnight stops are permitted. A park's presence on the map does not mean that every section allows camping or that designated campsites are conveniently situated for a particular walking itinerary.
 
Private campgrounds and other accommodations may also be available in communities such as Wawa, Marathon, Terrace Bay, Schreiber, Nipigon and Thunder Bay, although their distance from individual trailheads and seasonal availability require careful investigation.
 
Wild camping should not be assumed to be permitted along the Trans Canada Trail. Provincial parks, national parks, private property, conservation lands and other areas have different access and camping rules. In remote areas, planning must also account for emergency communication, food storage, weather exposure and the distance to assistance.
 

Other Practical Considerations

 
Trail access and route continuity: The most important consideration in Northern Ontario is distinguishing between a mapped Trans Canada Trail corridor and a physically continuous walking route. This is especially significant around Lake Superior and throughout the Path of the Paddle network, where extensive sections are designed for water travel and land trails are scattered far from one another.
 
Highway walking: The Huron Shores route includes long stretches of roadway. Traffic volumes, heavy vehicles, shoulder conditions, visibility and safe crossing points may vary substantially. Walkers should investigate available alternatives and avoid assuming that a mapped cycling connection provides suitable pedestrian conditions.
 
Wilderness trail navigation: Our Voyageur Trail research repeatedly identifies uncertainty about trail locations, crossings and continuity. The availability of a trail name or map line is not sufficient evidence that a section can be followed safely. Current guidance from local trail organizations is essential.
 
Water: Northern Ontario contains extensive lakes, rivers and wetlands, but this does not eliminate the need to plan for reliable drinking water. Roadside areas may offer few convenient access points, while wilderness sources require appropriate treatment.
 
Food and supplies: Larger communities provide substantial resupply opportunities, but smaller settlements may have limited groceries. Anyone entering remote footpaths should carry sufficient food for the entire section, including reasonable allowances for delays.
 
Camping and accommodations: Formal campgrounds are not evenly distributed, and some lakeside facilities primarily serve recreational vehicles or seasonal visitors. Park campsites, backcountry permits and possible detours from the trail should be investigated before departure.
 
Weather and seasonal conditions: Conditions around Lake Superior can change quickly, while exposed shorelines, wet rock, cold water and rugged terrain present particular hazards. Inland regions may experience significant rain, heat, insects and early autumn cold. Daily walking estimates should account for local terrain and conditions.
 
Transportation: Our research identifies regional transportation possibilities in larger northern communities, but connections between remote trailheads are less straightforward. Services, routes and schedules should be confirmed before relying on them for transfers between separated land trails.
 
Medical and emergency services: North Bay, Sudbury, Espanola, Blind River, Sault Ste. Marie, Marathon, Thunder Bay and Kenora were among the communities identified as offering medical or emergency facilities. Distances to assistance may be substantial between these centres, especially on remote wilderness routes.
 

A Note for Future Walkers

 
These notes represent the information we assembled while preparing to travel across Ontario as a whole, which includes Northern and Northwestern Ontario on the Trans Canada Trail. They were intended to identify the communities, grocery stores, formal camping possibilities, trail connections and distances that might help us determine how to continue our journey westward.
 
Unlike many of the trail systems encountered earlier in Eastern Canada and Quebec, Northern Ontario's Trans Canada Trail network does not provide one uninterrupted hiking corridor from North Bay to Manitoba. Some portions follow roads or established footpaths, while others are designed primarily for paddling. Future walkers should research the appropriate route for their mode of travel rather than assume that all mapped trail sections are suitable for walking.
 
The Trans Canada Trail is an evolving network, and route alignments, trail maintenance, campground access, transportation arrangements and services may have changed since our research. We encourage future walkers to consult current trail organizations, park authorities and local service providers before departure.
 
For a fuller account of the landscapes, communities, wildlife, histories and experiences of our journey, we invite you to explore our daily Northern and Northwestern Ontario #Hike4Birds entries.

 

Following Our Research: Additional Notes from After the Trail

 
Our subsequent journey across Northern Ontario demonstrated how much more complicated the Trans Canada Trail became as we travelled westward beyond North Bay. Although our research had identified communities, highway connections and possible wilderness alternatives, the reality of travelling long distances on foot required continuous adjustments. From North Bay toward Sudbury, and subsequently along the North Shore of Lake Huron, much of our progress involved secondary roads and sections of the Trans Canada Highway each marked as part of the Trans Canada Trail. The distances between services grew, traffic became a more significant concern, and the availability of appropriate overnight stopping places was increasingly uncertain. While communities such as Espanola, Massey, Spanish and Blind River provided opportunities for supplies, reaching them did not necessarily mean that the following day's route would offer suitable water, shelter or camping.
 
One of the most significant decisions arose at Iron Bridge, where we had originally hoped to leave the roadways and follow approximately 150 km of the Voyageur Trail toward Sault Ste. Marie. We had researched the wilderness route, arranged additional food supplies and considered changing our equipment to accommodate the terrain. However, information from the Voyageur Trail Association and experienced hikers indicated that substantial portions of the route were unmaintained and difficult or impossible to follow. Reports from hikers who had recently attempted the trail reinforced these concerns that the route would essentially require GPX tracks and bushwhacking rather than following a maintained and waymarked pathway.   Rather than continue with a plan that was not practical, we followed the Huron Shores route toward Sault Ste. Marie. It was a disappointing decision after so much anticipation, but an important reminder that researching a route does not guarantee its availability when the time comes to walk it.
 
Beyond Sault Ste. Marie, we encountered an even greater logistical challenge. The Trans Canada Trail followed the Lake Superior Water Trail, while the hiking opportunities we hoped to explore were separated by long distances without a continuous designated walking route. The expense and arrangements required for paddling Lake Superior were beyond what we could undertake, and we investigated ways of reaching individual land trails instead. Our experiences along portions of the Lake Superior shoreline, including Lake Superior Coastal Trail and Casque Isles Trail and trails in provincial parks, demonstrated the extraordinary value of these pathways while also reinforcing that they do not constitute a continuous walking route around the lake. Travel between trailheads, access to groceries and the availability of overnight facilities required separate planning. We were particularly shocked by the reservation requirements and costs associated with the Pukaskwa National Park's Coastal Hiking Trail, which we also could not afford.  As such, our journey therefore included adjustments, transfers and sections that could not be completed as originally imagined.
 
One individual a few months ahead of us on the Trans Canada Trail advised that we not hike along the Trans Canada Highway, as she had done to tie the fragments of the national pathway together, noting it as one of the most terrifying and miserable experiences of her time hiking across the nation.  This sentiment was reiterated by local trail builders who also encouraged us now to hike between the scattered segments of the TCT in Northern Ontario.
 
Camping and accommodation remained recurring concerns throughout Northern Ontario. The considerable distances between established facilities sometimes required us to investigate alternatives, while the presence of forests and lakes did not necessarily mean that camping was authorized or that a suitable location was accessible from the road. Where circumstances led us to camp outside established facilities, we made every effort to choose secluded locations away from private property, homes and developed areas, following Leave No Trace principles and minimizing our impact. These experiences should not be interpreted as indicating that informal camping was legally permitted. For future walkers, the most important lesson from our northern journey is the need to distinguish carefully between the national trail network as represented on maps and the individual routes that can safely and practically be followed on foot.
 
For more detailed information, check out our Reflections on Hiking the Trans Canada Trail in Northern Ontario.
 
See you on the trail!