Description
The 1700km/1000-mile-long winter-only route is paved for the first 1200km, then gravel for the next 200km. The last 300km is a winter road that crosses land and ice. Driving at night on paved sections is fine, but should be minimized if possible on the winter roads. The winter road is constructed each January and maintained usually until late March or early April, and is capable of carrying tractor-trailers and heavy mining equipment.
The route starts in Sault Ste. Marie (aka 'The Soo'), where the St. Mary's Falls mark the end of Lake Superior and the start of Lake Huron. Over the next 700km or 400 miles, the Trans-Canada traverses the rugged north shore of Superior, one of the most scenic drives in North America. After passing through numerous parks and preserves, the last 100km or 60 miles approaching Thunder Bay is officially known as the Terry Fox Courage Highway, where his cross-country Marathon of Hope came to its premature end. Since 1980, the Marathon of Hope has become an annual event in almost every country of the world, raising nearly half a billion dollars for cancer research. TheTerry Fox monument is located beside the highway on the outskirts of Thunder Bay, overlooking Sleeping Giant.
Thunder Bay, aka 'Lakehead', is the port where the the grains of the Prairies are loaded onto the 'lakers', or Great Lakes freighters. Lakehead is also home to Old Fort WIlliam, a 18th century English fur-trading outpost. From Thunder Bay, it's another couple hours west on the Trans-Canada to highway 599, which eventually leads to Pickle Lake, the northernmost point reachable via Ontario's highway network. Like the James Bay Road, very few Canadians have ventured this far, much less further.
For most of the year, all but the southernmost sliver of northwestern Ontario is inaccessible by road. But in winter, numerous native communities become connected to the rest of the world via winter ice roads. During these few months, these communities receive heavy supplies by truck and residents drive their cars south for the annual visit to the mechanic in Pickle Lake. Despite the cold, commercially speaking this is the busiest time of the year, and the only time certain activities can easily take place, such as mineral exploration and drilling. Over the next decade, these roads are being turned into all-season roads, and a paved road will be built to new hydro-electric facilities in northern Manitoba. This will change these communities forever, but for now, they can seen much as they have been since the 1950s.
At the most northern end of the winter roads is the village of Big Trout Lake, a sizable Ojibway-Cree community. Currently quite isolated, Big Trout may become a major regional centre if a nearby platinum deposit, believed to be the 2nd biggest in the world, is developed into a mine.
Getting There
The Soo is the start of the route, and can be reached via the International Bridge at the end of I-75 on Michigan's UP, about 5 hours drive north of Detroit. It can also be reached from Montreal or Ottawa by the Trans-Canada Highway or via ON-400/ON-17 from Toronto.
Alternatives / Spurs
If using the TCH to reach the route, alternatives include TCH-11 to Nipigon, or ON-129/101 to Wawa. However, both of these skip some or all of the north shore of Superior, and are therefore not recommended even if marginally faster.
Thunder Bay can also be reached from I-35 to Duluth and then US-61 to the border. This could also allow for a trip through Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A loop route of sorts can be made by taking the north shore of Superior one way, and returning via the UP.
Sights / Attractions
St. Mary's Falls, Lake Superior Park, North Shore of Superior, Courage Highway, Ice roads.
Claims to Fame
Pickle Lake is the northernmost point in Ontario's highway network. Big Trout Lake is as far north as can be driven entirely in Ontario.
Estimates
Roughly 4 days each way from NYC. Allow extra time for sight-seeing. Likely overnights: Ottawa, The Soo/Wawa, Pickle Lake, Big Trout, Pickle Lake...
The trip can be done only when the winter roads are constructed and plowed, from early January through to early April..
Links
Lake Superior
Courage Highway
Big Trout Lake