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Ontario · Canada
The city of locks between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the departure point for the Agawa Canyon train and the Lake Superior shore, with rock paintings over the water.
In the photo: Agawa Canyon, Ontario.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Sault Ste. Marie sits on the St. Marys River, which connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron, on the border with the United States. Rapids on the river once blocked ships, and since the 19th century locks have allowed navigation between the two lakes. On the far side of the bridge lies the American city of the same name.
The city is the departure point for the Agawa Canyon train, which heads north through forests, lakes and bridges over rivers to a granite-walled canyon with waterfalls and trails. The trip is famous in autumn, when the trees change color.
To the north, the Trans-Canada Highway follows the shore of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world by area. In Lake Superior Provincial Park, Agawa Rock holds Ojibwe rock paintings over the water.
The region combines maritime history, Indigenous culture and the landscape of the Canadian Shield.
This destination brings together 1 city: Sault Ste. Marie.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Boundaries: Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence) / geoBoundaries. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM) · 15 km to Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM) receives flights from Toronto. By car, the city is about 690 km from Toronto and about 300 km from Sudbury via the Trans-Canada Highway.
The local experience
A day train trip from Sault Ste. Marie to Agawa Canyon, through forests, lakes and bridges, with about 2 hours in the canyon for trails and waterfalls.
Canal and 1895 lock on the St. Marys River, the world’s first electrically powered lock, with trails on the neighbouring island by the rapids.
Granite cliff above Lake Superior with Ojibwe red-ochre rock art, in Lake Superior Provincial Park, seen from a stone platform.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
Mid-September to mid-October for fall colors on the Agawa train. The train typically runs from early August to mid-October. Summer is good for the Lake Superior shore.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Two or three days: one for the Agawa train, one for the town and the locks, and, if possible, one for the Lake Superior shore.
The downtown and riverfront have hotels near the train station and the boardwalk. There are roadside hotels on the city’s entry avenues.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
Generally from early August to mid-October; peak colors are mid-September to mid-October.
A full day, round trip, with about 2 hours stopped in the canyon.
Not for the train and downtown. Yes for the Lake Superior shore.
Yes, via the International Bridge, with the entry documents required by the United States.
The same as Toronto: UTC−5, and UTC−4 from March to November.
