I will be traveling from Fond du Lac, Wi to Duluth Mn then up Thunder Bay and eventually on to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Any advice while traveling 17 in Canada? Places to see, camping places to stay and of course advice on where to eat would be appreciated.

Keep an eye out for moose & deer crossing the roads. It's been a long time since I've been up there so no help there.

Garry

We were up there two weeks ago and rode down a penisula just NE of Thunder bay on a recommendation.I believe it was called Sleeping Giant Park or road.Saw lots of deer ,little critters ,grouse ,and 4 bears.The road was nice and curvy too.
Watch for the Beware of night stalker Moose signs that have a little added appendage.
Don't forget your passport.

If you plan on an overnight stay between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, call ahead for hotel reservations if you can't camp. My buddies and I rolled into Marathon at the top of Lake Superior around 12:00 am (in the rain and at 35 degrees during the summer) and found hotels entirely booked (much to our surprise). We had to ride another 35 miles which sucked after a long ride from somewhere in upstate New York. I guess the other moral to the story is to make sure you have enough warm clothes even in the middle of summer. Also, gas availability could be an issue. Canada 17 was very nice north of Sault Ste. Marie. South of the Sault was nothing spectacular.

The ride is always good around the top of the lake. To others advise watch for critters, I've never seen a moose and don't ride at night, but never gone around the lake without bear sightings, sometimes closer than you want... Couple of years ago between Thunder Bay & Ft. Frances a sow & her cubs ran out & decided to stop in the middle of the road. She looked back for the lagging cub, I had stopped and reached for my camera. In a second it went from a photo op to oh shit. The cub came out of the brush and they moved on. With the gravel shoulders, loaded two up my only chance would have been to go straight at her had she charged.

Expect some construction delays and some gravel but not bad and generally hard packed.

From Wawa to Marathon you get away from the lake and run through brush with not much out there. We've stayed in Terrace Bay at the Red Dog a couple of times. Nothing fancy, but clean, a couple of blocks from the water. The hotel has a restaurant, pizza & breakfast. Ride down past the golf course to the shore for a good sunset and check out the gorge just west of town.

Stateside Grand Marais, MN is always a good bet, also good for sunsets out on the rocks past the marina. Decent lodging and good whitefish.

In Wisconsin, a favorite is Bayfield, stay at Grunenke's an original, old and funky. You will probably have to share a bath, but good rooms and a good place. In addition to the jumping off point for the Apostle islands, Bayfield is also a music town with regular events at the ski hill just out of town. Lot's of fun...

As for Michigan, I grew up there and the UP is as good as it gets. Lots of deer... Marquette is always worth a stayover. The Landmark downtown is good and the Vierling is a favorite for whitefish. Take a little time and go out to Big Bay, then check out the Keweenaw on your way home.

Have fun and safe riding,

FK

Look out for this guy

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Being a resident of Thunder Bay I've done this route countless times. Rossport 2 hours east of T Bay is a good stop, eat at the Serendipity, surprisingly fine food for a small town, just back 100 yards from the lake. There are a couple of B&B's in town, the Willows and Serendipity, also Rossport Inn.

Red Dog Inn in Terrace Bay, not fancy but OK.

For camping there are a couple of areas inside L Superior Nat Park, Rabbit Blanket Lake and Pancake Bay, clean and lots of space.

Gas available in all small towns but not too many stay open past dark, 11 PM.

East of Wawa about 5-15 minutes on the lake side of the road is Kinnewabi Pines restaurant. Great food from a place you would not expect to find here, only open in the summer. You have to watch closely or you'll miss it.

have fun

Ron

Thanks guys...the ride was spectacular. I felt like I was riding through Alaska in parts of this country. I had trouble finding camping sites so the first night stayed at a city camp ground and then stayed in hotels the rest of the way. Did a little gambling at the casino in Thunder Bay and had a good Salmon meal at the steak house near the casino. I did see a bear and a moose along with many small animals along the way. I'm going to do this again early Fall....oh the weather...let's just say I'm glad I had a heated seat. When I dropped down from Duluth it was about 54 degrees and a couple of hours later 87 traveling south. What a great ride.



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