Sault Ste. Marie, or “the Soo” as it is locally known, is one of the best Northern Ontario places to visit for a perfect balance of hospitality and history.
When you fly from Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie, the Art Gallery of Algoma is the perfect place to start. Take in the annual program of travelling exhibits featuring artwork from around Canada. Get a firsthand look at the work of Ontario’s Aboriginal artists in the more than 5,000-piece permanent collection.
Right outside the gallery is the Elsie Savoie Sculpture Park. Wander through the scenic garden and enjoy the display of public art near the St. Marys River. The John Rowswell Hub Trail runs past the park leading to even more sites. Hop on the 25 km paved path for an excursion to more points of interest in Sault Ste. Marie.
Make your way to the iconic red brick building housing the Sault Ste. Marie Museum. The museum’s magnificent clock tower will likely inspire you to take a photo. Inside, three storeys of history examine the city’s fur trading and industrial eras. Visit the Skylight Gallery where the city’s origins are told through photos, maps, and artifacts.
More historic buildings can be found at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal. This National Historic Site site is steeped in 19th century architecture with the wonderfully preserved powerhouse, superintendent’s residence, and Administration Building. Soak in the history as you watch the boats sail through the lock.
Sault Ste. Marie also boasts a vibrant aviation legacy. The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre is home to a fine collection of vintage planes. Tour the hangar of over 20 aircraft, many of which have been restored to working condition. Get a front seat to the action in the museum’s Flight Simulator, where you can soar over the lakes and forests of Sault Ste. Marie.
Swoop into the rich cultural scene of the city with a flight from Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie.
Head to the expansive and fun-filled Lake Superior Provincial Park with flights from Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie.
The park presents a range of things to do in Sault Ste. Marie for outdoor enthusiasts. Within Lake Superior Provincial Park are eight canoe routes for various skill levels. The Rabbit Blanket Lake to Surf Lake route is an overnight escape option with some daytime trout fishing.
The campgrounds at Rabbit Blanket Lake are a scenic mix of wooded and open campsites. Pitch a tent near the beach at this site for a peaceful night in the park. The quiet surroundings are sure to energize you for even more adventures during your visit.
Have your pick of one of the 11 hiking trails carved out of the Northern Ontario wilderness. You’ll cross over the dynamic landscape of beaches, forests, and wetlands. Trapper’s Trail, an easy 1.5 km loop, will carry you over a floating boardwalk near Rustle Lake. In the marshes, you can catch a glimpse of otters, beavers, and great blue herons.
See the park’s wildlife depicted on the Agawa Rock Pictographs Trail. Climb over boulders and descend into the rock gorges on a hike to the sacred aboriginal site. The 35 ancient red paintings are a worthy reward at the end of your journey.
Fly from Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie and hunt through history in Lake Superior Provincial Park.
The outdoors are yours to enjoy with flights from Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie.
Pancake Bay Provincial Park is one of the more popular parks in Northern Ontario. Boasting hundreds of campsites, spend a night on the shores of Lake Superior or inland on a backcountry trail.
Originating during the fur trading era, the park’s name is the stuff of legend. The voyageurs travelling through the wilderness would often stop in Pancake Bay overnight before heading to Sault Ste. Marie. They dined on pancakes and stocked up on supplies in the city.
Today, you only need to pack a picnic basket to enjoy a sunrise on the beach. Spread out a blanket for sunbathing, and then cool down with a dip in Lake Superior. Paddlers can take a canoe out for a cruise along the waters and watch the shore transition from a sandy nook to a craggy coastline.
Two trails winding into the woods also offer some inland adventures. On the Pancake Bay Nature Trail, you can take a scenic stroll across the beach and wetlands. Depending on the season, pick handfuls of berries and hazelnuts, while sneaking a glance at the local wildlife.
Opt for a hike on the Lookout Trail for a picturesque view of the bay and Whitefish Point across the border. The channel between the United States and Canada carries a grisly reputation as the “graveyard of the Great Lakes”. The last notable wreck in the area was the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.
Sail into Pancake Bay and hike along its trails when you fly from Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie.
Fly from Stephenville International Airport (YJT) to Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM), with stops in Ottawa or Montréal, and connections in Halifax and Toronto. Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie flight time is 5 hours and 30 minutes on average. Connection times vary. The distance from Stephenville to Sault Ste. Marie is around 2,375 km / 1,475 mi.
Enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks along the way.
Porter’s check-in desk is located in the departures area.
Stephenville International Airport (YJT) is about 2 km / 1 mi from downtown Stephenville.
Please allow sufficient time to drop off your car rental before your departing flight.
Taxis from downtown are available.
Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM) is about 19 km / 12 mi from downtown Sault Ste. Marie.
Car rental services are available at Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM).
Taxi and car service to downtown costs about $45 CAD.