Welcome to nature’s hotspot
See the best of Canada’s wilderness, with a flight from Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie.
Where Lake Superior meets Lake Huron, you’ll find Sault Ste. Marie, known to locals as the “Soo”. Located on the shores of the St. Mary’s River, this Northern Ontario city is a hub of outdoor activity. Whether you’re just walking across the Sault Ste. Marie Canal to Whitefish Island, or on a ten-day trek through one of the nearby provincial parks, there’s no limit to what you can do around the Soo.
Lake Superior Provincial Park offers truly superior camping and hiking. Towering cliffs and tumbling waterfalls add to the rugged beauty of this park. If you prefer the softer side of Canada’s wilderness, slip into the sheltered, shallow waters of Batchawana Bay Provincial Park, the warmest shoreline on Lake Superior.
While you’re in town, experience some of the most exciting things to do in Sault Ste. Marie at the Essar Centre. Watch the Soo Greyhounds take to the ice or musicians rock out on stage at this multi-purpose event centre. If you want to be at the centre of the action, you can always bet on the OLG Casino Sault Ste. Marie for a fun night.
Before you hop on your plane back to Ottawa, take a ride on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. The large windows of the comfortable coaches frame the Algoma County landscapes that inspired the Group of Seven. Open throughout the year, this train has the best view of the region’s wilderness in every season.
Lake Superior Provincial Park
The superior outdoors
When you go from Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie, explore the extraordinary outdoors with a trip to Lake Superior Provincial Park.
Located on the shores of the world’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Superior Provincial Park is big on adventure. While you won’t be able to traverse all 1,600 sq km of its rugged terrain, hiking trails in Lake Superior Provincial Park take you to the park’s best parts.
Ranging in length from 1 hour to 7 days, there are hiking trails for every ability level and time commitment. Take the 5 km Nokomis to visit Old Woman Bay. Even if you can’t make out the old woman in the cliffs, the sheer 200 m cliff face is still impressive.
Follow the South Old Woman River Trail to find one of Lake Superior Provincial Park’s coziest spots, Rabbit Blanket Lake. Compared to Lake Superior, Rabbit Blanket Lake is small and still, making it a favourite for canoe trips.
If you canoe through the park, there’s no shortage of portaging through Lake Superior Provincial Park. The craggy landscape of this park means you’ll have to pack up your paddles and lace up your hiking boots several times on your trip.
If the waters of Lake Superior are calm enough, make the climb down to the Agawa Rock pictographs. Spirits and dreams of generations of Ojibwe are painted in red ochre on the cliffs of this sacred site.
Learn more about the pictographs at Lake Superior Provincial Park’s visitor centre. The nature and culture of the region are on display through special events and educational programs.
With a short walk from the visitor centre, you can stake out a spot in the Agawa Campground. Mature pine trees shelter this area and a 3 km stretch of beach awaits for a leisurely dip.
Pitch your tent under the stars to rest up for the next great adventure on your trip from Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie.
Pancake Bay Provincial Park
Stacks up to one great adventure
After flying from Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie, treat yourself with a trip to Pancake Bay Provincial Park.
Experience the sweet escape of Pancake Bay’s 3 km of fine sand beaches surrounded by startlingly blue waters that seem almost tropical in colour.
You can explore more of Pancake Bay’s amazing waterways by canoeing the routes of the early French Canadian fur traders, the Voyageurs. While you probably won’t be paddling a birch bark canoe, or carrying pelts, these historic routes are a window into Canada’s fur trading past.
Under the park’s waters, lies an intriguing section of seafaring history. The sunken Edmund Fitzgerald joined the “graveyard of the Great Lakes” in 1975, adding to the thousands of vessels resting on the bottom of Lake Superior. With the help of a map of the various ships, nautical enthusiasts will be able to identify some of the wrecks that are visible from the surface.
From the Lookout Trail, you’ll have a clear view over the graveyard. The trail’s two viewing platforms will give you the lay of the land over Pancake Bay and Lake Superior. Smaller, secluded lakes along the trail offer a quiet alternative to the often rough waters of Lake Superior.
After a hard day’s hike, spend the night at one of Pancake Bay Provincial Park’s camping sites. If you’re too tired for tents, you’ll love the park’s yurts. Picnic tables and firepits accompany every one of these soft-sided cabins, so you can focus on the fun parts of camping. Settle in under the stars with some s’mores, the perfect end to a day on your trip from Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie.
How to get to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Porter’s check-in desk is on the third floor, in the departures area.
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is about 10 km / 6 mi from downtown Ottawa.
Transportation to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft offer services to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport and can drop customers off alongside regular passengers and taxis.
Please allow sufficient time to drop off your car rental before your departing flight.
Take the OC Transpo 97 Airport / Bayshore and Bells bus to the airport stop. The fare is $3.50 CAD.
Taxis to Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) from downtown cost about $35 CAD. Car service costs about $90 CAD.
Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Parking
Driving to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport? There are two main parking options at Ottawa Airport with convenient access to all terminals.
The Parkade is close to the terminal with rates of $5 for every 30 minutes with a daily maximum of $24. The Parkade also offers BIZ Park on Level 3, which includes a dedicated parking area with guaranteed space and easy in-and-out access. Rates are $10 for the first hour and a $28 flat rate for 24 hours.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Landing in Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM) is about 19 km / 12 mi from downtown Sault Ste. Marie.
Transportation
Car rental services are available at Sault Ste. Marie Airport (YAM).
Taxi and car service to downtown costs about $45 CAD.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Flights may be operated by Porter Airlines (Canada) Ltd or Porter Airlines Inc.
