Canadian (Ontario) help

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 9:25 am

I need help getting from Sault Ste Marie to Kingston with out using any major highways. I am planning on a trip up through Michigan and around to the East and back home to PA and don't want to spend boring hours on interstate. I know you guys have some beautiful country and would like to experience some of it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:53 am

I did M119 and then hit Sault Ste Marie heading east last fall. You have no choice in roads until Sudbury and it may be called the Trans Canada Highway there are few services and it is not an interstate by our standards.

From Sudbury I went south to Parry Sound and headed east on 518 (a very nice road) eventually making my way to Huntsville, the western gateway to Algonquin Provincial Park. Stayed overnight outside Barry's Bay and met Fitter for breakfast in Calaboogie who showed me the back roads to Kingston.

A GPS that does not require cellular service is a must if you wish to explore the back roads. If you don't go to Toronto it will not find any major roads. My ride, starting in the Detroit area went like this

Harbor Springs, MI
Sudbury ON via M119 and the UP
Barry's Bay ON via APP

each leg being about 250-300 miles. I had peak leaf viewing season but it was rainy and foggy for much of the trip.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:56 pm

Goose is correct, you only have one road from the Sault to Sudbury. I usually go south from Sudbury on highway 400. Just south of Parry Sound I usually cut east through Port Carling, Bracebridge, Haliburton and Bancroft. East of Bancroft you can pick up road 41 south to highway 7 or if you're feeling adventureous turn east off 41 onto road 509 at Cloyne. This will take you back to 7 by a longer loop. Go east on 7 and pick up the road to Westport. From Westport you can take the road south to Kingston. If you look at a map you'll see what I'm describing. There are gas station in most of the small towns but if you're down to your last quarter tank and see a station then stop and fill up. Once you leave Haliburton there's not a lot of people or traffic on weekdays.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 6:38 pm

Oldtech wrote:

I usually go south from Sudbury on highway 400. Just south of Parry Sound I usually cut east through Port Carling, Bracebridge, Haliburton and Bancroft. East of Bancroft you can pick up road 41 south to highway 7 or if you're feeling adventureous turn east off 41 onto road 509 at Cloyne. This will take you back to 7 by a longer loop. Go east on 7 and pick up the road to Westport. From Westport you can take the road south to Kingston. If you look at a map you'll see what I'm describing. There are gas station in most of the small towns but if you're down to your last quarter tank and see a station then stop and fill up. Once you leave Haliburton there's not a lot of people or traffic on weekdays.

Beautiful country!

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:04 pm

Oldtech wrote:

Goose is correct, you only have one road from the Sault to Sudbury. I usually go south from Sudbury on highway 400. Just south of Parry Sound I usually cut east through Port Carling, Bracebridge, Haliburton and Bancroft. East of Bancroft you can pick up road 41 south to highway 7 or if you're feeling adventureous turn east off 41 onto road 509 at Cloyne. This will take you back to 7 by a longer loop. Go east on 7 and pick up the road to Westport. From Westport you can take the road south to Kingston. If you look at a map you'll see what I'm describing. There are gas station in most of the small towns but if you're down to your last quarter tank and see a station then stop and fill up. Once you leave Haliburton there's not a lot of people or traffic on weekdays.

Yup great roads ..... not really many else to choose from though!

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 8:58 pm

On the U.S. side If you are coming down from Sault Ste Marie. Take U.S. 23 out of Mackinaw City, It is pretty much 2 lane high way becoming main streets in many of the towns along the way. Once you get to Bay City You can take M-15 and 46 to M-53, This would run you to I-69 and into Sarnia

Hawk Joined: Jan 15, 2009 Posts: 406 Location: Plymouth

In Michigan I like the west coast 131 rural hwy or,31 2 lane

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:51 pm

Thanks for all the great responses, I did see there is not a lot of roads to choose from so that got me worried. I need to leave Pa and make it around and back in 8 days so there will be a lot of site seeing while putting miles on. I have never rode Michigan or Ontario so it will be a new experience and a lot different from the twisty mountain road of NE PA.

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:25 am

Hello Fster:
When are you making this trip? Maybe some of us in Michigan would join up with you for some short segments of your ride and show you some local color.

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:57 am

Yes, let us know when you make the trip. We could meet in Bancroft or somewhere and ride down close to Kingston with you.

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:06 am

If coming from PA, you can cross in to Canada at buffallo and ride highway 3 from Ft Erie to Windsor or Or Go North at St Thomas and take 22 to Sarnia.

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 2:01 am

Rt 66 to 10 west to 31 north. There is a lot to see there. You can pick up 66 south of kalamazoo. If you are there June 14th you can check out the vintage bike show at the Gilmore museum. Well worth the stop.
Spend a few hours in Traverse City. Have lunch at Fogarellis or pizza at the Bayview. Taking 31 towards Mackinaw you will go through some nice smaller towns and pass by some beautiful scenery. If you have time to visit Grand Haven downstate on the west coast and walk the Pier, it is memorable. A walk in downtown Traverse City and to the bay where the boats are docked is a must. Some of the best small roads for riding in Michigan are west of Traverse City going out to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. That would be a little out of the way though unless you were spending the night. A drive up the West Bay from Traverse City to Leelanau and then a walk around is nice. Those are some of the secret places people from Michigan know about.

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 3:23 am

The route Hondo is talking about near Traverse City is known M-22. Very highly recommended.

Besides, TC is home to about 20 microbreweries.

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 6:32 pm

Guys thanks a lot for all this info. We are planning this ride for sometime early to mid summer and as I stated we only have 8 days so a lot of our site seeing will be while putting miles on. I have two riding buddies that have Gold Wings but our ages keep us to around 300 miles a day on the back roads with site seeing included. I will keep everyone posted on when we will be riding through and if someone wants to meet up for a ride along or lunch that would be great.
Rick

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:28 pm

The route that I gave you covers just over 560 miles so you can divide that into 2 days. I would go from the Sault to Parry Sound and stop there for the night. If you have the time check out Parry Sound and take the 30,000 Island boat tour. Great little restaurants and a very laid back place. Was a major Great Lakes shipping terminus during the 1800's.

Keep in mind that Parry Sound, Bracebridge and Haliburton are all part of cottage country so if you're coming in summer book your hotel or campground early.

The other plus is that the Canadian dollar is at a low against the US greenback so you'll be getting a bargin in Canada on everthing. Also, Kingston is a university town so there are some great pubs and craft beers. Just announced today a survey found that the people in Sudbury are the happiest in Canada. Its a gritty mining town but if you know where to look there's a lot of fun to be had there.