Exploring the great lakes is a stunning and peaceful endeavor. If you enjoy natural beauty and fresh air the Lake Superior Circle Tour is an amazing road trip that should be on your bucket list.  Below we will talk about the Lake Superior Circle tour, best times to travel it and the beauty you will see.

What is the circle tour?

Lake Superior is the largest of the great lakes and offers beauty at really any point around it. The Lake Superior Circle Tour is a 1,300-mile self-guided tour around Lake Superior. You can travel the tour by way of car, RV, or motorcycle. It includes one Canadian Province and three American States, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. The Lake Superior Circle Tour was officially established in the 1960’s and has been growing and ever since.

When Should You Travel?

Traveling the Circle Tour is enjoyable any time of year. The best times to explore would be late Spring and Fall. Spring offers a burst of beautiful colors and less crowds. Summer has slightly more elevated crowds, but we personally found the crowds weren’t too bad even in July. In summer it is important to note that AC is not common in this region. Should you be traveling in an unseasonably warm couple weeks be prepared to sweat a bit in your accommodations. If you are used to US summers, then you will likely find their hottest hot is not that bad.  Fall is our most recommend time to visit the region. The abundance of gorgeous nature takes on stunning fall colors to enjoy all the way around the circle. Remember the temperatures stay cooler up here so be prepared with some layers for chilly mornings and evenings. For the most adventurous travelers Winter is an exceptional time to do the Circle Tour. We do recommend a 4-wheel drive vehicle during this season. Also please make sure your vehicle is properly packed in case of an emergency. Cell signal is spotty and come areas are very remote so make sure you can stay warm and hydrated if you get stuck in the snow. The winter views will not disappoint if you are up for the challenge.

What Do You Need to Travel?

A passport is needed to travel the entire circle route for most people. Canadians and Americans with a valid passport do not need a visa. If you are from another country, please check your entry requirements for coming into the United States and Canada. If you are an American living in a state bordering Canada and have an enhanced ID you should be able to make the trip without a passport. Please confirm this information with the State Department here.

Please remember to not cross any country borders with weapons or drugs regardless of their legality at home. Doing so could cause quite a disruption to your vacation as well as fines, incarceration and being barred from entering either country again.

Where Should You Start?

There is no official start point for the Circle Tour. I suggest you find a location on the Circle that is easy for you to get to and start there. We started our trip in Sault St. Marie Michigan as we were already visiting family in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Flights are readily available to Sault St Marie, Duluth, or Thunder Bay. You can always start in a smaller city, but these offer slightly larger airports that will offer you rental car options. If you are driving in, you have even more flexibility. Just pick the city you’d like to start in and get going.

I will note since we started in Sault St Marie, we went to the welcome center just across the border and found the Circle Tour booklet that gives you a map and details about things to see, places to stay and places to eat. It also offers a stamp program that allows you to send it away after completion and get a certificate for that you have finished the Circle Tour.

Great Locations to See

While not an exhaustive list here are a few amazing places on the tour worth checking out on your trip.

Sault St Marie

We started our trip in lovely Sault St Marie Michigan. Make sure to check out the SOO Locks to watch the boats and ships move through the locks and learn a bit about the history of the locks. Also check out Sault St Maria Ontario. Both cities offer lots of options for lodging and food.

Lake Superior Provincial Park

This park will take some time just to drive through. We recommend making some stops though. This park is gorgeous with lots of places to stop for a picnic or to camp. Make sure to check out Agawa Rocks Pictographs and Old Woman Bay. For lodging option within the park click here.

Lake Wawa

The Lake Wawa region is so peaceful and beautiful. We stayed at the lovely Air-Dale Hunting and Fishing Lodge. We had a cute two-bedroom cabin with a kitchen. Our cabin was steps from the calm Whitefish Lake. When passing through Wawa Make sure to make a stop at the Wawa Goose for a fun photo op.

Marathon

When stopping in this little town make sure to check out the beautiful Pebble Beach. We found the name of the beach amusing as the “pebbles” are the size of ostrich eggs! Make sure to wear good shoes for getting down to and walking on the beach. It is not accessible to wheelchairs. They do have a restroom, nice parking and a boardwalk area that is accessible and allows for great views of the lake.

Terrace Bay

This little haven offers some great food options. It is also a hiker’s paradise. Make sure to check out the famous Casque Isle Trail. This trail in total is about 33 miles long. It is classified as a difficult trail so it is not accessible though it may have a couple sections that are.

Slate Island Provincial Park

This stunning park is approximately 7.5 miles south of Terrace Bay in Ontario’s Superior Country. This archipelago is made up of two main islands, Patterson Island and Mortimer Island and five minor islands. The Slate Islands Lighthouse is situated on the south side of Patterson Island. Caribou have roamed the islands since 1907 and may get a chance to see them up close and personal.

To visit the islands, you will need to charter a boat or hire a paddling guide from either Rossport or Terrace Bay. Always make sure to check the weather conditions for your trip to make sure your trip will be safe. You are allowed to back country camp on the islands but if you are not Canadian you will need to get a Crown Land Camping Permit here.

Aguasabon Falls & Gorge

This view is located 0.6 miles West of Terrace Bay. From the large parking area, a boardwalk leads you to an observation platform right by the falls. The board walk is accessible but there are a few steps at the end of it. However, you can see the falls from the end of the accessible boardwalk. This location also offers an access point to the renowned Casque Isle Trail. The falls has amenities including picnic tables, and RV parking.

Rainbow Falls Provincial Park

This park offers two campgrounds (some locations with electric) and would make a great stop on your trip. Make sure to take the Rainbow Falls trail to see the parks namesake. The park also has a lake named Whitesand Lake. You can find the Casque Isle Trail running through this park as well. There is a welcome station in the park that has maps to help you plan your visit.

Quimet Canyon Provincial Park

Quimet Canyon is located in Dorion. This park features a trail and boardwalk that connects two lookout platforms to view the canyon. The park is only open May – October. There is no camping available in the park. An adventurous and super close bonus stop is Eagle Canyon which is home to Canada’s longest zip-line. If you need camping in the area the Wolf River Campground is close by.

Amethyst Mine Panorama

This is a fun stop for the whole family. We took our toddlers and teen and everyone found something fun. This family owned and operated mine is in Shuniah and is only about an hour’s drive East of Thunder Bay. They offer an informative tour once you pay admission.  After your brief tour you are let lose into a field full of stunning Amethysts to collect. The mine provides you with buckets and picks to help you move rocks around to find your treasure. Some of the Amethysts are in the ground and some have been added to help ease your dig. We started in the back of the five-acre field and found more stones we wanted to take home then our bank accounts and house could support. You can take any stones you find at a price of $5 CAD per pound of stone. If digging isn’t your thing the gift shop offers loads of stones both rough and polished as well as gorgeous amethyst gifts that are crafted by the mine owners and their employees. If you have any rockhounds in the car don’t miss this stop.

Thunder Bay

This town of roughly 110,000 people is a great outdoorsy stop on your trek. The city has the world’s largest fresh water lake, a boreal forest and the Nor”Wester mountain range that surrounds them. If you have a love for outdoor adventure this is just the town for you. We spent two days here with the kids. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to enjoy things like kayaking, hiking or skiing but we did find some fun to get into.

Our main stop was Fort William Historical Park. This is one of the main non outdoorsy things Thunder Bay has to offer. Now that’s not to say it’s not outdoors. Fort William Historical Park is a 250 acre heritage park that includes beautiful walking trails and a historical Fort as the name mentions. When you enter you step back in time to explore the fur trade of the North West Company during the early 1800’s. There is a nice little place to eat, reenactors who stay in character to teach you about the activities of the fort as well as a working farm. If you are traveling with family, we highly recommend this stop. They do offer a free admission for Veterans from all countries which is a nice bonus.

Grand Portage National Monument

For more history of the fur trade and some wonderful programs check out this lovely state park. Make sure not to skip the High Falls Trail and a spectacular 120-foot waterfall (the highest in Minnesota). This trail is just 1.1 miles out and back so a nice short trail if you only have time for a pit stop. This trail is rated easy and is accessible. For information about food and lodging check out the NPS page here.

Beaver Bay

We made our next stop in this charming small town along the lake. We stayed at the Red Raven and enjoyed pastries, great coffee and Minnesota hospitality at Two One Ate. Make sure to check out the cute gift shops in town when you stop.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

This stop is a great little piece of history worth checking out. In 1905, after a single storm damaged 29 ships on Lake Superior it was decided that a lighthouse was needed for safety reasons. This 7.5 acre site is wonderfully preserved and a great walk though. This site is not very wheelchair or stroller friendly so please keep that in mind. They do also offer a veteran discount on admission.

Duluth

With attractions like the Duluth Harbor North Pier Lighthouse, the Great Lakes Aquarium and Leif Erikson Park this charming lake front town is a must stop. There is also a children’s museum and outdoor spaces galore to enjoy. This town would make a wonderful overnight stop on your Circle Tour. Just don’t forget to grab coffee at Duluth Coffee Company before you head out.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

This grouping of 21 islands offers loads of beaty to explore. This set of islands is a archipelago on Lake Superior. These islands offer many gorgeous sea coves to explore. It’s best to enjoy these islands by kayak or boat tour. Make sure to check the weather conditions during your visit to be sure you are visiting at an ideal time to explore these beauties.

Marquette

Another charming town on the south side of the Circle Tour is Marquette, Michigan. Don’t miss Black Rocks Beach, Marquette Harbor Light house, the Lower Harbor Ore Dock and the Marquette Maritime Museum. This town has trails and waterfalls to check out so if you enjoy a hike this town makes a great stop.

Honorable Mention

Isle Royale National Park

Remote and hard to get to you may easily overlook this National Park. However, if hiking and the outdoors are high on your list this remote island will be worth the trek. The park is only open April 16^th to October 31^st. You must take a Ferry or Seaplane to see the park. You can access a ferry from Houghton, Copper Harbor, Grand Portage or Grand Marais. Ferry rides take anywhere from 2-6 hours depending on you your departure city and seaplanes take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Camping is offered, as well as stays at Rock Harbor Lodge or Windigo Camper Cabins.

What to Pack

Canada can be chilly so make sure to bring pants and hoodie for cool evenings even in the summer. Average temperatures on the east side of the lake can be 46 degrees Fahrenheit to 26 degrees. On the northwestern side average temperatures are 48 to 26 degrees. We traveled in late July and found extremes of high 80s and lows in the 60s. Make sure to bring a walking stick and a water bottle if you plan to hike.

The Circle Tour

Whether you’re an avid outdoors person, love history or just love family adventures the Circle Tour is an amazing trip for anyone. This bucket list trip is easy to accomplish, and the experiences and views are spectacular. Would you like help planning you Circle Tour trip? We can help you find the best lodging, plan your stops, secure tickets and make recommendations about the best places to eat along the way. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation call here and we start planning your next trip.