Ontario Trans-Canada Highway Route: #17 between Wawa and Sault Ste Marie, Ontario

Here is the itinerary for the 224 km along #17 between Wawa and Sault Ste Marie:

The original Trans-Canada Route was highway 11 (designated "The King's Highway"), which connecting North Bay and Nipigon through northern forests. That highway was started in 1923 and completed as a key war-time project to provide toad access to key mining towns of northern Ontario. When Highway 17 was completed between Marathon and Montreal River in September 1960, it became the new (and much shorter) Trans-Canada Highway.

The Rocks along Lake Superior were created about 2 billion years ago, and are part of the Precambrian Shield ("the Canadian Shield"). The rock was scoured by the last Ice Age, leaving thousands of lakes and ponds.

While the highway was gradually extended east from Thunder Bay, the stretch from Schreiber to Wawa was built over the 1930s, hindered by the harsh rugged terrain of Lake Superior's north shore. Similar difficulties were encountered highway 17 was extended northwards from Sault Ste Marie to Montreal River on Agawa Bay. All that remained was a gap of 165 miles between the Agawa River, appropriately called "The Big Gap". This area was so rugged it was by-passed by the Algoma Central Railway (which connected Sault Ste Marie to northern mining towns), and was a popular dropping-off spot for the famed "Group of Seven" painters on the early 1900s.

The "Big Gap" area was rugged, inaccessible, and covered with virgin timber. Building the highway required clearing a 50 metre (150 ft) right of way before the road construction could begin. The Big Gap had several deep gorges and large rivers that necessitated building 25 bridges, including a 173 metre (685 ft) Big Pic River bridge rising 40 metres (130 ft) just east of Marathon. The five mile stretch north of the Agawa River, required 1 million cubic metres of rock to be moved before road construction could begin.

The Montreal River is only 104 km long, but because it falls swiftly through granite steep-walled canyons was easily dammed and now has 4 hydro-electric generating plants along its short length, two of which are easily accessible from the Trans-Canada.

Beside Hibbard Bay, at Mamainse is an ancient First Nations copper mine, that may have been worked as far back as 6000 BC. . Etienne Brule, the first European explorer to reach Lake Superior sent new of the copper mine to the King of France back in 1623, but mining did not commence in 1772. Another copper mine was discovered in 1889, but petered out in only 5 years.

Batchwana Bay, about 65 km north of Sault Ste Marie, marks the halfway point of the Trans-Canada with as many miles to the east as to the west. A Hudson's Bay fur trading post was opened up here in 1824, but was closed down in 1894. Nearby Chippewa Falls has a very scenic waterfalls/rapids right beside the Tran-Canada Highway.

From this point southwards, travelers enter the St Mary's River lowlands which connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron. Because Lake Superior's water level was originally much higher, beach deposits are found even on higher hilltops making for very good agricultural land, though today that land is used for residential and recreational purposes.

Sault Ste Marie was long an important gathering place for Ojibwa Indians, and the Jesuits built a mission here and called it Sault de Ste Marie (or St Mary's Rapids, in French). Later, the fur traders of the Northwest Company and the Hudson's Bay Company built trading forts here.. The strategic location, at the junction of three Great Lakes, made it a key defensive position for both British and Americans during the War of 1812. Both sides built fortifications and canals, though today, only the American locks are used by modern St Lawrence Seaway shipping.

Next West: Marathon to Wawa

Next East: Sault Ste Marie to Sudbury

Ontario Highways road condition reports for this segment.

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Direction: East to West West to East	Distance Scale: km \ miles	Elevation Scale: metres feet

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Highway Street Boundary (mun'l/prov'l) Ferry Highway Feature Government Tourist Info Web Cams Bridge Tunnel	Railway crossing U-turn Viewpoint Highway plaque Passing lane Divided highway Speed test section Speed trap location Rest stop Body Of Water	Fauna Flora Structure First Nations Attraction Family Amusement Recreation-Sports Gas Lodging Retail	Transportation Food Emergency Neighbourhood Park Industrial Geology

KM From Start EAST \| WEST		HighWay Point & Feature Description	Municipality	Elevation (metres)	Map	Add Info
-8	232	Western boundary of Garden River Indian Reserve 14	Sault Ste Marie	184.4
		Garden River First Nation, member of the North Shore Tribal Council.. Mamaweswen, North Shore Tribal Council web site..
-7	231	Trunk Rd & Fournier Rd, access S to Queen St, and S to access Rankin Location Indian Reserve 14 along St Mary River	Sault Ste Marie	186.2
-2	226	Trunk Rd & Black Rd, WB traffic can head N to bypass Sault Ste Marie, west to downtown, and International Bridge	Sault Ste Marie	191.1
-2	226	Trunk Rd & Market St, Wellington Square Mall on S side	Sault Ste Marie	190.2
-2	226	Trunk Rd & Boundary Rd, south to SSM Golf & Country club, N to access Rankin Location Indian Reserve 15D	Sault Ste Marie	189.3
		Rankin Location Indian Reserve 15D, member of the Batchewana First Nation.. Sault Ste. Marie Country Club, 2 km S of highway..
-1	225	Wellington St & Pine St, S to Bellevue Park	Sault Ste Marie	189.6
-1	225	Wellington St & Trunk Rd at Elizabeth St, Park on S side, Churchill Plaza on E site	Sault Ste Marie	190.2
-1	225	Trunk Rd & Lake St	Sault Ste Marie	192.9
0	224	Great Northern Rd & Wellington St. west to downtown Sault Ste Marie, International Bridge, east to Highway 17,North to Wawa	Sault Ste Marie	190.2
		Sault Ste Marie.. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, 6 km SW of intersection.. Downtown Sault Ste Marie Ontario) shopping, 1 km W of intersection.. Downtown Sault Ste Marie (ON) has 9 hotels... see listings.. International Bridge to Sault Ste Marie, MI (3 km to W of intersection).. Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada, 3 km W of intersection.. Algonquin Hotel (Soo), 3 blocks S of intersection.. Eastgate Hotel, 3 blocks S of intersection.. St Christopher's Inn, 3 blocks S of intersection.. Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, 0.6 km SW of intersection, via Bay St.. Sault Ste Marie Museum, 07 km W of intersection, via East St... Sault Area Hospital, 0.5 km S of intersection on Queen St..
2	222	McNabb St, Cambrian Mall on E side	Sault Ste Marie	215.5
		Cambrian Mall, on E side of highway.. Knight Home B&B, about 1 km to SE of intersection, via Bruce St.. Canadian Tire Store in Cambrian Mall.. Canadian Motel on Sw side of intersection.. Bel Air Motel, 0.4 km to SE of intersection.. Knights Inn 0.4 km to SE of intersection..
3	221	2nd Line E (hwy 550), EB travelers can head E for Sault Ste Marie bypass, W to Fort Creek Conservation Area (8 km), S to Kmart Plaza	Sault Ste Marie	242.3
		Fort Creek Conservation Area, hiking, picnic area, winter sports. 2 km W of highway.. Algomas Water Tower Inn, on Se corner of intersection.. Comfort Inn, on SW corner of intersection.. Best Western - Great Northern Resort and Conference Centre.. Sault College, 1 km to E of highway.. Sault Ste Marie Airport (YAM) about 18 km W of intersection. Served by Air Canada, Bearskin Airlines, Sunwing.. 2nd Line East is the Highway 17 bypass around downtown Sault Ste Marie..
3	221	Northern Ave, shopping	Sault Ste Marie	239
		Super 8 - Sault Ste Marie, to SE of intersection.. Catalina Motel, to SE of intersection.. Skyline Motel, to SE of intersection..
4	220	Terrance Ave (E)	Sault Ste Marie	242.6
		Villa Inn, to NE of intersection.. Adams Inn, to SW of intersection..
5	219	3rd Line E	Sault Ste Marie	232.6
6	218	4th Line E, NE to Maplewood Golf Course	Sault Ste Marie	242.9
		Maplewood Golf Course on W side of highway.. Root River Golf Course on E side of hihgway..
8	216	5th Line E, W to KOA campground, E to Hiawatha Park & Conservation Area, Hwy 17 S of this point is also Great Northern Road	Sault Ste Marie	274
		KOA Camping Resort.. Hiawatha Park & Conservation Area..
8	216	Access to RV park, E of hwy, and Root River Golf Club	Sault Ste Marie	264.6
9	215	Large gravel pit to W of hwy	Sault Ste Marie	287.7
11	213	Glenview Vacation Cottages & RV Park & Campground		309.1
		Glenview Vacation Cottages & RV Park & Campground..
11	213	6th Line Rd	Sault Ste Marie	307.8
15	209	Trout Lake Rd, E, with RV dealer E of hwy		317.9
16	208	Junction 556, NE to Searchmont ski resort, services at junction		330.1
		Searchmont, and ski resort..
19	205	Truck Weigh Station, W side of hwy		346.9
26	198	Pine Shores Rd, W access to town of Goulais River (2 km)		197.8
		Goulais River, 2 km E of highway.. Goulais Bay Reserve , Member of the Batchewana First Nation...
27	197	Bridge over Goulais River	Goulais River	194.8
28	196	Services, fuel	Goulais River	193.9
29	195	Junction Hwy 552 E & W		225.6
38	186	Road W along Batchwana Bay		183.2
43	181	Harmony Beach Rd N along coast		189
44	180	Irwin Island Rd, W		185.9
44	180	Harmony Beach Rd S along coast		191.1
49	175	Whiskey Bay Rd, W		189.6
55	169	Mile 38 Rd E		235.3
55	169	Chippewa River crossing, Chippewa Falls to E of hwy, viewpoint on S side of river		198.1
		Chippewa Falls photos..
63	161	River crossing, rest area to N & S of hwy		182.9
63	161	Sand Point Rd		183.8
67	157	Hwy 563 junction, W to Batchwana PP, plaque marking midpoint of the TCH		186.2
		Batchwana Provincial Park, with sandy beach. Day use, water sports... plaque marking midpoint of the TCH.. Batchewana First Nation..
78	146	Rd to Pancake Bay PP		192.3
		Pancake Bay Provincial Park. camping, watersports, hiking..
81	143	Weston Rd, W		201.2
96.4	127.6	Southern Boundary of Lake Superior Provincial Park		358.1
		Lake Superior Provincial Park, camping, day-use, hiking, water sports, winter sports.. Niijkiwenhwag - Friends of Lake Superior Park blog..
103	121	Alona Bay roadside turnout, W side of hwy		256.3
110	114	Road E & W, services on W side		246
115	109	Road E, hwy services E &W		278.9
116	108	Montreal River Nature Reserve		232.3
		Montreal River Nature Reserve, significant for its lichen barrens..
118	106	Trail End Rd, W access to camping	Montreal River	195.7
		Twilight Resort campground..
119	105	Crossing Montreal River, electrical generating facility to E	Montreal River	242.3
124	100	Rd E to Gartshore Generating Station, Montreal Falls, camping		340.2
		Gartshore Generating Station..
140	84	crossing Agawa River		187.5
144	80	Agawa Rock Information Centre, camping, W side of hwy		263.3
		Agawa Rock Indian Pictographs Trail.. Agawa Rock Visitor Centre..
149	75	Turnoff, E side of hwy		225.2
		Agawa Bay Campground, Lake Superior Provincial Park..
153	71	Crossing Sand River, picnic area E of hwy, N of river		182.9
159	65	Katherine Cove, rest area and toilets W of hwy, hiking trails		182.9
160	64	EB view of Lake Superior's Agawa Bay & islands. Bald Head (1050 ft) to W, E to mouth of Coldwater River		188.7
161	63	Services E side of hwy		260
168	56	Trapper's Trail. E of hwy		284.1
173	51	Gargantua Rd		297.5
174	50	Roadside Turnout, Cross-country ski area, east side of highway		301.8
177	47	Baldhead River with rapids to W of highway		358.7
182	42	Road to E of hwy		369.1
184	40	Mijnemungshing Rd E		380.1
186	38	park road W		382.5
192	32	park roads E & W, Park office, Services		354.2
199	25	Rabbit Blanket Lake, camping, cross country skiing, canoeing, S side of hwy		351.4
		Rabbit Blanket Lake.. Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground..
200	24	Highway Roadside Turnout, picnic area, scenic view of Old Women Bay		179.5
206	18	Highway Roadside Turnout on E side of hwy		291.4
210	14	north boundary of Lake Superior Provincial Park		281.3
		Lake Superior Provincial Park, camping, day-use, hiking, water sports, winter sports.. Niijkiwenhwag - Friends of Lake Superior Park blog..
218	6	Crossing Michipicoten River		185.3
219	5	Historical Plaque, W side of highway, Michipicoten River Village Rd, W to Michipicoten Provincial Park	Michipicoten River	207.3
		Parkway Motel, just N of Michipicoten River Village Rd. (in W side of Hwy)..
222	2	Scenic Magpie Hills Falls Rd, access to Michipicoten Provinial Park, Gros Cap Indian Reserve		281.9
		Michipicoten Post Provincial Park., ruins of old trading posts, hiking, no facilities... Michipicoten First Nation.. Gros Cap Indian Reserve m part of Michipicoten Fist Nation..
223	1	Pinewood Dr. S access	Wawa	278.6
224	0	Junction Hwy 101, Wawa Info Centre, N to Wawa airport, town of Wawa, all services	Wawa	282.5
		Visitor Information Centre, with the famous statue of the Wawa Canada Goose. public washrooms... Municipality of Wawa, 3 km to the N of the highway.. Highway 101, as Mission Rd in to Wawa, continues E to Chapleau.. Chapleau, pop. 2300, 130 km E of highway.. Algoma Motel.. Beaver Motel.. Best Northern Resort & Restaurant.. Bristol Motel.. Camp Michi Wawa.. High Falls Motel and Cabins.. Lakeview Hotel.. Lakewood Motel.. Mystic Isle Motel.. Northern Lights Motel & Breakfast.. Miss Ellie's Bed & Breakfast.. Wawa Motor Inn .. Michipicoten's 9 Hole Golf Course.. Wawa photos.. Lady Dunn Health Centre, 3.7 km Nof highway, via Hwy 101 & Broadway Ave..
224	0	Pinewood Dr. N access	Wawa	282.5
KM From Start EAST \| WEST		HighWay Point & Feature Description	Municipality	Elevation (metres)	Map	Add Info

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Ontario: #17 between Wawa and Sault Ste Marie

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