Description
The 3600km/2200-mile-long circle route is entirely paved and well ploughed. Most portions in the US are freeway, while most in Canada are top-grade 2-lane highway.
The loop starts in Syracuse, and leads north to the Thousand Islands and Ottawa, Canada's national capital, and our first overnight. Ottawa is where we meet the Trans-Canada Highway. The loop route follows the TCH for the rest of the Canadian portion of the trip, up the Ottawa Valley to North Bay, then to Sudbury, the nickel capital, and then on to Sault Ste. Marie (aka 'The Soo'), and our second overnight. St. Mary's Falls marks the end of Lake Superior and the start of Lake Huron. Over the next 700km or 400 miles, the Trans-Canada traverses the rugged north shore of Superior, one of the most scenic drives in North America. After passing through numerous parks and preserves, the last 100km or 60 miles approaching Thunder Bay is officially known as the Terry Fox Courage Highway, where his cross-country Marathon of Hope came to its premature end. Since 1980, the Marathon of Hope has become an annual event held throughout the world, raising over half a billion dollars for cancer research. TheTerry Fox monument is located beside the highway on the outskirts of Thunder Bay, overlooking Sleeping Giant.
Thunder Bay, aka 'Lakehead', is the port where the the grains of the Prairies are loaded onto the 'lakers', or Great Lakes freighters. Thunder Bay will be another overnight, and possibly the location of an extra 'activity day'. Lakehead is also home to Old Fort WIlliam, a 18th century English fur-trading outpost. From Thunder Bay, it's an hours drive south to the US border, and another couple hours to Duluth, and the westernmost point of Lake Superior.
After Duluth, our route consists mostly of freeways crossing Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Chicago is a likely overnight stop, plus some of us must make some mandatory stops at various cheese outlets in Wisconsin.
Getting There
The first overnight, in Ottawa, can be reached via I-81 and the Thousand Islands Bridge, or via I-87 and taking the TCH west from Montreal.
Alternatives / Spurs
Instead of looping south to Chicago, we could cross Michigan's Upper Peninsula and cross the Mackinac Bridge to the Lower Peninsula.
Sights / Attractions
St. Mary's Falls, Lake Superior Park, North Shore of Superior, Courage Highway, cheese, Chicago.
Claims to Fame
The Great Lakes hold some 20% of the worlds freshwater, the greatest freshwater basin in the world.
Estimates
Roughly 2 to 2.5 days each way from NYC. Allow extra time for sight-seeing. Likely overnights: Ottawa, The Soo, Thunder Bay, Chicago.
Links
North Shore of Superior Scenic Route Description