Family Road Tripping Through Northern Ontario: From Sudbury to Sleeping Giant
- withloveduquettes
- Apr 6
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 7
A Northern Ontario adventure with kids – waterfalls, hiking, and must-stop parks
This was a big one. We packed up the van and hit the road for an epic family camping road trip through Northern Ontario, with Sleeping Giant Provincial Park as our final destination. Our route stretched from Sudbury to Thunder Bay and back again! Stopping at some of the best Ontario Parks along the way, exploring waterfalls, scenic lookouts, kid-friendly trails, and a few quirky roadside stops.
If you’re planning your own camping trip in Northern Ontario with kids, here’s a full breakdown of where we camped, what we explored, and the highlights that made this adventure so memorable.
Day 1: Sudbury; Burgers, Big Nickel and Baked Goods
We kicked off our road trip in Sudbury with a chill day outdoors and a few must-try local eats. First stop: Deluxe Burgers, a classic local spot that’s perfect for a grab-and-go picnic at Bell Park, right on the shores of Ramsey Lake. The kids loved the open space and playground, and it was a great place to stretch before the long drive ahead.
From there, we made a quick stop to see the Big Nickel - a must for first-timers in Sudbury! Before leaving town we grabbed coffee and a box of pastries from Pinchman’s Café & Artisan Bakery. Highly recommend picking up road trip snacks here before heading out.
Night 1: Camping at Chutes Provincial Park
We rolled into Chutes Provincial Park for our first night of camping. It’s an easy stop just off the highway with a surprisingly beautiful waterfall viewing platform just steps from the campground.
We hiked the Twin Bridges Trail—a short, family-friendly trail with bridge crossings and views of the river that kept the kids engaged. There’s even a sandy beach near the base of the falls, perfect for dipping toes and unwinding after a travel day.
Day 2: Scenic Detour to Elliot Lake – Fire Tower Lookout
Before heading toward Lake Superior, we made a little detour to Elliot Lake.
The Fire Tower Lookout offers sweeping views over the area and was totally worth the side trip. The kids loved the playground at the lookout and spotting lakes in the distance (including Lake Huron and Manitoulin Island!)
Days 3–8: Camping in Lake Superior Provincial Park
This park completely blew me away - we actually only stayed for 2 nights but I recommend 3-5 if you have the time. We stayed at Agawa Bay Campground, right on the shoreline —and spent our days hiking, swimming at nearby Pancake Bay, and exploring hidden gems.
You can check out our full breakdown here:👉 Lake Superior Provincial Park in 3 Days
A few highlights:
Pinguisibi Trail (Sand River) – perfect for families, with waterfalls, bridges, and safe scrambling spots for the kids
Old Woman Bay – a must-stop for a picnic and quick beach walk
Agawa Rock Pictographs – short and steep but doable with older kids (we took turns for safety)
Road Trip Day: Wawa Goose & High Falls
Leaving Lake Superior, we made a few iconic Northern Ontario stops.
First up: the Wawa Goose for a family photo, then over to Magpie High Falls. There’s a short trail to a lookout over the falls, and we even squeezed in a picnic lunch here.
For more must-stop spots along this route, check out my roundup:👉 Must-Stop Spots Between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie
Night 9: Camping at Neys Provincial Park
After a solid travel day, we landed at Neys Provincial Park! A quiet, often overlooked gem on the north shore of Lake Superior. The campground sits right next to a beautiful stretch of beach with driftwood, flat rocks, and endless skipping stones. We had the place nearly to ourselves, which made for a peaceful evening of shoreline exploring.
The kids loved running along the beach and climbing on the driftwood "forts." If you’re into history, the park has interpretive panels about the WWII prisoner-of-war camp that was once located here. A cool (and surprising) educational moment!
Quick Stop: Aguasabon Falls & Gorge
Just before Terrace Bay, we made a short but memorable stop at Aguasabon Falls and Gorge. The viewing platform is a quick walk from the parking lot, perfect for little legs and the view of the powerful waterfall cascading into the gorge is incredible.
It’s one of those lesser-known stops that doesn’t take long but leaves a lasting impression. Definitely one to add to your Highway 17 itinerary.
Day 10 and Beyond: Exploring Sleeping Giant Provincial Park & Thunder Bay
We finally made it to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and WOW - what a place to end our adventure. We stayed for several nights, using the park as our base for exploring both inside and outside the Thunder Bay area. There’s so much to see here, and it was one of the most activity-packed parts of our trip.
Family Camping road trip in Northern Ontario
Kid-Friendly Hikes in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Sea Lion Trail – A short 2.4 km hike (round trip) to an awesome rock formation that looks like a sea lion. The kids loved spotting it from different angles. Easy terrain and big payoff.
Sibley Creek Trail – A quieter trail through a peaceful forest with bridges and streams. A great nature break when we needed a slower pace.
We didn’t do the Top of the Giant hike this time (a bit much for small children), but I completed it in 2018 on a backpacking trip and highly recommend! We will be back when the kids are older to tackle this trail together!
Thunder Bay Adventures: Beaches, Canyons & Mining Amethyst
We used one of our days to explore the Thunder Bay area and do a few fun day trips. Here’s what we got up to:
Eagle Canyon Adventures – This was a big hit! We walked across Canada’s longest suspension bridge and explored the canyon trails. (Note: you can opt out of the zipline if heights aren’t your thing.)
Ouimet Canyon – Just down the road from Eagle Canyon, this is a quick, flat trail with jaw-dropping views from two platforms. Super stroller-friendly and worth the stop.
Panorama Amethyst Mine – Our kids were so into mining their own amethyst crystals. It’s hands-on, easy to navigate, and you get to take home your finds.
Pigeon River Provincial Park – We ended the day at this quiet park on the Ontario–Minnesota border. There’s a lovely waterfall trail here, and it was the perfect chill stop after all the excitement.
Looking for a special activity near Sleeping Giant Provincial Park? Take a sailing touring out of the Thunder Bay Harbour for unique views of Lake Superior, sleeping giant and Thunder Bay - learn more here: Sail the Thunder Bay Harbour
On the Way Home: Rainbow Falls & White Lake Provincial Parks
On the return trip, we camped at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park. We stayed at the Whitesand Lake Campground, which has a sandy beach and a super short trail to Rainbow Falls itself. It was the perfect spot to break up the long drive home.
Our final night was spent at White Lake Provincial Park, a peaceful, family-friendly spot that also happens to be the birthplace of Winnie the Pooh (yep, really!).
The campground was quiet, the sites were spacious, and it felt like the perfect low-key ending to a big adventure.
Final Thoughts: Why This Road Trip Was So Worth It
This trip reminded us how incredible Ontario is, and how much beauty is tucked away in the north. We spent 2 and a half weeks camping, exploring waterfalls, hiking trails, and making memories at some of Ontario’s most stunning parks. It wasn’t always easy (hello, long drive days and bug season!), but it was so worth it.
If you're planning a family camping road trip in Northern Ontario, I hope this gives you inspiration, ideas, and a solid route to build your own adventure.
Let me know if you have questions or want help planning - happy to share more details!
With love,
The Duquette's
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