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Ontario Trans-Canada Highway Overview
Here is the route of the Trans-Canada Highway from east to west:
The highway continues west along the North Channel above Manitoulin Island (the largest island in a lake in the world), to Sault Ste Marie (the "Soo"). Sault Ste Marie is a rare city, in that it has populations on both sides of the International border and locals tend to go over the bridge as if it was any other to take advantage of bar hours or shopping deals. From there, the Trans-Canada heads north through the Algoma wilderness, the scene of many Group of Seven paintings, and then at Wawa begins the route west along the northern shore of Lake Superior, one of Canada's great drives.
The "northern" route takes you through Hearst and most rugged portion of the Canadian Shield.
The two routes link up at Thunder Bay, at the western end of Lake Superior and again at Kenora, in the middle of Ontario's "Lake Country." Both routes offer spectacular wilderness scenery, though you should pay strict attention to road conditions and "last gas" signs (gas stations, like towns, are every 60 to 100 miles). Exercise caution from Vermillion Bay west to Kenora because of its sharp curves and non-existent shoulders. Also watch out for "surprise" traffic lights in Thunder Bay and Kenora.
Ottawa is the largest city on the Ontario portion of the Trans-Canada, with North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay much smaller.
Contrary to popular belief, Canada's largest city Toronto is not on the Trans-Canada, but is 80 miles (128 km) west of Peterborough, on the "southwest" route, which runs from Ottawa through Peterborough, which is the heart of Ontario's "Cottage Country," and then north through Parry Sound to Sudbury.
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