Forum Discussion

j_sgypsybuggy's avatar
Mar 21, 2017

Lake Superior Grand Circle Tour

Just beginning to think about planning a circle tour around Lake Superior, Soo St Marie, Apostle Islands etc. Does anyone know about a route, recommended campgrounds, sights to see. We are active 70 yr. olds with a 32 ft. 5th wheel so we would like electricity and water hookups. Sewer or dump sites would be nice. Do have a generator but don't use often. Would like to find central campgrounds where we could spend a few days exploring then move to next camp. What time of year would colors be best etc. Thanks for all your help. You've never steered us wrong in the past.
  • We did the north side of the lake last summer. I highly recommend spending some time at Sleeping Giant PP. Beautiful area, lots of hiking trails. Some really nice large private waterfront sites. There are some pretty good grades along that stretch of highway but fantastic lookout points. Lake Superior PP is also really nice.

    Fall colours are best in mid October but check with the parks for availability as some have shorter seasons. Very few of the provincial parks have full hookups. Most have hydro/water sections and a dump station. Shouldn't have trouble getting a site that time of year but if you want the good ones you should book in advance.
  • One spot on that route I'd recommend which is not too well known but we've liked it each time is Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, nice park and close to Thunderbay Bay which has a attractions and is the major center at the top of Superior so you can get anything there. The river through Thunderbay and the park was the main route down to the rest of what became Canada for the fur trade (you can walk the portage they used through the park around the falls) and the re-creation of the fort in town has been well done with the guides pretending to be inhabitants well versed in how things were.
    The attraction in the park itself is the second highest waterfalls in Ontario which for us was 2 minutes walk from our site. Given number the one falls is Niagara being #2 is not too shabby a display and it's a great experience early in the morning. Where we stayed had no hookups, but there is another area in the park where they have partial hookups plus clean warm showers and a dump station. We had fun at the local pick your own Amethyst mines, the area just east of town is the place in the world for Amethyst.

    Kakabeka Falls PP

    There is a KOA on the north side of SS Marie. It is one of the nicest maintained and equipped I have ever stayed at. Most of the sites are closer than I like together, but it you ask they have sites around the back that give you a little room around the fire pit if you know what I mean.
  • We did that trip last August and early September. We had a great trip. We did the boat tour in the Wisconsin Dells and really enjoyed it. We then looked forward to the Apostles Islands boat tour. Wow were we disappointed. Real long boat ride to see very little. We would never do that one again.
  • For color try to be up there by the end of September to first week of October. However, even though that's a prime time for color parks with water hookups need time to winterize their systems so many close by the end of Sept. Check each park you plan to stop for their closing time. Have a good trip!
  • Burlington Bay Campground (city park), Two Harbors, MN.
    Don't miss Betty's Pies (get there early for best selection of pies). Grand Marais Campground, Grand Marais, MN. I would drop down to Mackinaw MI if you haven't been. We liked Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground. Go to Whitefish Point and see the Shipwreck Museum and Lighthouse. Stop in Marquette Michigan for interesting RR stuff and museum. The old iron boat loading docks are still there. There is a city park there but got mixed reviews. There is an RV park a few miles west in Ishpeming called Country Village that looks nice. We didn't stay in Marquette but loved the area.