We left Pancake Bay on the morning of May 25th and drove to White Lake Provincial Park. The first half of the drive, towards Wawa, Ontario and the hills, rocks, and lake views were spectacular. There were a few lookouts large enough for truck and trailer combinations and we took advantage of them. The views were well worth the stop. At the first one we met a couple from Pickering who were tenting/moteling on their drive to British Columbia. They had a bit tighter schedule than us; arriving in BC next weekend. The view of Lake Superior’s shoreline and Theano Point that juts out into it as well as the coloured rock cut across the road from the lookout is quite picturest. After a few minutes we were on our way again burning gas climbing hills. Driving through Lake Superior Provincial Park we saw our first live moose of the trip. It was standing on the side of the road nibbling on some leaves. It was huge. The second lookout was south of Lake Superior Provincial Park. It was just nice but totally different as we could see several islands just off shore.
Our next stop was just south of Wawa at Silver Falls. We drove along a slowly narrowing gravel road that got rougher as we went. It was well signed on the highway so I figured the road must be good enough for tourists. At one corner we made a left turn and a woman on her front lawn watching us drive by. Jenn waved hello, the old lady just slowly shook her frowning head. At the falls we were able to park the truck and walk to the bridge for a view. Spring time is when you want to watch a water fall, it’s amazing. We drove further on to check out the Michipicoten lookout that provided an elevated view of Lake Superior. I think a tree fell and somebody said, “Hey, that’s Lake Superior”. A sign was erected, city slickers came, and we took pictures.
The next stop was just a couple of miles further up 17N towards Wawa. The road to it is a rough gravel road that weaves through fields that look like tundra. The further we drove the more it looked like a bad idea, worse than Silver Falls. It, at least, had real road signs. Just as the sound of the falls comes to your ears the sight of the loose gravel winding steep hill road down to the base comes to your eyes. The road is 2 lanes wide if each keeps their outer wheel on the edge of gravel meets dirt. Jennifer noted about a kilometer back that she didn’t have a phone signal. It was her way of expressing doubt in a “What the heck are you thinking”? sort of way. As I started driving down the hill I had this vision of me walking back to the highway holding my phone over my head looking for a signal while Jennifer sat in the trailer drinking wine.
But all went well. The parking lot is big enough to do a u-turn with the trailer. There is a covered picnic pavilion, interpretive signs, and a trail that leads to the top of the falls. High Falls is quite amazing. The water flow depends on how much water is required for the hydro turbines. Today, not much hydro was being generated. The water tumbles over a rock face about 75 feet high and 125 feet wide. The breeze carried the mist and soaked the picnic area and walkways. We took pictures and video here as well and had our picnic lunch in the truck facing the falls.
Leaving here we hopped back on the highway and drove to the edge of Wawa and filled up the tank. Back on the highway and off to our next camp site in White Lake Provincial Park. The rest of our drive didn’t have the same views of lakes, rivers, rock, and hills. This stretch was mostly forested. We noticed how much the landscape, both ground and trees, have changed the further north-west we go. We also saw evidence of a previous forest fire and a sign identifying the area as being replanted after the 1999 Crocker forest fire. A short while later, just after 4 pm, we arrived at White Lake Provincial Park.