First Time in Canada
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 129
Likes: 21
From: Music City, USA
First Time in Canada
My dad and I are planning a July ride from Ohio, North through Michigan over the Mackinac bridge, East / South through Ontario to Niagara, then back home. I wanted to get some input on my itinerary:
Planning on doing this in 4 days. Day 1 and 2 will be tent camping in State parks. Day 3 is to a hotel near Niagara, then finally home. We have done local tent camping adventures, so gear shouldn't be an issue.
I live in NE Ohio, my pops in Dayton - we plan on meeting in Toledo and want to get a good part of Michigan done the first day. Anyone have experience with the state parks in central Michigan? We are looking at Higgins Lake or Hartwick Pines. This is ~400 mile day.
From there we want to ride over the Mackinac Bridge and head east toward Sudbury. Here's were I really need some help. I've been to Toronto a few years ago, but that's my Canadian experience... Which Canadian provincial park is "the best" on my route? Currently looking at Kilarney (but appears to be off the beaten path), Grundy Lake, or French River. This too is a ~400 mile day.
Day three to Hotel in Niagara Falls, then back to Ohio.
Any input on parks, or changes to the route? Im coming up with approximately 1300 miles, is this too much for 4 days? Any issues traveling in Canada around the 4th of July? (yes I realize the 4th is a US holiday)
Planning on doing this in 4 days. Day 1 and 2 will be tent camping in State parks. Day 3 is to a hotel near Niagara, then finally home. We have done local tent camping adventures, so gear shouldn't be an issue.
I live in NE Ohio, my pops in Dayton - we plan on meeting in Toledo and want to get a good part of Michigan done the first day. Anyone have experience with the state parks in central Michigan? We are looking at Higgins Lake or Hartwick Pines. This is ~400 mile day.
From there we want to ride over the Mackinac Bridge and head east toward Sudbury. Here's were I really need some help. I've been to Toronto a few years ago, but that's my Canadian experience... Which Canadian provincial park is "the best" on my route? Currently looking at Kilarney (but appears to be off the beaten path), Grundy Lake, or French River. This too is a ~400 mile day.
Day three to Hotel in Niagara Falls, then back to Ohio.
Any input on parks, or changes to the route? Im coming up with approximately 1300 miles, is this too much for 4 days? Any issues traveling in Canada around the 4th of July? (yes I realize the 4th is a US holiday)
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 224
From: Coeur d'Alene
There have been some reports of US citizens having problems crossing the northern border if they've had a DUI conviction. So if that, or other legal issue, is on your resume you may want to explore further. Be a shame to be turned away after riding up there.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 234
Likes: 27
From: Hamilton,Ontario
And any long weekend whether it's a US or Canadian holiday border crossings will take hours!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,357
Likes: 91
From: Michigan
Buckeyeultra, I don't see how you could go wrong at a state park, they are all nice, best be making reservations months in advance though as I know they get real busy that weekend. I can't speak first hand for camping in the Sudbury area but a safe way to go if to stay at KOA parks they are all well kept and usually close to the main routes. I say this as the miles you are riding you really aren't worried about scenery as much as you are a place to stop have a couple of wobbly pops and bed down for the night. I am pretty sure that they don't allow drinking in many of the Provincial owned parks, although most folks do anyway discreetly.
Sounds like a great trip I am thinking about doing something similar but going the other way, over top of superior and down the other side.
Last edited by HardRider1; Mar 3, 2015 at 08:06 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 9
From: la grange, il (near chicago)
there is a very nice campground just to the west of mackinaw city in wilderness state park, although that is probably farther then you wanted to go for the first nite
but i have found every michigan state campground that i have stayed in to be very nice, clean, etc.
some other thoughts
- do you have a passport
- canada most probably won't let you in if you have had a dui, or other criminal type things on your record which they do keep track of
- are you scared of heights, the mackinaw bridge can be...........!!!! it is two lanes in either direction. the outside lane is cement, the inside lane is screen. on most screen type bridges my bike kinda wobbles, but not so on the mackinaw bridge. i would suggest riding on the inside lane (and if you are scared of heights like i am, it will place you farther from the edge).
but i have found every michigan state campground that i have stayed in to be very nice, clean, etc.
some other thoughts
- do you have a passport
- canada most probably won't let you in if you have had a dui, or other criminal type things on your record which they do keep track of
- are you scared of heights, the mackinaw bridge can be...........!!!! it is two lanes in either direction. the outside lane is cement, the inside lane is screen. on most screen type bridges my bike kinda wobbles, but not so on the mackinaw bridge. i would suggest riding on the inside lane (and if you are scared of heights like i am, it will place you farther from the edge).
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 872
Likes: 237
From: Covington, Ga
My dad and I are planning a July ride from Ohio, North through Michigan over the Mackinac bridge, East / South through Ontario to Niagara, then back home. I wanted to get some input on my itinerary:
Planning on doing this in 4 days. Day 1 and 2 will be tent camping in State parks. Day 3 is to a hotel near Niagara, then finally home. We have done local tent camping adventures, so gear shouldn't be an issue.
I live in NE Ohio, my pops in Dayton - we plan on meeting in Toledo and want to get a good part of Michigan done the first day. Anyone have experience with the state parks in central Michigan? We are looking at Higgins Lake or Hartwick Pines. This is ~400 mile day.
From there we want to ride over the Mackinac Bridge and head east toward Sudbury. Here's were I really need some help. I've been to Toronto a few years ago, but that's my Canadian experience... Which Canadian provincial park is "the best" on my route? Currently looking at Kilarney (but appears to be off the beaten path), Grundy Lake, or French River. This too is a ~400 mile day.
Day three to Hotel in Niagara Falls, then back to Ohio.
Any input on parks, or changes to the route? Im coming up with approximately 1300 miles, is this too much for 4 days? Any issues traveling in Canada around the 4th of July? (yes I realize the 4th is a US holiday)
Planning on doing this in 4 days. Day 1 and 2 will be tent camping in State parks. Day 3 is to a hotel near Niagara, then finally home. We have done local tent camping adventures, so gear shouldn't be an issue.
I live in NE Ohio, my pops in Dayton - we plan on meeting in Toledo and want to get a good part of Michigan done the first day. Anyone have experience with the state parks in central Michigan? We are looking at Higgins Lake or Hartwick Pines. This is ~400 mile day.
From there we want to ride over the Mackinac Bridge and head east toward Sudbury. Here's were I really need some help. I've been to Toronto a few years ago, but that's my Canadian experience... Which Canadian provincial park is "the best" on my route? Currently looking at Kilarney (but appears to be off the beaten path), Grundy Lake, or French River. This too is a ~400 mile day.
Day three to Hotel in Niagara Falls, then back to Ohio.
Any input on parks, or changes to the route? Im coming up with approximately 1300 miles, is this too much for 4 days? Any issues traveling in Canada around the 4th of July? (yes I realize the 4th is a US holiday)
Here's a link to parks and camping in that area: http://www.ontarioparks.com/park-locator
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 114
From: Drummondville, Qc, Canada
Every contries have their specific laws and regulations and when I visit a country I try to learn about them before I go. Some we like and some we don't, that's the way it is.
For the border guards, there are asses on both sides of the fence, sorry if you met one!
Overall you're always welcome to Canada
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,644
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From: Coeur d'Alene
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 129
Likes: 21
From: Music City, USA
Thanks for the heads up on the longer crossing over the holiday weekend - I wouldn't think going to Canada during the American holidays would be an issue.
Zeus - do you have any experience with ON-17 from Sault St Marie to Sudbury? It seems to be a decent sized highway, yet my map is calling this a scenic route. Any truth in that?
HardRider - that sounds like a great ride also! The original goal was to touch all the Great Lakes, but Superior got axed so we can get back in time for the 4th.
Zeus - do you have any experience with ON-17 from Sault St Marie to Sudbury? It seems to be a decent sized highway, yet my map is calling this a scenic route. Any truth in that?
HardRider - that sounds like a great ride also! The original goal was to touch all the Great Lakes, but Superior got axed so we can get back in time for the 4th.
Last edited by BuckeyeUltra; Mar 3, 2015 at 10:01 AM.