Attractions and Places To See in Lake Superior Provincial Park - Top 4

The Nokomis Trail, a loop trail, leads through coniferous trees, first level and later steeply up onto the rocks. At the top there are several viewpoints with views over the bay and the densely wooded valley of the Old Woman River. We are near the highway; traffic noise is almost constantly audible. (Visit on June 2, 2026)

Old Woman Bay is located in the north of Lake Superior Provincial Park – about 25 kilometers away from the small town of Wawa. Access is via Highway 17 (Trans-Canada Highway), which runs directly past the bay. The South Old Woman River flows into Lake Superior on the sandy beach. The name Old Woman Bay comes from a distinctive rock formation in the bay. Viewed from a distance and from a certain angle, the contours of the rock cliffs form the profile of an old woman's face. The popular Nokomis Trail begins at the parking lot by the bay. (Visit on June 2, 2026)

The visit to the rock art site is a short walk steeply down to the coast. Everywhere there are signs with warnings indicating the dangerous undertaking. The somewhat steep, walkable rocks are extremely exposed to water; during storms and wet conditions, there is a risk to life. People have died or been injured during visits when they were washed into the water. It looks as if there used to be a walkable platform. However, during our visit on May 31, 2026, none of this is an issue: with calm seas and a bright blue sky, we can view the somewhat faded paintings together. The passage on Highway 17 is closed today; since we have already been in Lake Superior Provincial Park since yesterday and will be staying for a few more days, we are not affected by the road closure.

Beautiful spot to take a break and enjoy the scenery.

Lake Superior Provincial Park was designated a Dark-Sky Preserve in 2018 in partnership by Ontario Parks and the Algoma Astronomers. The nearest source of light pollution is the community of Wawa; it is located 16 km from the northern park boundary. To the south, the city of Sault Ste. Marie is approximately 125 km away. The beach at Agawa Bay Campground serves as the designated viewing area of the Dark-Sky Preserve. Source: https://rasc.ca/lpa/lake-superior During our stay, an expert offered a night sky observation for stargazers on the evening of May 30, 2026. This allows us to see the planets Jupiter and Venus on the horizon with our own eyes.

The Agawa Rock Pictographs are a collection of 35 red-ochre paintings on the face of Lake Superior's towering granite cliffs. In Ojibwe, the area is known as Mazinaubikinguning, meaning "the adorned rock of Lake Agawa". Although the glyphs are only a short distance from the parking area this is not a hike one should attempt during inclement weather since you need to negotiate a narrow rock shelf right at the water level in order to access the site.

The Awausee Trail is a great loop hike within Lake Superior Provincial Park, with four excellent viewpoint atop Agawa Mountain that give you panoramic views across Lake Superior. You can hike the trail in either direction but recent weather may determine which way you choose. If the water is high it's recommended to hike clockwise, that way you have a shorter return trip if the river crossing is unsafe. Hiking counter-clockwise means a very steep and rocky ascent in the first few kilometers and a flatter, more relaxing descent at the end of the loop.

A nice place to make a extended rest