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ON Highway Itinerary: Sudbury to Mattawa

Why travel between Sudbury and Mattawa?

This route has four segments. From Sudbury to Lake Nipissing the highway is overland. Then, suddenly, for 20 kilometers, you have sweeping vistas of Lake Nipissing. At North Bay, Highway 11 can go south to Toronto, or north to many northern mining towns. East of North Bay, you pass the Mattawa River wilderness that early French fur-traders experienced. Near Mattawa, you enter the Ottawa Valley lowland, great for farming. What a dramatic transition to/from the 1600 kilometers of Canadian Shield to the west.

ONTARIO Itinerary - Sudbury - Mattawa

Here is the itinerary for the 190 km along Highway #17 between Sudbury and Mattawa:

Wanapatei Lake's West Bay, just north of the TCH, east of Sudbury
Sudbury is the location of a major meteor strike, which has embedded a rich concentration of metals in the ground. This area (very visible on satellite and aerial photos) is now known as the Sudbury Basin. Copper was first discovered by a CPR blacksmith in 1883, and the region was first deforested for its lumber and then plucked bare by prospectors. Nickel is key for manufacturing stainless steel, and copper is essential for conducting electricity. Once nickel was discovered and extracted, the fumes from the refining process caused heavy “acid rain” in the region, killing off many of the remaining vegetation, making the region so barren that I the 1960’s NASA used it as a stand-in for the moon in their astronaut training.

Superstack Behind Air DuctThe “Superstack” at Copper Cliff to the west of Sudbury, is 381 metres (1250 feet) high, was completed in 1972 to disperse the pollutants into the upper atmosphere. It is Canada’s second tallest structure, behind only the CN Tower. Since then, the Sudbury Region has begun a program of land reclamation & reforestation, and remediation and de-acidification of nearby lakes. Since the 1990s, the waste gases going into the Superstack were processed to remove 90 % of the sulphur dioxide, with further improvements in emissions reduction planned.

Sudbury - Big Nickel On Regional Road 55 (CoverPhoto)
Sudbury - Big Nickel On Regional Road 55 (CoverPhoto)

Lake Nippissing view

The region between Warren and Sturgeon Falls is heavily dependent on the forest industry, with softwood white spruce and blue spruce, and hardwood species like ash, aspen, birch, basswood, elm and maple. These are processed at the mill a Sturgeon Falls.

 

The north shore of Lake Nippissing is mainly steep bluffs, with the flat terraces remaining from the ancient shoreline of the Nippissing Great Lake of the last Ice Age, used today for the rail and highway corridor along the lake’s edge. Much of the north shore is ceded as a Nippissing (Ojibewa) Indian Reservation. In 1605 Samuel de Champlain came this way, on his path to Lake Huron via the French River, before heading south to Lake Simcoe on his way back to Lake Ontario.

Mattawa area Pond With LiliesNorth Bay's Jet Park, at Highway 11
North Bay is the Gateway to Ontario’s North. It is connected to Toronto via Highway 11 (paving completed in 1939), an extension of that city’s Yonge Street, which continues to Nipigon on the north shore of Lake Superior (construction completed in 1943). North Bay was the 1934 birthplace of the Dionne Quintuplets. North Bay was also the last Canadian base with nuclear (defensive) missiles, before their removal in 1968 by then-prime minister Trudeau.

Highway 17 Rock Cuts east of North Bay, ON
Highway 17 Rock Cuts east of North Bay, ON

Mattawa-OttawaRiver4The Trans-Canada between North Bay and Mattawa follows the path of the early voyageurs along the Mattawa River. In the 1600s, fur traders and Jesuit missionaries followed this route to the Great Lakes and to get to the mouth of the Mississippi (via Lake Michigan to a short portage at today’s Chicago). Recent settlement and encroachment has forced big game to seek protection in Algonquin Park to the south.

Trans-Canada Highway Itinerary Map

Use mouse to drag/move map. Click on “+” or “” to zoom in or out. “Satellite” combines map & photo.
Note:

Elevation Chart: Sudbury to Mattawa

Elevation Chart: Sudbury to Mattawa
Elevation Chart: Sudbury to Mattawa

Itinerary Details

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)
 
Map
Add
Info
 
0 Park St (Mattawa 170.4

 

0 Pine Street, Mattawa Train Station, Tourist Information Centre (Mattawa )  162.5

 

0 Junction Valois Drive (17S), Main St (Highway 533 N), and McConnal St (Hwy 17 W) (Mattawa 159.7

 

2 Chenier Rd (S) 169.2

 

2 Louis St (N) services (Mattawa )  166.4

 

4 Champlain Lake Rd, accommodation 175.3

 

5 Old Highway 17 (N) & Nealt Rd (N) 177.1

 

7 Taggatt Lake Rd (S) 191.4

 

9 Old Highway 17 (N) 221.9

 

11 Boundary Rd (S) 200.9

 

18 Highway Junction #630 185.3

 

18 Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park 183.2

 

27 Talon Lake Rd, Rutherglen 240.5

 

32 Trout Pond Rd (S), Pine Lake Rd (N) to Mattawa River PP (4 km) 255.1

 

36 Highway Junction #531 S to Bonfield, accommodation 220.1

 

48 Highway 94, gas 223.7

 

55 Trout Lake, view to N 199.9

 

56 Truck stop on N side of hwy 207.6

 

56 Bayview Rd, Race track and Go-cart track on N side of hwy 206.3

 

58 Acme Rd (S), Twin Lake N, services 207.3

 

58 Lake to N of hwy 207.6

 

59 Exit to #11 South to Barrie, Toronto (North Bay 203.9

 

60 Major intersection #17B Fisher St (W) (North Bay)  204.2

 

60 Railway level crossing (North Bay)  208.8

 

60 Seymour St intersection (North Bay)  209.4

 

61 Major intersection #63 Cassells St (W) and Trout Lake Rd (E) (North Bay 202.1

 

62 Obrien St (North Bay)  218.8

 

62 Frost St N (WB only) (North Bay)  216.4

 

63 Major intersection Highway 11B (N) shopping, all services, Algonquin Ave (S) all services (North Bay)  235

 

65 Cormanville Rd intersection (North Bay)  216.4

 

66 east boundary of Nipissing Indian Reserve 10 south of highway (North Bay)  211.2

 

67 Highway Junction #17B North Bay city centre west access (North Bay)  209.7

 

68 RV dealer S side of hwy 220.1

 

83 Beaucage Park Rd (S) 200.6

 

86 Crossing Little Sturgeon River 202.1

 

87 Riding Stable Rd (N) 200.3

 

96 Golf Course Rd (N) west boundary of Nipissing Indian Reserve 10 south of highway 210

 

99 Coursol Rd, all services to W (Sturgeon Falls )  208.8

 

100 Ottawa St, OPP, Highway 64 N, to Marten River Provincial Park, Cobalt, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane (Sturgeon Falls 209.7

 

100 Sturgeon River crossing, Historical Plaque, S side (Sturgeon Falls 197.2

 

100 King Street, all services to E (Sturgeon Falls )  207.6

 

104 Levac Rd (W), services and accommodation, Drive-In Rd (E) (Cache Bay)  202.4

 

114 Avenue Gingras (S) access to Verner (Verner)  202.1

 

116 Highway 64 S (Verner)  205.7

 

117 Hwy 575 (N) and Cartier St (S) to Old Highway 17 to west (Verner 208.8

 

123 Deer Lake Rd (N) (Verner)  202.4

 

128 Old Highway 17 (S) heading east, Picnic grounds on north side of highway 203.3

 

131 Highway 539 N to Warren, Nipissing Rd (S) (Warren)  203

 

136 River Crossing 202.4

 

138 Labine Rd, W to Hagar (Hagar)  217.9

 

139 Highway 535, S to Hagar (Hagar)  222.8

 

146 Picnic grounds on north side of highway 206

 

150 Main St (N) to Markstay, (Markstay)  235.6

 

152 Pioneer St W, west access to Markstay, services (Markstay)  212.8

 

155 Chain Lake Rd (S). MacLean Rd (NO 224.3

 

159 Kukagami Rd (N) 259.4

 

162 Sunset Rd 261.8

 

167 Mill Rd (N) (Wahnapitae)  254.2

 

167 Norvic Motel, S side of hwy 254.8

 

170 Colonization Rd (N) to Lake Wanapitae, Hwy 537 (Hill St) S to town of Wanup (14 km)and Hwy 69 (Wahnapitae)  260.3

 

171 Mountain View ST (N) Glenbower Cr (S) 237.1

 

171 Wanapitae River Crossing 239.9

 

173 CPR Railway underpass (Coniston)  258.2

 

175 Highway 90 (N) N to Garson (8 km), Falconbridge, Sudbury Airport (17 km) and Wanapitei Lake (22 km) (Coniston)  247.8

 

175 Birch St access to Hwy 67 W to Coniston (Coniston)  248.4

 

176 Highway Junction #74, S to Coniston, smelter, services, accommodation, small airfield, Nickel Centre Information Centre 246.9

 

179 Highway 55 Intersection W to Sudbury, via Kingsway (9 km) all services (Sudbury)  255.4

 

180 CP Rail overpass & intersection Highway 67 W to Sudbury via Bancroft Dr, Allan St E to Coniston (2 km) (Sudbury)  278

 

185 Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, eastern boundary (Sudbury)  271.6

 

187 Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, western boundary (Sudbury 270.1

 

190 Major Interchange Highway 46 (Regent St) N into Sudbury, all services & hospital, and Highway 69 S to OPP, Parry Sound, Barrie, Toronto (Sudbury 266.1

 

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)
 
Map
Add
Info
 

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)
 
Map
Add
Info
 
0 Major Interchange Highway 46 (Regent St) N into Sudbury, all services & hospital, and Highway 69 S to OPP, Parry Sound, Barrie, Toronto (Sudbury 266.1

 

3 Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, western boundary (Sudbury)  270.1

 

5 Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, eastern boundary (Sudbury)  271.6

 

10 CP Rail overpass & intersection Highway 67 W to Sudbury via Bancroft Dr, Allan St E to Coniston (2 km) (Sudbury)  278

 

11 Highway 55 Intersection W to Sudbury, via Kingsway (9 km) all services (Sudbury)  255.4

 

14 Highway Junction #74, S to Coniston, smelter, services, accommodation, small airfield, Nickel Centre Information Centre 246.9

 

15 Highway 90 (N) N to Garson (8 km), Falconbridge, Sudbury Airport (17 km) and Wanapitei Lake (22 km) (Coniston)  247.8

 

15 Birch St access to Hwy 67 W to Coniston (Coniston)  248.4

 

17 CPR Railway underpass (Coniston)  258.2

 

19 Mountain View ST (N) Glenbower Cr (S) 237.1

 

19 Wanapitae River Crossing 239.9

 

20 Colonization Rd (N) to Lake Wanapitae, Hwy 537 (Hill St) S to town of Wanup (14 km)and Hwy 69 (Wahnapitae)  260.3

 

23 Mill Rd (N) (Wahnapitae)  254.2

 

23 Norvic Motel, S side of hwy 254.8

 

28 Sunset Rd 261.8

 

31 Kukagami Rd (N) 259.4

 

35 Chain Lake Rd (S). MacLean Rd (NO 224.3

 

38 Pioneer St W, west access to Markstay, services (Markstay)  212.8

 

40 Main St (N) to Markstay, (Markstay)  235.6

 

44 Picnic grounds on north side of highway 206

 

51 Highway 535, S to Hagar (Hagar)  222.8

 

52 Labine Rd, W to Hagar (Hagar)  217.9

 

54 River Crossing 202.4

 

59 Highway 539 N to Warren, Nipissing Rd (S) (Warren)  203

 

62 Old Highway 17 (S) heading east, Picnic grounds on north side of highway 203.3

 

67 Deer Lake Rd (N) (Verner)  202.4

 

73 Hwy 575 (N) and Cartier St (S) to Old Highway 17 to west (Verner)  208.8

 

74 Highway 64 S (Verner 205.7

 

76 Avenue Gingras (S) access to Verner (Verner)  202.1

 

86 Levac Rd (W), services and accommodation, Drive-In Rd (E) (Cache Bay)  202.4

 

90 Ottawa St, OPP, Highway 64 N, to Marten River Provincial Park, Cobalt, Kirkland Lake, Cochrane (Sturgeon Falls )  209.7

 

90 Sturgeon River crossing, Historical Plaque, S side (Sturgeon Falls 197.2

 

90 King Street, all services to E (Sturgeon Falls 207.6

 

91 Coursol Rd, all services to W (Sturgeon Falls 208.8

 

94 Golf Course Rd (N) west boundary of Nipissing Indian Reserve 10 south of highway 210

 

103 Riding Stable Rd (N) 200.3

 

104 Crossing Little Sturgeon River 202.1

 

107 Beacage Park Rd (S) 200.6

 

122 RV dealer S side of hwy 220.1

 

123 Highway Junction #17B North Bay city centre west access (North Bay)  209.7

 

124 east boundary of Nipissing Indian Reserve 10 south of highway (North Bay)  211.2

 

125 Cormanville Rd intersection (North Bay)  216.4

 

127 Major intersection Highway 11B (N) shopping, all services, Algonquin Ave (S) all services (North Bay 235

 

128 Obrien St (North Bay)  218.8

 

128 Frost St N (WB only) (North Bay)  216.4

 

129 Major intersection #63 Cassells St (W) and Trout Lake Rd (E) (North Bay 202.1

 

130 Major intersection #17B Fisher St (W) (North Bay 204.2

 

130 Railway level crossing (North Bay)  208.8

 

130 Seymour St intersection (North Bay)  209.4

 

131 Exit to #11 South to Barrie, Toronto (North Bay 203.9

 

132 Acme Rd (S), Twin Lake N, services 207.3

 

132 Lake to N of hwy 207.6

 

134 Truck stop on N side of hwy 207.6

 

134 Bayview Rd, Race track and Go-cart track on N side of hwy 206.3

 

135 Trout Lake, view to N 199.9

 

142 Highway 94, gas 223.7

 

154 Highway Junction #531 S to Bonfield, accommodation 220.1

 

158 Trout Pond Rd (S), Pine Lake Rd (N) to Mattawa River PP (4 km) 255.1

 

163 Talon Lake Rd, Rutherglen 240.5

 

172 Highway Junction #630 185.3

 

172 Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park 183.2

 

179 Boundary Rd (S) 200.9

 

181 Old Highway 17 (N) 221.9

 

183 Taggatt Lake Rd (S) 191.4

 

185 Old Highway 17 (N) & Nealt Rd (N) 177.1

 

186 Champlain Lake Rd, accommodation 175.3

 

188 Chenier Rd (S) 169.2

 

188 Louis St (N) services (Mattawa 166.4

 

190 Park St (Mattawa )  170.4

 

190 Pine Street, Mattawa Train Station, Tourist Information Centre (Mattawa )  162.5

 

190 Junction Valois Drive (17S), Main St (Highway 533 N), and McConnal St (Hwy 17 W) (Mattawa 159.7

 

KM 
Highway Point & Features
Elev.
(metres)
 
Map
Add
Info