ON Highway Itinerary: Sudbury to Mattawa

Home
Ontario Trans-Canada Highway
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.

Elevation Chart

Highway Notes

Itinerary

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

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.

The “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)

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.

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

The 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 History

History: Sudbury Details
History: Sudbury to Mattawa

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

Itinerary Details

Next West

Sault Ste Marie to Sudbury

Next East

Mattawa to Ottawa

Westbound
Eastbound

Westbound

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

Eastbound

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

Next West

Sault Ste Marie to Sudbury

Next East

Mattawa to Ottawa