Lake Superior Loop Early May

We are planning a trip to Ontario this coming spring, we will be entering from MN on highway 61 and basically doing the Lake Superior loop exiting at Sault Ste Marie.  The tentative schedule has us entering Ontario around the first couple of days in May, we are hoping to catch the steelhead run on Ontario streams.  I do have several questions I was hoping to see if anyone had any  insight to:

Will the Provincial Parks be open that time of the year?  Will there be many options for RV parks?  Is there any good maps of backroads or side roads to be had?

How difficult is it to find camping areas on the Crown lands?  I will be doing my due diligence, just looking to see if others have experience in this area.

Thanks

May 3rd Friday North Bay Ontario to Sault Ste Marie Michigan. Actually broke 50 today and the sun came out! 

North Bay Lotdock was actually pretty good. Wal-Mart has a fenced in area that they own and the Semi’s can get in there! No engines running all night (which is always the fear at Wally World). Woke to 38F.

RT 17 (the TCH) is still a two lane highway almost all the way to Sault Ste Marie. The few spots that became divided highway was actually disappointing. I really liked the entire drive going through Canada. 

I found an area around Sudbury ON that looked really interesting for boondocking. Real backcountry kinda stuff. Learned a couple hours ago that most is private lands, bummer. Lots of picnic spots along the TCH that are still closed (gated) and saw no signs of restriction of over-nighting. I’ll have to dig into that a bit more..

We decided to grab an established site tonight vs. Lotdocking again. Soo Locks Campground right on the Sainte Mary’s River. This is just below the Locks! $33 for an water/electric site right on the waterfront. Showers, laundry, the usual stuff these places have. Waterfront sites have a bit extra room towards the water (for the extra $3). Dump-station on site. Being there’s only 8 of us here, great spot! Wifi is good, but like I said.. only 8 of us here..

Within a half hour, we saw our first ship pass by. Another that’s been here all day told me none have passed yet. They waited for us! How cool! That ship is up to the locks waiting.. believe there’s another to pass by in the locks. How cool is that? 

Day 3 in the books!

May 4th Saturday Sault Ste Marie to Hurricane River Campground Pictured Rock National Seashore Park North of Munising MI. Day started at 38 rose to 64 and now 4pm at the site 60 and sunny most all day.

Beauty of a day! Sunshine, low winds and plenty to see and do!

Started the day with 4 freighters passing by our campsite. Watched one of them in the locks rise. Next stop was Iroquois Point Lighthouse. Thought not yet open for touring the house, the grounds are open to enjoy. Nice spot! We continued up to Whitefish Point where the Museum is and another Lighthouse. This is the Museum that has the Bell of the Edmond Fitzgerald. In all, remnants of about a dozen lost ships from the area of the point. I felt the pricing was a bit much (though we did it) to tour all the buildings. No discounts at all for anything… We attempted both Lower & Upper Tahquamenon Falls. We were warned that the water level was at a record high and ‘everybody’ is going there to see them. Well, it’s the only place so far that too many folks and over-priced to hike to see a waterfall. We passed..

The drive over to Pictured Rocks National Seashore was more of rather good 2 lane highway. This whole area so far is largely massive bogs! Very nice for wildlife viewing. We called the Ranger Station to find out only Hurricane River is accessible right now. His statement was even the Private parks are not open yet. Since they’re not officially open, it’s a free stay! Sites are small, but I saw a few we could fit into. This place is geared towards tenter’s, but if short, you can fit in.. Just keep that in mind. We own the campground! No one else here so far!