How to Plan a Trip to Sault Ste. Marie, Including Border Crossing and Getting There
Plan your trip around three decisions: how you'll arrive, whether you're crossing an international border, and what you want to do once you're there. Sault Ste. Marie sits in Northern Ontario on the St. Marys River, directly across from its American twin city of the same name in Michigan — so "getting there" and "border crossing" are often the same question. The official destination site, saulttourism.com, organizes everything under a Plan menu (Getting Here, Border Crossing, Maps/Visitor Guide & Coupons, Outfitters & Rentals, Souvenirs, FAQ, Contact), which is the fastest way to work through logistics before you book anything.
Start with the Plan section
The site's Plan menu is the backbone of trip preparation. Each page answers one practical question:
| Page | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Getting Here | Transportation and arrival guidance |
| Border Crossing | What cross-border travelers need to know |
| Maps, Visitor Guide & Coupons | Maps, the visitor guide, and discount coupons |
| Outfitters & Rentals | Gear and equipment rental providers |
| Souvenirs | Where to pick up local items |
| Frequently Asked Questions | Common visitor questions in one place |
| Contact Us | Reaching tourism staff directly |
| Groups | Planning support for group travel |
Work through Getting Here and Border Crossing first, since they determine your dates and route. Save Maps/Visitor Guide & Coupons for after you've picked your activities.
Getting there
The site maintains a dedicated Getting Here page under Plan, which is the authoritative starting point for arrival logistics. Because Sault Ste. Marie is a border city in Northern Ontario, your route depends on whether you're coming from elsewhere in Canada or from the United States. Check that page before finalizing travel dates, and pair it with the Maps, Visitor Guide & Coupons page so you have a physical or digital map in hand.
Border crossing
If your trip involves crossing between Canada and the United States, the Border Crossing page under Plan is the page to read. Cross-border travel has its own documentation and timing considerations that differ from domestic travel, and the site treats it as a separate planning step rather than folding it into general arrival info. Read it before you book, not the week you leave.
The site also maintains a separate Cannabis page under Plan. Cannabis rules differ between Canada and the United States, and crossing an international border with it is a distinct legal matter from buying it locally — treat that page as required reading if it's relevant to your trip.
What to do once you're there
The site's See & Do section covers Activities & Attractions, Arts & Culture, Indigenous Tourism, Parks & Beaches, Sports & Recreation, and Tours & Guides. Outdoor Adventure breaks down further into Biking, Climb, Fish, Hike, Mountain Bike, Paddle, Ski, Snowmobiling, and WinterSports. The site brands itself as "Ontario's Premier Outdoor adventure town," and the activity list reflects that.
Two specific items the site highlights:
- Agawa Canyon Tour Train — tickets for the 2026 season go on sale April 3rd, with rides running August 1st to October 18th. This is a dated, capacity-limited experience, so if it's on your list, plan your whole trip window around it.
- Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre — rated the #1 attraction in Sault Ste. Marie according to TripAdvisor, per the site. It's housed in the historic hangar of the Ontario Provincial Air Service and displays two dozen restored bushplanes and passenger aircraft, covering Northern Ontario aviation history and forest firefighting technology.
For hiking, the site points to Robertson Cliffs, about 30 minutes north of the city, describing it as one of the best lookout hikes in Ontario, with views across Bellevue Valley toward the Goulais River and as far as Lake Superior. The site also references "12 Hikes In and Around Sault Ste. Marie" and a "Trail Town" designation.
Where to stay and eat
Stay options are grouped as Hotels, Motels, and Campgrounds/B&Bs & Others. Eat & Drink splits into Cafés & Sweet Treats, Bars & Pubs, Restaurants, and Breweries & Wineries. Match your accommodation choice to your activity base — the Robertson Cliffs trailhead is 30 minutes north of the city, so a downtown hotel and a north-end stay aren't interchangeable for an early hike.
Practical extras
- Outfitters & Rentals — use this if you're flying in and can't bring your own bike, paddle, or winter gear.
- Maps, Visitor Guide & Coupons — coupons are worth checking before you pay for attractions.
- Events — check the Events section for anything overlapping your dates.
- Souvenirs — for take-home items.
- Contact Us and Groups — direct help for questions the FAQ doesn't cover, and coordination if you're traveling as a group.
A workable planning order
- Decide your dates, then check the Agawa Canyon Tour Train window (Aug 1–Oct 18) and its April 3 ticket on-sale date if that's a priority.
- Read Getting Here and Border Crossing (plus Cannabis if applicable) before booking transport.
- Pick activities from See & Do and Outdoor Adventure; note drive times like the 30 minutes to Robertson Cliffs.
- Choose Stay based on your activity base.
- Pull Maps, Visitor Guide & Coupons and check Outfitters & Rentals if you need gear.
- Use FAQ, Contact Us, or Groups for anything unresolved.