Outdoors: Potholes Provincial Nature Reserve

Have you ever seen photos of something and thought "this is really interesting and something I would like to see in person?"

That happened to me as I looked at a few photos by local outdoor photographer James Smedley that he took of Potholes Provincial Nature Reserve. With that concept in mind, I went ahead and last summer decided to embark on a short trip from Sault Ste. Marie to Potholes Provincial Nature Reserve.

It was the peak of summer, and the weather was great for driving north. As we headed north I stopped at Pancake Bay Provincial Park to purchase a day pass to visit Lake Superior Provincial Park and Potholes Provincial Nature Reserve.

If you haven't been to Pancake Bay, it’s worth stopping just to see the clear water and sandy beach. There is also a Group of Seven interpretive sign to visit.

Upon leaving Pancake Bay we headed up to Lake Superior Provincial Park. The drive heading up Montreal River hill is always a thrill as you head up into the rocky hills. The view is fantastic and every time I drive it, it never disappoints.

The next stop was Wawa, where we visited the Goose Monument and the visitor centre. Leaving from Wawa, it's a short drive to Potholes, which is located on Hwy 101 between Wawa and Chapleau.

Driving along Highway 101, there wasn't a lot of traffic. As part of the Grand Algoma Tour, it's easy to understand why visitors really enjoy this tour. It helps you escape and explore the wilderness.

Once we arrived at Potholes Provincial Nature Reserve, we went and headed to the hiking trail towards the lookout. The walking trail was easy to navigate so if you weren't crazy about walking through the wilderness it was a short distance to the boardwalk.

- Rob LaRue

Read the full article about the Potholes Provincial Nature Reserve.