Whether you are travelling with kids, or just want to pull over and take that selfie,
here are 16 fun roadside attractions in Northern Ontario.

As we were doing our Northern Ontario road trip this summer, we found that there were quite a few roadside attractions in Northern Ontario! Some we knew about and were keeping an eye out for, others were a bit of an impromptu stop when we spied something out the window.

And even those impromptu stops were a welcome chance to get out and let all of us stretch our legs…

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When you’re doing a road trip for a few weeks, it can be tricky keeping kids amused and entertained in the car. The boys had a lot of activities and things to do in the car but keeping an eye out for roadside attractions was an easy, no-materials-required activity that helped pass the time!

So if you’re heading to Northern Ontario, be sure to check out these 16 fun roadside attractions!

*Note: These roadside attractions are found along the TransCanada Highway/Hwy 11 from North Bay to Thunder Bay and the TransCanada Highway/Hwy17 from Thunder Bay to Sudbury. If a detour is needed off the highway, it is noted, otherwise all of these roadside attractions in Northern Ontario can be found along the highway.

Big Fish – Marten River

Just north of North Bay, right in front of the Rock Pine Motel and Restaurant, you’ll find this large, school-bus sized fish!

It’s a large walleye fish, which is what Marten River is known for. He’s been here since the 1960’s but he still doesn’t have a name….

Ms.Claybelt the Cow – New Liskeard

two boys standing underneath Ms.Claybelt the cow - a large statue of a cow in New Liskeard Ontario
Ms. Claybelt

At 12 feet high, Ms.Claybelt the Cow can easily be seen from Highway 11 as it passes through New Liskeard.

Representing the agricultural area around New Liskeard and Temiskaming Shores, Ms.Claybelt stands next to the Little Claybelt Homesteaders Museum, where you can pull in and stop for a photo and a quick stretch of the legs.  

Earl the Bison – Earlton

Earl the Bison

Standing guard over Hwy 11, Earl the Bison is a sight you can’t miss!

Weighing 9 tons and standing 19 feet high, Earl is an impressive sight!

We saw him during the day, but from the amount of lights attached to the sculpture, he would be an impressive sight at night as well!

Chimo the Polar Bear – Cochrane

Chimo the Polar Bear welcomes you to Cochrane - home to the Canadian Polar Bear Habitat
Chimo the Polar Bear

Entering Cochrane, you’ll be welcomed by Chimo, a large polar bear.

Cochrane is home to the Canadian Polar Bear Habitat (where you can find three real polar bears) and the starting point for the Polar Bear Express train that runs to Moosenee.

If you venture into Cochrane, you’ll find a few other polar bear statues as well!

Flying Saucer – Moonbeam

two boys walking around a statue of a  flying saucer - it's one of the most unique roadside attractions in Northern Ontario
Flying Saucer in Moonbeam

When you see a town named Moonbeam, you might expect something interesting.

Just beside the tourist information centre (that also has a few picnic tables for a quick snack or lunch), there is a large flying saucer.

Hop out of the car for a unique photo, and be sure to look at the windows of the flying saucer. You might find someone, or something, looking out at you!

Moose and Wolves – Hearst

a child touching a large statue of a moose in Hearst, Northern Ontario

Known as the moose capital of Ontario, Hearst has a large, life-size statue of two moose and two wolves.

Stop in at the tourist info center for a quick rest stop and get up close to a moose!

Unfortunately, this was the only moose we saw on our entire Northern Ontario road trip…

Snowman – Beardmore

the world's largest snowman is a great roadside attraction in Beardmore, northern ontario

Beardmore may be a small town but it is home to the world’s largest snowman!

Standing an impressive 35 feet tall, you can’t miss this giant snowman. And he’s a pretty unique snowman.

Summer and winter, this giant snowman sports sunglasses and a top hat, but he changes up his accessories depending on the season.  

In the winter, you’ll find him holding a curling broom and wearing a scarf but in the summer, he has his fishing pole in hand, ready to fish in Lake Nipigon!

Lookout Tower – Nipigon

the lookout tower in Nipigon

While this isn’t a roadside attraction like the others we have mentioned, we felt we should still add it in here.

Just off the highway as you cross the bridge, pull into the parking lot and hop out to climb the lookout tower.

It’s a short climb and you’ll be rewarded with some great views of the river and surrounding area.

Terry Fox Monument – Shuniah

the Terry Fox monument just outside of thunder bay is a must-see stop on any northern ontario road trip.
Terry Fox Monument

 Again, not a typical roadside attraction, but worth the stop!

Just before you reach Thunder Bay, you’ll see the Terry Fox statue looking out over the highway. Take the exit off the highway to reach the lookout and pay tribute to Terry Fox.

Terry Fox is a Canadian hero who lost his leg to cancer but set out to run across Canada, raising money for cancer research. Unfortunately, the cancer returned and he had to stop just outside of Thunder Bay and this monument was created to honour the contribution Terry Fox made to cancer research.

After paying tribute to Terry Fox, take a moment to admire the views of the Sleeping Giant!

Read more | 20 Best Things to Do in Thunder Bay

Lighthouse – Terrace Bay

white lighthouse with red top and walk around viewing platform in Terrace Ontario

The Terrace Bay lighthouse is one of the most unique lighthouses I have seen.

It’s nowhere near the water! You’ll find it right in the middle of Terrace Bay, as Hwy 11 passes through the town. Stop for a photo or take a few minutes to climb to the top for a view of the town.

Winnie the Pooh – White River

two boys standing in front of the Winnie the Pooh statue in White River, Ontario

The storybook character of Winnie the Pooh was based on an actual bear that was born in White River.

While travelling through White River, an army vet purchased the black bear cub and named her Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The bear became the soldiers’ mascot and travelled with them to England.

During the First World War, Winnie stayed at the London Zoo where she was loved by many, including author A.A.Milne and his son Christopher and became the inspiration for the classic storybook character that we all know and love.

Wawa Goose – Wawa

a large statue of a Canada goose in Wawa Ontario

The Wawa Goose is a popular roadside attraction in Northern Ontario.

Chances are, if you’ve driven to Thunder Bay, you’ve seen the Wawa Goose standing over the highway.  

Standing at 28 feet tall, the Goose is hard to miss! Originally created to attract visitors to stop in Wawa, it seems to be working!

Take a short detour off Hwy 17/Trans-Canada Highway and pull into the parking lot for a quick photo with the Goose. There’s also a dog-walking area and picnic tables if you want a longer rest stop.

**Another 1km down the road into Wawa is Young’s General Store where you can find an old-fashioned general store and some excellent ice cream!

Mid-point of the Trans-Canada Highway – Chippewa Falls

Chippewa Falls is just one of the MANY waterfalls you’ll find in Northern Ontario.

While it’s a great spot to get out of the car and go for a hike, the reason we are listing it here in the roadside attractions of Northern Ontario is that it’s the halfway point of the Trans-Canada Highway!

Uniting Canada from coast to coast, the Trans-Canada is 7,821km (4,860 miles) long and one of the longest highways in the world!

Chippewa Falls is the halfway point of this highway, so pull into the parking lot and snap a photo by the plaque (then take a short walk and see the falls!).

Loonie Monument – Echo Bay

giant loonie statue in Echo Bay Ontario
Loonie Monument

Starting in 1987, the one dollar coin replaced the dollar bill and quickly became a unique Canadian coin, known as the “Loonie”.

Designed by a local resident, Echo Bay is proud to be the birthplace of the loonie and proudly displays the world’s largest loonie for all to see!

**Take Hwy 17B instead of staying on Hwy 17 to see the Loonie Monument

Algomy Red – Thessalon

two boys sitting on a large red chair - the largest Muskoka chair in Northern Ontario, Algomy Red is a great roadside attraction in Northern Ontario
Algomy Red

Northern Ontario’s largest Muskoka Chair is 18 feet tall and 12 feet wide.

Created by a local high school class, this chair is here for everyone to enjoy. There’s even a set of stairs to help you climb onto the chair!

Big Nickel – Sudbury

the Big Nickel is a popular roadside attraction in Sudbury, the first/last stop on a northern ontario road trip
The Big Nickel

Sudbury’s iconic Big Nickel is a well-known roadside attraction.

It’s the largest nickel you will ever see, and possibly the largest coin in the world.

The Big Nickel is a replica of the 1951 coin, which doesn’t have the beaver on it but instead depicts a nickel refinery, as Sudbury is one of the largest producers of nickel in the world. Be sure to stop for the requisite photo!

Read more | Top Things to Do in Sudbury

Northern Ontario Roadside Attractions:

  • Big Fish – Marten River
  • Ms.Claybelt – New Liskeard
  • Earl the Bison – Earlton
  • Chimo the Polar Bear – Cochrane
  • Flying Saucer – Moonbeam
  • Moose – Hearst
  • Giant Snowman – Beardmore
  • Lookout Tower – Nipigon
  • Terry Fox – Thunder Bay
  • Lighthouse – Terrace Bay
  • Winnie the Pooh – White River
  • Big Goose – Wawa
  • Midpoint of the Trans-Canada Highway – Chippewa Falls
  • Loonie Monument – Echo Bay
  • Algomy Red – Thessalon
  • Big Nickel – Sudbury

If you know of any other roadside attractions in Northern Ontario that we missed, let us know in the comments below!

2 Comments

  1. Pim Delfgou says:

    Add the “MacIntyre Mine Headframe” in Timmins and the “Big Claim Post” in Cobalt to the list. They are popular roadside attractions. The big headframe in Timmins and the Big Nickel in Sudbury both appear on CTV News daily.

    1. We’ll have to head back that way next summer and find these! Thanks for the suggestion!

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