The Group of Seven were a hearty bunch—riding the rails, hitching boat rides, scaling rock faces, hiking and paddling long and hard to reach inspiring vistas. They camped in the wilderness, stayed in vacant cabins, and lived off the land, often in less than ideal conditions. Their artistic journeys took them all over Canada, but some of their most memorable paintings were created in Ontario’s Algoma Country and along the shore of Lake Superior—which they first visited a century ago this year.
It's a place where inspiration flows freely, and where the surreal beauty of these famous paintings is part of the very real landscape.
And just like the paintings, these landscapes demand to be seen in person.
Following the path of the Group is rewarding and inspiring. We've detailed here the five areas known to have inspired these artists, with a list of the most accessible sites, how to reach them, and how to deepen your understanding with some side trips on your way North. The Moments of Algoma project has placed interpretive installations at key points along the way to guide the journey.
“This is the land that resonated so deeply in the hearts of the Group of Seven 100 years ago and that inspired their most iconic works for over a decade,” explains Michael Burtch, a Sault Ste. Marie-based artist, art historian, and one of the principals behind the award-winning film Painted Land: In Search of the Group of Seven. “Although at the time the members of the Group could only access those areas by rail, they were not painting merely in cul-de-sacs of beauty, but captured the essence of the entire area.”
Where are you coming from?
- Travelling from southern Ontario? Plan a 7.5-hour drive from Toronto or nine hours from Ottawa, and see our whole epic itinerary below. Or check Porter Airlines for flights from Toronto to Sault Ste. Marie and start your road trip there. Flights can be very cost-effective and take less than two hours. Three car rental agencies are available at the Sault Ste. Marie airport.
- Visiting from Michigan or Illinois? Start your trip in border town Sault Ste. Marie.
- Coming from the west? See our suggested itinerary below, but in reverse. For a shorter trip, skip to our Top of Superior recommendations.
On your way: driving to Algoma
Must-see: Get started at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario (only 40 minutes north of Toronto), with its stunning collection of the Group, their mentor Tom Thomson, and their contemporaries—along with an equally impressive collection of Indigenous art.
Side trip: On your drive to Algoma through Northeastern Ontario along the shores of Lake Huron, stop in Sudbury, where the Art Gallery of Sudbury sometimes has Group of Seven-themed events. The A.Y. Jackson Lookout is situated just outside of town, offering a stunning view of High Falls and a self-guided geological walking tour (entirely wheelchair-accessible). Or, break up the trip with a visit to Manitoulin Island. Not only is the world’s largest freshwater island a wealth of gorgeous nature and thriving Indigenous culture, but the local Perivale Gallery hosts an annual exhibition of art and events inspired by Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven (running this year from July 21 to August 5, 2018). Just a little further west, Killarney has some amazing paddling in prime Group territory. Click here for more Group of Seven sightseeing opportunities in the Northeast.
Where to stay: If you want to split this long drive into two days, you have a few options. In Sudbury, we recommend the Travelway Inn. If stopping in Manitoulin, try the Widgawa Lodge in nearby Whitefish Falls. In Killarney, stay at Killarney Mountain Lodge for luxury, or camp in one of Killarney Park’s year-round yurts to get a taste of wilderness.
Entering Algoma Country
Must-see: The landscapes around Bruce Mines, located 70 km east of Sault Ste. Marie, inspired Tom Thomson’s View Over a Lake, Shore with Houses, (c. 1913, National Gallery of Canada).
Side trip: If you have time on your hands, turn north on Highway 129 and make your way to Aubrey Falls Provincial Park, where you'll find a Moments of Algoma interpretive sign in the shape of an artist’s stool. Thomson’s brilliance as a landscape artist was influenced by a two-month canoe trip he took along the Mississagi River in 1912. Its beauty is breathtaking.
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