Ontario Highway 17
Ottawa to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Highway 17 is the main surface route across northern Ontario, running approximately 1,050 kilometres from the Ottawa River valley westward to Sault Ste. Marie. The highway traverses the Canadian Shield through boreal forest, crossing numerous lakes and river systems. The section between Kenora and Dryden in northwestern Ontario is particularly dangerous, combining heavy moose populations, extreme winter conditions, limited services, and monotonous terrain that promotes driver fatigue. Throughout its length, Highway 17 is the primary commercial link for communities that have no alternate road access.
Length
1050 km
1050 km
Risk Rating
MODERATE
MODERATE
Risk Factors
High moose density — collision risk year-round, especially at night
Severe Ontario winter storms
Limited services across long remote sections
Driver fatigue from monotonous boreal terrain
Canadian Shield curves limiting sight distances
Spring frost heave damage to road surface
Notorious Segments
- Kenora to Dryden section (extreme moose density, no services)
Connected Hubs
Regions
Canada
Ontario