Sudbury, Ontario, Looked Like a Moonscape, Then It Planted 10 Million Trees
Greater Sudbury, Ontario, has pulled off one of the most remarkable environmental turnarounds on the planet. Once home to the world's largest point source of sulfur dioxide due to its nickel mining, its blackened, barren rock was so infamous that it was regularly compared to a moonscape. Then the city began regreening itself. More than 10 million trees later, Northern Ontario's largest city is a travel destination worth visiting, with lake-filled parks, two first-rate science museums, and a food and drink scene that's worth checking out.
Sudbury's Regreened Spaces
No visit to Sudbury is complete without spending time in the green spaces at the heart of its famous transformation. Since the city's Regreening Program launched in 1978, more than 10 million trees have been planted across Greater Sudbury, and its parks and trails are where the results of its transformation are most apparent.
The program's most famous champion was the late Dr. Jane Goodall, the British primatologist and conservationist. Goodall celebrated Sudbury's recovery for more than two decades, describing the program to audiences worldwide as an example of what can be achieved when humans make the effort to help nature recover.
Bell Park is where that story reached its milestone moment. On July 7, 2022, Goodall joined then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at this waterfront park on Ramsey Lake to plant the Regreening Program's 10-millionth tree near the William Bell Gazebo.
The park itself is a lovely spot for a stroll, with beaches, gardens, and a lakeside boardwalk. From here, the kilometer (0.6 mile) Lily Creek Boardwalk continues along Ramsey Lake around the Science North property.
The Jane Goodall Legacy
To walk through the transformation itself, head to the Jane Goodall Reclamation Trail at the Coniston Welcome Centre off Highway 17. Goodall was the guest of honor when the trail officially opened in 2002. Part of the Rainbow Routes trail network, this kilometer (0.6-mile) loop passes restoration projects dating from 1979, with interpretive plaques explaining how liming and tree planting revived land that was completely bare of vegetation in 1978. The Regreening Program's two-millionth tree stands at the trailhead.
Goodall's ties to the city lasted throughout her 91 years. She not only released brook trout into Junction Creek during her 2002 visit, but she also appeared virtually in 2021 to open Laurentian University's UN Garden and Restoration Trail.
Her final visit was in May 2023 for the launch of the Science North IMAX film, Jane Goodall - Reasons for Hope, her second production with the science center and as upbeat and heartfelt a film as you're ever likely to see. Since her passing in 2025, Sudbury is planning to construct a monument and a sculpture of this most remarkable friend and advocate of the city.
Science North and Dynamic Earth
Sudbury's home to not just one, but two amazing world-class museums: Science North and Dynamic Earth. One of the top attractions in Ontario, Science North's unique snowflake-shaped building houses a vast collection of interactive, hands-on exhibits suitable for young and old to explore. Topics covered are as diverse as the human body to the mysteries of the universe, and pretty much everything in between.
Make sure you also visit the on-site IMAX theater and digital planetarium, both of which offer thrilling visuals to further expand your understanding of the world (and the planets) around you. It's also where you'll learn more about the work of Jane Goodall and the city in turning its moonscape into the lush place it is today.
You can't miss Dynamic Earth thanks to its being home to Sudbury's famous Big Nickel. The city's top selfie spot, this giant five-cent piece was built in 1964 as an exact replica of a nickel coin from 1951 and celebrates the city's status as home to one of the world's largest nickel mines. The science center came much later and does an excellent job of explaining how mining and minerals work.
Hands-on exhibits and interactive displays explain the processes of ore extraction, mineral exploration, and the technological advancements that revolutionized the mining industry not just in Sudbury, but across the globe. A fun mine tour is also available and provides a look at the harsh conditions miners faced down the centuries, right up to the present day.
Sudbury's Foodie Experiences
Sudbury's transformation has also had a positive impact on the city's hospitality scene. Now a major Canadian tourist destination, foodies and beer fans are in for a treat when they visit "Nickel City" Sudbury.
Topping most lists of the best restaurants in Sudbury are a few that I was lucky enough to sample firsthand, including:
- Verdicchio Ristorante - Priding itself on its tasty "progressive" Italian cuisine, Verdicchio's offerings are certainly a match to anything you'd get in much bigger places like Toronto… or heck, even Italy for that matter. A mushroom fan, I chose the Insalata di funghi for a starter, followed by grigliata di Vitello, a mouth-wateringly good veal chop.
- Di Gusto - While famous for its wood-fired pizzas and fresh pasta, I went for the braised short rib, which came with a delicious mushroom red pepper demi-glace risotto that was big enough to share.
- Bella Vita Cucina - Continuing the trend for Italian food, this family-run eatery has been around since 2008 and prides itself on the authenticity of its always fresh, always home-made dishes. Favorites include its delicious veal scaloppini and chicken Valdosta, along with its steaks and chops.
Prefer something fast and casual? Ask any Sudburian, and they'll insist you try their famous "one arch" burger joint, Deluxe Hamburgers (which, ironically, is located directly across the street from McDonald's). Be sure to try their fries and gravy, and they do a decent (and fast) breakfast, too. Healthier take-out fare that's perfect for a picnic can be picked up at Regency Bakery & Deli.
The Sudbury Beer and Spirits Scene
Sudbury's brewery industry, while small, is certainly good. Topping my (albeit short) list, 46 North Brewing Corp was founded in 2019 and in that time has tried its hand at brewing over 200 different beers, with something new always on the go. Founded by Graham Orser and his wife Holli Bernier, it was Graham who gave me a tour when I visited. And he's a busy guy, filling the roles of brewmaster, canning, sales, delivery, and, of course, tour guide.
With beers as quirky as their names (and the fellow that makes them), it was summer, so I settled on sampling Orser's Italian Pilsner. Made specifically for the above-mentioned Di Gusto pizza parlor, it was crisp, light, extremely refreshing, and made with local spring water.
In need of a snack to go with that awesome beer? 46 North's go-to treat is the famous Nathan's Famous premium hot dogs, shipped in specially from California and, according to Orser, the "best hot dog on the planet." Sudbury's other brewery, Stack Brewing, has been around since 2013 and produces a range of beers available from their premises.
Fans of stronger spirits will want to pop a few doors down from 46 North to Crosscut Distillery. Opened in 2018 and the passion project of owner Shane Prodan, Crosscut has made a name for itself with its superb gins and vodkas, often aged in oak barrels sourced from Kentucky.
Given added flavor from locally sourced (sometimes foraged) ingredients, Prodan's team also uses their own products in their on-site cocktail bar. It's a fun place to hang out with its comfortable sofas and hip ambiance.
From Moonscape to Must-Visit
Sudbury's transformation is one of the planet's great environmental success stories. And it's one you can (and should) experience firsthand. Walk in the footsteps of the legendary Jane Goodall, grab a selfie near the 10-millionth tree at Bell Park, and then enjoy everything else this once ravaged landscape has to offer. Goodall told the world that Sudbury proved what's possible when humans put their minds to it. Spend a day or two here, and you'll understand exactly why she kept coming back to Sudbury.
