Tourist Information
Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association
485 E. Queen St., suite 204
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 1Z9
705-254-4293 or 800-263-2546
Rainbow Country Travel Association
2726 Whippoorwill Ave.
Sudbury, ON P3G 1E9
705-522-0104 or 800-465-6655
Almaguin Nipissing Travel Association
PO Box 351, 1375 Seymour St.
North Bay, ON P1B 8H5
705-474-6634 or 800-387-0516
Conchrane-Timiskaming Travel Association
76 McIntyre Rd. (Timmins), PO Box 920
Schumacher, ON P0N 1G0
705-360-1989 or 800-461-3766
Location North of Hwy. 553, north of Massey
Number of trails 1
Level of difficulty
Total distance 6km (3.6mi)
Interesting features Seven Sisters waterfall on Aux Sables River
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephones, amusement park, swimming beach, camping, laundry area, showers, fishing
Other Dogs on leashes permitted
The Ontario government decided to set aside 109ha (269 acres) of land to protect the rapids, waterfalls, wetlands, flood plain and terraces of the Aux Sables River in 1970. The river had been used as a logging waterway from the late 1800s until 1929. Remnants of the log chute can still be seen near the waterfalls.
Today, hikers can follow the Twin Bridges Trail around the waterfalls to the mouth of the river and then over a bridge and back up towards a sandy beach and day-use area. Look for the builder’s mark: J. Rivers, Stonecutter, 1883 on the bridge.
Getting There
Take Highway 553 north from the Trans-Canada Highway at Massey. The park appears on the right.
Further Information
Chutes Provincial Park
PO Box 37
Massey, ON P0P 1P0
705-865-2021 or 800-667-1940
Location Junction of Hwy. 540 and Bidwell Rd., Manitoulin Island
Number of trails 3
Level of difficulty
Total distance 16km (10mi)
Interesting features Niagara Escarpment
Facilities/services Parking, toilets
The Cup and Saucer Trail runs along and below the centre of the highest part of the horseshoe-shaped Niagara Escarpment, following two small ridges. At 180m about sea level, the higher of the two ridges is also the highest point on Manitoulin Island. Both ridges are about 70m (230ft) high.
Although the escarpment itself is fascinating, the best views are those over the North Channel to the La Cloche Mountains along the upper trail.
Eventually, the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy plans to build the 450km (279mi) Manitou Trail, which would link the Cup and Saucer to South Bay Mouth in the south and the Mississagi Lighthouse in the north.
Getting There
Take Highway 69 south from Sudbury or north from Parry Sound to Highway 637. Turn west towards the town of Killarney. It’s another 68km (42mi) to the campground.
Further Information
Manitoulin Tourism Association
70 E. Meredith St., PO Box 119
Little Current, ON P0P 1K0
Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy
503 Davenport Rd.
Toronto, ON M4V 1B8
416-960-8121
Location Hwy. 108, Elliott Lake
Number of trails 8
Level of difficulty
Total distance 25km (15.5mi)
Interesting features Matinenda Escarpment, Elliot Lake dam, neon-green mine tailings, lakes
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephones, playgrounds, beaches
Other The Lacnor and Nordic sites just north of the Westner Lake trail include more than 15 million tonnes of decommissioning radioactive uranium mine tailings
The town of Elliot Lake offers hikers a multitude of linked trails, all located from various parking lots in the middle of town, including two on Highway 108 itself. If you want to do all the trails, begin at Spine Beach and follow the 3.5km (2.1mi) Westview Nature Trail with its many boardwalks and rocky areas.
You’ll cross Highway 108 to the entrance of the Sheriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, which offers 11km (6.8mi) of trails past a cattail marsh and beaver meadow and into an upland forest and tamarack bog. The Tamarack Bog Trail ends along the Horne Lake Trail just past the entrance to the sanctuary.
Continue along the 6km (3.7mi) Horne Lake Trail and climb up some ridges and two steep hills. You’ll pass many cliffs. You can either complete the loop around the lake or turn at the entrance to the Mount Dufour Skill Hill, which leads to the Fire Tower Lookout on the Matinenda Escarpment. The Fire Tower Lookout offers a 360-degree view of the entire area, including Manitoulin Island in the North Channel of Lake Huron to the south. Return to the Horne Lake Trail to get back to Highway 108. Look for Hillside Drive North, which turns into Spine Road and leads back to the beach where you started.
You can also join the Voyageur Trail (Click here) at Spine Beach or at the edge of Mount Dufour.
Getting There
Take Highway 108 north from the Trans-Canada Highway between Blind River and Cutler.
Further Information
Elliot Lake Economic Development Office
45 N. Hillside Dr.
Elliot Lake, ON P5A 1Z5
800-661-6192
Location Hwy. 144, north of Sudbury
Number of trails 4
Level of difficulty
Total distance 29km (18mi)
Interesting features Boreal forest, 20 lakes, ground moraine, rolling bedrock, preglacial boulder fields, moose yard
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephones, playground, fishing, swimming beaches, camping, 9 back-country campsites, laundry area, showers, canoe launch
Other Dogs on leashes permitted
Halfway Lake Provincial Park encompasses 4,735 ha (11,695 acres) on the Canadian Shield around and north of Halfway Lake. Most of the area is covered by boreal forest, although a tornado in 2002 did significant damage to many of the jack pine, trembling aspen and white birch stands.
A healthy moose population lives within the park, as do wolves, lynx, foxes, beavers, hares and more than 90 species of birds, including the great blue heron.
Although all the trails in this park feature rocky plains and many short climbs, hikers should expect major climbs to stunning vistas on three of the four. The Moose Trail, in particular, provides an excellent view over Halfway Lake itself. The Hawk Ridge Trail loops from Echo Pond trail past Lost Lake and around to Three Island, Crystal and Burnt Ridge lakes. Nine overnight campsites are available here. The Osprey Heights Trail leads from Highway 144 north of the main park entrance to a spectacular lookout over Antrim Lake. The Echo Pond Trail parallels Raven Lake and then climbs slightly until it crosses the stream leading from Echo Pond to Halfway Lake. If you’re lucky, you’ll see some of the moose that live near here.
Getting There
Take Highway 144 north from Sudbury for 90km (55.8mi) until you see the park entrance on the left.
Further Information
Halfway Lake Provincial Park
PO Box 560
Levack, ON P0M 2C0
705-965-2702, 705-966-2315 or 800-667-1940
Hiawatha Highlands Conservation Area
Location Fifth Line, 3km east of Hwy. 17 in Sault Ste. Marie
Number of trails 6
Total distance 35km (22mi)
Interesting features Waterfalls, red and white pines, sugar shack, 2 lookouts
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephones, playground, swimming
Other Dogs on leashes permitted
The Hiawatha Highlands and Kinsmen Park include three main trail systems: the Crystal Creek System with five trails; the Lookout Trail System (locally known as the Pinder System after the family who donated the land), which includes three trails; and the Red Pine Trail System with three trails. All three systems branch out in different directions from the corner of Fifth Line East and Landslide Road.
The hiking trails go through forests, including 20ha (50 acres) of old-growth forest with trees that are at least 130yrs old. There are also several creeks, lakes and wetlands that are the ideal habitat for more than 70 species of birds, including bald eagles, redstarts, Blackburnian warblers, common yellowthroats, ovenbirds, parula warblers, red-eyed vireos, hermit thrushes and bluebirds. You’ll have a good chance of seeing 18 species of mammals, including chipmunks, voles, and red foxes.
Each section covers a considerable territory: Kinsmen Park alone is 97ha (240 acres). The park includes Crystal Falls, a baseball diamond, a children’s playground, picnic areas, change rooms and a stocked fishpond. Crystal Falls can be reached from the Crystal Creek Trail. Although the trail itself is not wheelchair-accessible, a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk has been constructed beside it to enable everyone to see the falls.
Wishart Park offers its own hiking trails that extend from the Wishart Extension south of Fourth Line East.
Backpackers will be interested in following either the Mabel Lake Backcountry or Beaver trails, both of which extend off of the Crystal Lake Trail. We recommend the Mabel Lake Trail, which runs for 15km (9.3m) to Mabel Lake.
The 40km (25mi) Saulteaux section of the Voyageur Trail also goes through the Hiawatha Highlands, with a side trail to Crystal Creek.
Getting There
Take Highway 17 north of Sault Ste. Marie to Fifth Line East. Follow the road until it meets Landslide Road. Parking is available at the lodge or on a small lot on Landslide Road.
Further Information
Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority
1100 E. Fifth Line
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 5K7
705-946-8530
Crystal Creek System
Level of difficulty
Distance 2km (1mi) loop
Approx. time 45min return
Trailhead Behind the lodge, down the driveway, beside the children’s playground
Other Wheelchair-accessible
The Kinsmen Club has installed lights along this loop, which circles beside the children’s playground. One side of the loop is shared with the Crystal Creek Trail. The path is very straight and much of it is paved.
Ecology Trail
Level of difficulty
Distance 2.5km (1.6mi) loop
Approx. time 1hr return
Trailhead Off the Crystal Creek Trail or down a staircase behind the Hiawatha Lodge
The Ecology Trail leads south to another view of Crystal Creek.
Level of difficulty
Distance 5km (3mi) loop
Approx. time 2hrs return
Trailhead Behind the lodge, down the driveway, beside the children’s playground
The Crystal Creek Trail circles around Crystal Falls, through the forest and past the swimming reservoir next to the W.C. Thayer Memorial Dam above Minnehaha Falls. The Kinsmen Club stocks the reservoir with rainbow trout and speckled trout so children can fish all summer.
Inner Loop
Level of difficulty
Distance 2km (1mi) loop
Approx. time 45min return
Trailhead Crystal Creek Trail
The Inner Loop winds through the woods between Crystal Creek and the Crystal Creek Trail so that hikers can increase the length of their walk.
Olympic Extension
Level of difficulty
Distance 2.5km (1.6mi) loop
Approx. time 1hr return
Trailhead Crystal Creek Trail
The Olympic Extension circles beyond the Crystal Creek path so that hikers can again easily lengthen the walk.
Lookout Trail System (Pinder System)
Level of difficulty
Distance 4km (2.5mi) loop
Approx. time 2hrs return
Markers Red
Trailhead Fifth Line E. on the north side of the street just east of Landslide Rd.
The Lookout Trail begins in a white pine forest, climbs up to a lookout towards Root River and then continues to a huge sundeck and another lookout over Root River. Notice the pale grey granite base found throughout the Hiawatha Highlands.
White Pine Extension
Level of difficulty
Distance 2km (1mi) loop
Approx. time 45min return
Markers White
Trailhead Lookout Trail
This trail circles inside the Lookout Trail through a forest of huge white pine. White pine has always been an important source of lumber and was chosen as Ontario’s tree emblem on May 1, 1984 to commemorate the province’s bicentennial.
Sugar Bush Extension
Level of difficulty
Distance 1.5km (.9mi) loop
Approx. time 45min return
Markers Yellow
Trailhead Lookout Trail
This trail circles through a forest of sugar maples whose sap starts running in the spring. There’s a sugar shack close to Fifth Line East.
Red Pine Trail System
Red Pine Trail
Level of difficulty
Distance 5km (3mi) loop
Approx. time 2hrs return
Markers Red
Trailhead West side of Landslide Rd., just south of Fifth Line E.
The Red Pine Trail begins in a forest of red pine that was planted in the 1930s.
Fish Hatchery Extension
Level of difficulty
Distance 5km (3mi) loop
Approx. time 2hrs return
Markers Green
Trailhead Begins off the Red Pine Trail
This trail leads throughout the Fish Hatchery forests, passing over Cold Water Creek and Root River and past the hatchery itself (although at too far a distance to see anything).
Cold Water Creek Extension
Level of difficulty
Distance 2.5km (3mi) loop
Approx. time 1hr return
Markers Blue
Trailhead Begins off the Fish Hatchery Extension Trail
This trail passes over Cold Water Creek twice.
Wishart Park Extension
Level of difficulty
Distance 2km (1mi) loop
Approx. time 1hr return
Markers Purple
Trailhead Begins off the Fish Hatchery Extension, or from Fourth Line E. or from inside Wishart Park
This trail leads to a lookout over Root River, where salmon spawn in the fall.
Location North of New Liskeard
Number of trails 3
Total distance 12km (7.2mi)
Interesting features Englehart River, High Falls, Horseshoe Falls, spring wildflowers, old growth eastern cedars
Facilities/services Parking, vault toilets
Other Dogs on leashes permitted
Kap-Kig-Iwan park is a Natural Environment park. As such, it welcomes fishers, hikers, bird-watchers and canoeists. In the winter, one trail is open for cross-country skiers.
Three trails—the 4.5km (2.7mi) Cedar Trial, the 2.5km (1.5mi) Hell’s Gate Trail and the 5km (3mi) Upland Circle Trail—welcome hikers interested in old growth cedars, waterfalls and bird watching.
Getting There
Take Highway 11 north from New Liskeard to Englehart, where Highway 560 begins. Turn left (west) on Highway 560 to get to the park.
Further Information
Kap-Kig-Iwan Provincial Park
PO Box 910, 10 E. Government Rd.
Kirkland Lake, ON P2N 3K4
705-544-2050, 705-235-1353 or 800-667-1940
Location North shore of Georgian Bay, south of Sudbury
Number of trails 4
Total distance 109km (67.6mi)
Interesting features Off-white quartzite hills called the La Cloche Mountains
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephones, canoe rental, playground, fishing, swimming beaches, camping, laundry area, showers, amphitheatre, canoe launch
Other Dogs on leashes permitted
Can and bottle ban in effect
Ask anybody who’s been to Killarney Provincial Park and they’ll tell you about clear blue lakes, white hills, pink granite ridges, cranberries and lots of sugar maples–plus pine, cedar, oak, black cherry and the occasional American beech. There’s also an ecologically significant boggy area, with a hiking trail straight through it. Wolves, bears, snowshoe hares, moose, muskrats, beavers, otters and bobcats all live in the region. The 48,500ha (119,795-acre) wilderness park also provides an ideal habitat for more than 100 species of birds, including warblers, thrushes, kingfishers, terns, falcons, grey jays, chickadees, loons and sandhill cranes.
The huge, white ridges are the eroded remains of a ring of mountains called the La Cloche Mountains. Since their formation two billion years ago, four different glaciers and 11,000 years of wind have eroded them to the ridges that appear now.
The La Cloche Mountains have always attracted visitors. Archaeological digs have established three different prehistoric periods of use by people, the first 9,000 years ago, the second 6,500 years ago and the third 1,500 years ago. The area continues to attract a diverse group of nomadic travellers, especially on the famous 100km (62mi) trail that circles the La Cloche Mountains and takes backpackers at least a week to complete. The slightly less enthusiastic hiker hasn’t been left out though; the park also offers three smaller day hikes, one to Georgian Bay, one along the cranberry bog and a third along an important granite ridge.
Getting There
Take Highway 69 south from Sudbury or north from Parry Sound to Highway 637. Turn west towards the town of Killarney. It’s another 68km (42mi) to the campground.
Further Information
Killarney Provincial Park
Killarney, ON P0M 2A0
705-287-2900 or 800-667-1940
The Friends of Killarney Park
Level of difficulty
Distance 3km (1.9mi) loop
Approx. time 1.5hrs return
Trailhead From the second parking lot off the access road south of Hwy. 637, near the boat launch
Other Plan on taking a swim halfway through your hike
The Chikanishing Trail, named after a creek that flows into Georgian Bay, leads up several pink bedrock outcrops and through forests in a formerly logged area. Interpretive signs point out traces of the area’s forestry past, including mooring rings in the rocks where log booms were tied while waiting for tugboats to pick them up.
Level of difficulty
Distance 4km (2.5mi) loop
Approx. time 2.5hrs return
Trailhead Off the La Cloche Silhouette Trail or the east side of George Lake campground, just south of the La Cloche Silhouette Trail trailhead
The trail through the cranberry bog is covered with jagged rocks in spots and crosses several wetlands, beaver ponds and beaver marshes. Leatherleaf, sundews and pitcher plants grow in the bog along with the cranberries.
Level of difficulty
Distance 2km (1mi) loop
Approx. time 1hr return
Trailhead South of the park office, past Hwy. 637, towards Georgian Bay
This trail leads along the granite ridge to a great lookout towards Philip Edward Island and Georgian Bay. Several steep climbs and a rocky path will slow you down.
Level of difficulty
Distance 100km (62mi) loop
Approx. time 7 to 10 days return
Trailhead The east or west side of George Lake campground
Other Campsites are available along the trail
The La Cloche Silhouette Trail leads up and down the rocky granite and quartz ridges past George Lake, Threenarrows Lake, Boundary Lake, Norway Lake, Killarney Lake and a number of beaver meadows. Take a short detour to see the popular sailboat anchorage Baie Fine, or a side trail to Silver Peak, the park’s highest point, at 543m (1,781ft) above sea level.
Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
Location Central Sudbury
Number of trails 5
Total distance 23km (14.3mi)
Interesting features Ramsey Lake, Lake Laurentian, rocky plains, causeways across marshes
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephones, canoe rental, playground, ski cottage, nature chalet
It’s hard to believe that such a wonderful wilderness area would be available within the city of Sudbury. For an ideal morning, spend about four hours circling Lake Laurentian on the 12km (7.4mi) Hiking Trail and the 1km (.6mi) Lakeside Trail that loops from the Nature Chalet. You’ll traverse rocky plains covered in blueberry bushes and pass through mixed forests before reaching the marshes on the south side of the lake. In this area, expect to cross at least two very wet causeways and one short bridge.
If you’d rather spend less time in the area, run along the 4km (2.5mi) Ramsey Lake Running and Biking Trail, wander along the 2km (1.2mi) Self Guided Nature Trail, or climb the 4km (2.5mi) Beaver Pond Trail.
Getting There
Take Highway 17 West to Sudbury and exit at Lorne Street. Continue to Regent Street South (Highway 69 South) and turn right. Follow Regent Street South to Paris Street. Turn left. Follow Paris Street to Ramsey Lake Road. Turn right. Continue to South Bay Road. Turn right and continue until you get to the access road for the Nature Chalet, just before a huge hill, that leads to the Ski Cottage. Turn right onto this road.
Further Information
Nickel District Conservation Authority
200 Brady St., 1st Floor, Tom Davies Square
Sudbury, ON P3A 5K3
705-674-5249
Location Hwy. 17 between Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa
Number of trails 11
Total distance 128km (79.4mi)
Interesting features 30 Aboriginal pictographs, waterfalls, floating boardwalk, a rock formation in the shape of an old woman’s face, Agawa Falls, salmon spawning, Agawa Valley cliffs, Peat Mountain, Pukaskwa pits, Algoma Central Railway
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephones, playground, swimming beaches, camping, laundry area, showers, visitor centre
Other Dogs on leashes permitted
In many ways, the history of Lake Superior Provincial Park, a 155,600ha (384,332-acre) region on the shores of Lake Superior, is a microcosm of Canadian history. Thanks to the volcanoes and earthquakes that moulded the Canadian Shield into towering mountains and deep canyons, and the modulating effects of four different glaciers since then, the park includes a variety of significant rock features. Two of these are Agawa Rock, which is highlighted on the Agawa Rock Pictograph trails and Agawa Mountain, which is reached via the Awausee Trail. The Awausee Trail also offers some great lookouts over the Agawa Valley and the Agawa River. Agawa Canyon is also right next to the park. Visitors who want to hike through the canyon have to take the Algoma Central Railway, which operates along the park’s eastern border.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the current day park was the site of fierce competition between the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company, each of which operated a fur-trading outpost in the park, one at Batchawana and the other at Agawa. The contest only ended when the two companies merged in 1821. Although the business of trapping eventually became less economically viable over the years, several people operated trap lines in the park over the next century. You can explore one such trap line by walking along the Trappers Trail, where you will have a good chance of seeing porcupines, moose and deer. Caribou and bear also live within the park’s borders, as do red squirrels, martens, red foxes, Canada lynx and timber wolves. You may also spot eastern garter snakes, painted turtles, American toads and many different salamander and frog species.
Lake Superior itself played an important economic role, particularly in the late 1800s when Gargantua Harbour was the site of a significant commercial fishery. Today, hikers can view the tremendous power of the huge body of water that gives the park its name from some awe-inspiring lookouts on the Orphan Lake Trail or along the 63km (39mi) Coastal Trail that meanders along the cliff faces and bays on the north shore of Lake Superior.
Tourism was also important in the late 1800s, when wealthy patrons of the park stayed at a number of tourist lodges. Hikers should make a point of passing by the Agawa Lodge, the only remaining tourist cabin from this period, on the latest extension of the Coastal Trail between Sinclair Cove and Agawa Bay.
Logging took over as the economic force over the past century and continued to play an important role until 1989, when park authorities put an end to the practice completely. There are still several old trees in the area, however, including 80- to 100-year-old specimens along the Crescent Lake Trail.
Getting There
Take Highway 17 north from Sault Ste. Marie or south from Wawa.
Further Information
Lake Superior Provincial Park/Niijkiwenhwag – Friends of Lake Superior
PO Box 267
Wawa, ON P0S 1K0
705-856-2284 or 800-667-1940
Level of difficulty
Distance 1.5km (.9mi) loop
Approx. time 1hr return
Trailhead Parking lot east of Hwy. 17, 167km (103.5mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 58km (36mi) south of Wawa
This trail leads through the Renner brothers’ trap line, which was active until 1975. Two viewing platforms and a floating boardwalk provide a pleasant walk along the shoreline of Rustle Lake. You’re likely to see beavers, otters, great blue herons and perhaps even a moose if you’re lucky.
Level of difficulty
Distance 2km (1mi) loop
Approx. time 1hr return
Trailhead Enter from the Crescent Lake Campground, on the west side of Hwy. 17, 132km (82mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 93km (58mi) south of Wawa
This trail leads through an 80- to 100-year-old birch, maple, beech and white pine forest. You’ll also pass several lakes.
Level of difficulty
Distance 3km (1.9mi) linear
Approx. time 2hrs each way
Trailhead Access via Sand River day-use area, on the east side of Hwy. 17, 152km (94mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 73km (45mi) south of Wawa
This trail leads along the shore of the Sand River to a series of waterfalls and rapids.
Level of difficulty
Distance .5km (.3mi) linear
Approx. time 1hr each way
Trailhead Turn at Agawa Rock Pictograph Rd., on the west side of Hwy. 17, 82km (51mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 143km (89mi) south of Wawa, and continue another 2km (1.2mi) to the coast
Climb out onto a ledge to view almost 30 Aboriginal pictographs at Agawa Rock, also known as the “Inscription” rock. The red ochre used to paint them probably came from a natural deposit on Devil’s Warehouse Island in the Gargantua area.