Level of difficulty 
Distance 2.5km (1.6mi) loop
Approx. time 2hrs return
Trailhead Park at Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground on the west side of Hwy. 17, 193km (120mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 32km (20mi) south of Wawa; trailhead is across the road
This trail follows the Old Woman River through an old glacial spillway.
Level of difficulty
Distance 5km (3mi) loop
Approx. time 3hrs return
Trailhead Park at the Old Woman Bay Picnic Area on the west side of Hwy. 17, 200km (124mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 25km (16mi) south of Wawa, and cross the highway to the trailhead on the east side
This trail leads through the Old Woman River Valley past human-made depressions in the rocks called Pukaskwa Pits, and up across a granite cliff. Here you’ll see the old woman rock formation known as Nokomis, the Ojibwa word for grandmother.
Level of difficulty
Distance 8km (5mi) loop
Approx. time 4hrs return
Trailhead Parking lot on the west side of Hwy. 17, 161km (100mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 64km (40mi) south of Wawa
This trail climbs to the top of a cliff above Orphan Lake and follows the shoreline to even better lookouts over Lake Superior and then down towards a pebble beach, rapids and waterfalls. You can also join the Coastal Trail from this trail.
Level of difficulty
Distance 11km (6.8mi) loop
Approx. time 5hrs return
Trailhead Park at Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground on the east side of Hwy. 17, 193km (119.5mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 32km (20mi) south of Wawa; enter the trail either from the campground entrance or from campsite no. 49
Other One campsite along the trail at Foam Lake
This trail leads past a beaver pond and then climbs to Peat Mountain, the tallest spot in the park. A short side loop continues to the Foam Lake Lookout.
Level of difficulty
Distance 10km (6.2mi) loop
Approx. time 3hrs return
Trailhead Parking lot on the east side of Hwy. 17, 140km (87mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 85km (53mi) south of Wawa
This trail leads up Agawa Mountain along an old logging road and a ravine. Several lookouts along the way provide spectacular views of the Agawa River and Agawa Mountain.
Level of difficulty
Distance 12km (7.4mi) linear
Approx. time 16hrs each way
Trailhead Turn on Frater Rd., on the east side of Hwy. 17, 137km (85mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 88km (54mi) south of Wawa; drive 15 to 20min on a very rough road until you reach the trailhead on the north side, 4.5km (2.8mi) from the turnoff
Other 7 campsites available on the trail
Named after a famous Ojibwa guide, this trail leads along the Agawa River Valley to Burnt Rock Pool and Agawa Falls, climbing and descending around cliffs the entire way.
Level of difficulty
Distance 63km (39mi) linear
Approx. time 7 to 14 days each way
Trailheads Turn at Gargantua Rd., on the west side of Hwy. 17, 173km (107mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie or 52km (32.5mi) south of Wawa, and continue another 13km (8mi) to the coast; or turn at Agawa Rock Indian 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
Other Many campsites along the trail
The Coastal Trail leads along the shore of Lake Superior from Agawa Bay to Chalfant Cove. If you access the trail via Gargantua Road, you can either head north and hike 9km (5.6mi) to the end of the trail or head south to hike all the way to Agawa Bay. The Coastal Trail extends onto the Agawa Rock Pictographs Trail after the parking lot and then continues to the Agawa Campground.
Magpie Falls and Fort Friendship
Location Hwy. 17, South of Wawa
Number of trails 1
Total distance 12km (7.4mi)
Interesting features Magpie High Falls, Mission Falls, Wawa Creek Falls, Dead River (Old Michipicoten River), Simmons Hill, Fort Friendship, Turcott grave, Driftwood Beach overlook
Facilities/services Parking, toilets and telephone at Magpie High Falls
Other This trail is part of the Voyageur Trail; dogs on leashes permitted
Begin this trail at the 25m (82ft) high and 38m (125ft) wide Magpie High Falls. Cross the wooden bridge and walk along the Magpie River gorge and then up to a ridge beside the river valley. Continue through the forest to a bluff overlooking the valley gorge and then up and down hills at the base of Legarde Mountain. The Magpie River ends at a three-part waterfall known as Mission Falls. You’ll see the upper falls first, as they drop 8m (25ft). Cross the road to follow a trail to the middle falls, also known as Silver Falls, which drop 5m (15ft). You’ll have to bypass the trail to see the lower falls, which drop 6m (20ft) just a bit farther along the river.
To continue on the trail, turn left to follow the Michipicoten River, also known as the Dead River, to the mouth of Wawa Creek. Turn to follow Wawa Creek until it drops in another waterfall.
Continue across the bridge across Wawa Creek Falls to follow the city street to the municipal water station. There, you’ll continue along a narrow gravel road that leads up a ridge. At the top of the ridge, you’ll get a good view of the Dead River and the land within Michipicoten Post Provincial Park. Michipicoten Post used to house a trading post once run by the French, the North West Company and the Hudson Bay Company until it closed in 1904. Eventually, park officials hope to have hiking trails leading to and along the shore.
Follow the bluff to Mission Road, which leads to the Trans-Canada Highway. Continue along the highway to Fort Road. Turn right to reach Fort Friendship. You’ll see a glass bottle chapel, historical murals and a painted water tower. Not far away is the gravesite of Bernard Al Turcott, who once owned the fort. Provincial Park officials consider this site a “safety hazard.”
From there, follow Driftwood Beach Road past an abandoned water wheel to Mission Lake. Cross Mission Creek on the old beaver dam. Climb to the Driftwood Beach overlook and continue along the Lake Superior shoreline to the old gravel Bridget Lake Resources Road.
Getting There
Take Highway 17 south of Wawa or north of Lake Superior Provincial Park to Magpie High Falls Road. Turn east to get to the falls.
Further Information
Voyageur Trail Association
PO Box 20040, 150 Churchill Blvd.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6W3
877-393-4003
www3.sympatico.ca/voyageur.trail
Ministry of Natural Resources
Hwy. 101, PO Box 1160
Wawa, ON P0S 1K0
705-856-2396 or 800-667-1940
Location Hwy. 639, north of Elliot Lake
Number of trails 5
Total distance 42km (25.2mi)
Interesting features Penokean Hills, Semiwite Lake and Creek
Facilities/services Parking, toilets, telephone, swimming beaches, camping, park store, boat launch, canoe rentals
Other Dogs on leashes permitted
This 4,900ha (12,100-acre) natural reserve park through the Penokean Hills was established in 1965, a decade after the Blue Sky Mine was established by the Harvard Uranium Mine Ltd. to extract chalcopyrite, an ore containing copper. The abandoned mine site and remnants of copper drilling combine with stunning lookouts and multiple wildlife sightings for spectacular wilderness hiking. Clear water, sandy beaches everywhere and great canoeing add to the pleasure.
Most of the hiking trails stem from the park store in the campground. The park used to have six or eight defined trails but the portion of trail around the south side of Semiwite Lake and the loop beyond known as the Jimchrist Trail have been closed. The five official trails remaining offer enough beauty for a full week at the park.
Getting There
From Highway 17 at Serpent River (between Espanola and Sault Ste. Marie), turn north on Highway 108 to get to Elliot Lake. From there, continue north on Highway 639 for about 15 minutes.
Further Information
Mississagi Provincial Park
PO Box 37
Massey, ON P0P 1P0
705-848-2806, 705-865-2021 or 800-667-1940
Level of difficulty
Distance .8km (.5mi) linear
Approx. time 30 min
This trail leads from the parking lot past an old mining camp to the boat launch on Flack Lake. Highlights include old growth trees and fossils in glacial-wave rippled sandstone.
Level of difficulty
Distance 7km (4.2mi) loop
Approx. time 4 hrs
This trail is the most popular one in the park, as it’s the shortest link to a scenic view over Helenbar Lake.
Level of difficulty
Distance 11km (6.6mi) loop + extension
Approx. time 5 hrs
The Cobre Lake trail leads around Bluesky and Tenfish lakes past remnants of the former mining and logging eras. An extension leads around Cobre Lake and to a parking lot near Highway 639.
Semiwite Creek Trail
Level of difficulty
Distance 1.2km (.7mi) loop
Approx. time 30 min
This short trail follows the shore of a local creek past many scenic vistas.
Level of difficulty
Distance 22km (13mi) loop
Approx. time 24hrs
This trail is named after Flight Lt. Hugh Mackenzie, who crashed on Helenbar Lake in 1946 and lasted for three weeks in the bush before a fishing party rescued him. Besides the crash site, it leads past an old logging camp to Upper and Lower Brush lakes and then to the top of Bear Mountain. Scenic views overlooking the provincially significant Stag Lake Peatland. Two overnight camping sites are available.
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Location On Hwy. 17, west of Mattawa
Number of trails 3
Total distance 12.5km (7.5mi)
Interesting features The Mattawa River, Campion Rapids, Paresseux Falls, Talon Chutes, potholes, glacial-era river beds, sand dunes
Other Pets on leashes permitted on all trails
Facilities/Services Parking, toilets, telephones, convenience store, laundry, maps, camping, pebble beach, canoe rentals
The 2,550ha (6,298-acre) park along the Mattawa River protects a 600 million year-old fault and historic remnants of glaciers on the Canadian Shield. The river runs along the fault line, dividing the park between large rolling hills in the north and gentle lowlands in the south.
Hikers will learn about prehistoric campgrounds, Canadian explorers, voyageur travels during the fur trade era and current canoeing on the Mattawa River, which has been designated a Canadian Heritage River. They also may see moose, bears, deer and more than 200 species of birds.
The nonprofit Canadian Ecology Centre is stationed on the site to offer nature programs to schoolchildren and meeting participants. It also rents out conference facilities and 32 log cabins.
Getting There
To get to the park, take Highway 17 east from North Bay or west from Ottawa. The park entrance lies to the north, just west of Mattawa.
Further Information
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
PO Box 147
Mattawa, ON P0H 1V0
705-744-2276 or 800-667-1940
Canadian Ecology Centre
PO Box 430, 6905 Hwy. 17
Mattawa, ON P0H 1V0
705-744-7577 or 888-747-7577
Wabashkiki Trail
Level of difficulty
Distance 1 km (.6mi) loop
Approx. time 45mins return
Trailhead At the Bagwa Day Use area on the south side of the park, just after the main entrance
The Wabashkiki Trail features a floating boardwalk over the marsh south of Moore Lake.
Étienne Trail
Level of difficulty
Distance 2.5 to 9km (1.5 to 5.5mi) quadruple loop
Approx. time From 1.25 to 5hrs return
Trailhead North of Moore Lake and the Babawasse Campground, off Long Lake Road
Named after explorer Étienne Brûlé, the first European to visit the area in 1611, this trail leads to the park’s most scenic views of the Mattawa River. Each loop contains a series of interpretative panels on various themes. The shortest loop is called the ecology loop and panels throughout the stand of red and white pine focus on the needs of a healthy natural ecosystem. Panels along the 5km (3mi) geology loop explains the major fault that forms the Mattawa River Valley as well as other similar features as it leads past Long and Coco lakes. The 8.5km (5mi) nature loop highlights park flora and fauna. Panels along the longest loop, known as the History Trail, describe the Aboriginals and voyageurs who explored the region.
Kag Trail
Level of difficulty
Distance 2.5 km (1.5mi) loop
Approx. time 1.25 hrs return
Trailhead On the east side of the Jingwakoki Campground, just south of the Amable du Fond River
The Kag Trail features a few steep climbs through a stand of tall red pines, past Gem Lake and the former homestead of Amable du Fond, an Aboriginal chief who once lived in the area. Interpretive panels feature Aboriginal beliefs. The word “kag” means porcupine.