I'm waving to John from the top of a Pothole
Hiking Wawa, Lake Superior Park & Potholes Park
Scenic High Falls
Silver Falls
Hiking in Lake Superior Park
Hiking Lake Superior Park (fees apply)
Eleven world class hiking trails explore the diverse landscapes and environments of Lake Superior Provincial Park. Spectacular scenery, cliffs, rocky shores, beaches, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, lush forests. Trails vary in length and difficulty and are designed for novice and experienced hikers. The Coastal Trail connects with many of the trails, but are not listed as “hikes”.
- ⭐️Agawa Rock Pictographs – 35 red ochre images are visible; one of the few pictograph sites in Ontario accessible by foot (only when Lake Superior is calm); open mid-May to mid-September
- ⭐️An exceptional Visitor Centre located at Agawa Bay, highlighting the park’s cultural history, natural features and recreational opportunities
- ⭐️Fantastic trout fishing
| Hike | Drive Distance from NLmotel | Hike Time | Difficulty |
lookouts over South Old Woman River Valley and Old Woman Bay | 20 Min | 5.0 km (3 mi) loop 1½ – 3 hrs | Moderate |
Numerous Scenic Look Outs | 25 Min | 11 km (6.8 mi) loop 3 – 5 hrs | Difficult |
Forest along the river. | 25 Min | 2.5 km (1.5 mi) loop 1 – 2 hrs | Moderate |
Floating board walk | 30 Min | 1.5 km (1 mi) loop 45 Min – 1½ hrs | Easy |
Scenic lookouts, beach on Lake Superior, Baldhead River, waterfalls, | 44 Min | 8 km (5 mi) loop 2 – 4 hrs | Moderate |
Katherine Cove to Sand River Beach Hike Scenic beach hike, Bathtub Island – Swimming, Blueberries | 50 Min | 1 – 2 hrs | Easy |
| Pinguisibi (Sand River) Several waterfalls | 52 Min | 6 km (3.7 mi) return, linear 1.5 – 3 Hrs | Easy |
Rock Paintings, Steep Cliffs | 1 Hour | 1 Hr | Moderate |
Boat Launch – climb the trail to the top of the bluff for views of Lake Superior & Sinclair Cove | 1 Hour | to the top of bluff 15-20 Min | Demanding (A steep climb) |
Cave Hike – Coastal Trail starting at Pictographs Coastal Trail hike from Pictograph Parking lot to Cave & Rock formations | 1 Hour | 1.6k (1 mi) (guessing) Linear 2 – 4 Hours | Moderate to Demanding |
Climb a steep mountain/cliff – Scenic lookouts over Agawa Bay and Agawa River valley | 1:07 | (1.5 km (1 mi) to/return 1st lookout) 45 min return to 1st lookout 10 km (6.2 mi) loop 4 – 6 hours | Demanding |
follows Agawa River – Agawa Falls | 1:16 | 2 – 3 Hours to Burnt Rock Pool & Return 24 km (15 mi) return, 10 – 12 hrs rtn | Moderate to Burnt Rock Pool Very Demanding to Agawa Falls |
Hardwood Forest | 1:17 | 2 km (1.2 mi) loop ½ – 1 Hour | Easy |
Nokomis Trail – 20 minute drive – 1.5 – 3 hour hike
The Nokomis Trail is ranked among the top five day hikes in the country, according to Lonely Planet’s “Discover Canada” guidebook. Park at Old Woman Bay. 20 minutes drive (30 minutes if you want to take the Tremblay Road Scenic route)
Be sure to check out Old Woman Bay Beach!
Mo – September Swimming at Old Woman Bay
- Nokomis – Boreal Forest, Scenic Views
- 5 km (3 Mile) loop
- 1.5 – 3 Hours (Moderate)
Climb through the lichen-draped boreal forest to scenic lookouts. You may be able to see the face of an old woman immortalized in the cliff, rising 200 metres (650 ft.) above Lake Superior. The final descent is steep.
http://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-Canada/Ontario-Hikes/Nokomis-Trail
Peat Mountain Trail and South Old Woman River Trail are located at Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground.
Peat Mountain Trail – 25 Minutes drive – 3 to 5 hour hike
- Peat Mountain – Mixed Forest, Scenic Lookouts
- 11 km (6.8 Mile) loop
- 3 – 5 Hours (Difficult)
Peat Mountain Trail – Park at Rabbit Blanket Lake. Climb 150 metres (500 ft.) through a mixed forest to the top of Peat Mountain, overlooking ridges and valleys formed by glacial activity. On a clear day you can see Michipicoten Island, 55 km (34 mi) to the west, out in Lake Superior.
There is a side loop to the Foam Lake Lookout, a 45 minute return hike, or stay on the main trail descending to Foam Lake.
http://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-Canada/Ontario-Hikes/Peat-Mountain-ON
South Old Woman River Trail – 25 Minutes drive – 1 to 2 hour hike
South Old Woman River Trail – Park at Rabbit Blanket Lake. While much of the trail is easy, there are sections of uneven footing and some rock hopping to cross the river.
- South Old Woman River (A variety of ferns and moisture-loving plants grow on the cool damp forest floor along the river)
- 2.5 km (1.5 Mile) loop
- 1 – 2 Hours (Moderate)
Trapper’s Trail – 30 Minutes Drive – 45 min-1.5 hour hike
Trapper’s Trail – Following the shoreline of Rustle Lake, the trail includes two viewing platforms and a floating boardwalk, where you can watch for wetland wildlife such as beaver, otter, marten, Great Blue Heron, and moose.
- 1.5 km (1 Mile) Loop
- 45 Min – 1.5 Hours (Easy)
Orphan Lake Trail – 44 minutes Drive – 2 to 4 hour hike
Orphan Lake Trail – This diverse trail passes through hardwood and evergreen forests, including an area burned in May, 1998. Near the end of the burn there is a side trail (linear) climbing to spectacular lookouts over Lake Superior.
A pebble beach on Lake Superior marks the half-way point, where there is a junction with the Coastal Trail. To complete the Orphan Lake Trail, follow the Baldhead River upstream, past the waterfalls. The trail then climbs to the east shore of Orphan Lake before joining with the trail back to the trailhead.
- 8 Km (5 Mile) loop
- 2 – 4 Hours (Moderate)
http://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-Canada/Ontario-Hikes/Orphan-Lake-Trail-Ontario
Katherine Cove to Sand River Beach Hike – 50 Minutes Drive – 1 – 2 hour hike
Park at Katherine Cove and take the Coastal Trail South to the mouth of Sand River. Incredible beaches and swimming opportunities. (When driving north on Highway 17, you can see Bathtub Island from the hill south of Sand River)
Katherine Cove and Bathtub Island are great places to swim.
My niece Rylee in the Bathtub 2004
Many people also enjoy swimming in the warm waters at the mouth of Sand River as well
- Bathtub Island is about 30 – 45 minutes walk from Katherine Kove Parking Lot
- twice as far to walk to the mouth of Sand River
Pinguisibi (Sand River) Trail – 52 minutes drive – 1.5 to 3 hour hike
Pinguisibi is the Ojibwe name for “river of fine white sand”. This river is an ancient travel route used by the Ojibwe as they hunted, fished and trapped northwards into the interior.
The first waterfall is a short hike upstream. The trail continues along the Sand River, past two more waterfalls, rapids and quiet sections of the river. The trail ends near portage 28 of the Sand River Canoe Route. Return along the same route.
- 6 km (3.7 mile) return, linear
- 1½ – 3 hrs, return (Easy)
Agawa Rock Pictographs & Sinclair Cove (Boat Launch) – 1 Hour Drive – ½ to 1 Hour Hike
Agawa Rock Pictographs – Generations of Ojibwe recorded their dreams and spirits in red ochre paintings at this sacred site. The trail is short, but rugged, descending through rock chasms and broken boulders.
The Pictographs are accessed from a rock ledge at the edge of Lake Superior and can only be viewed when the lake is calm. The site is open from mid-May to mid-September. Caution is advised when venturing onto this rock ledge due to its slope and the unpredictable nature of Lake Superior and its wave action. (Closes in med-September)
- 0.5 km (0.3 Mile ) Loop
- ½ – 1 Hour (Moderate)
http://www.dwhike.com/Hikes-in-Canada/Ontario-Hikes/Agawa-Bay-Pictographs
I turned my niece’s photo from the Agawa Pictograph Trail into a Cartoon 😀
Sinclair Cove is located at the Boat launch on the same road for Agawa Pictographs. John hiked up the bluff and took a photo of me swimming in Sinclair Cove on Sept 24, 2017
- Vertical Climb (25 – 40 minutes return) Difficult
Mo swimming in Sinclair Cove, Sept 24, 2017
The Bluff overlooks Lake Superior / Sinclair Cove –
Mo looking over Sinclair Cove, October 10, 2012
Cave Hike – Part of the Coastal Trail
Park at the Agawa Pictographs Parking Lot, and follow the Coastal Trail South (Towards Sault Ste Marie). We did the Cave Hike a dozen years ago, and I remember it being an incredible hike. Moderate to Demanding, It follows the RUGGED shoreline (no beaches), to neat cave and rock formations.
I cannot remember how long it took us. There and back? 2 – 4 Hours? Ken Reece, said it’s only 1 mile? I thought it was further, but it was so long ago.
Gail, Mom and Mo (Me) – Photographed by Ken Reece
Awausee Trail – 1 hour 7 minutes drive – 45 min return to first lookout. 4-6 hour hike
Climb the Awausee for a bird’s-eye view of the Agawa Valley and Lake Superior. This demanding trail starts at the base of Agawa Mountain and follows an old logging road before veering uphill along a ravine. The first lookout (45 min return hike) offers a view of the lower Agawa River Valley and Agawa Mountain.
Continue climbing through maple forests to a series of lookouts, 200 metres (650 ft.) above the Agawa Valley. Descend along the creek to join up with the old logging road and back to the trail’s beginning.
- 1.5 km (1 Mile) to first Lookout & Return – 45 Minutes (Demanding)
- 10 kms (6.2 Mile) Loop – 4 – 6 Hours (Demanding)
Towab Trail – 1 Hour 16 Minutes drive – 10 – 12 hours
The Towab trailhead is located 3.5 km (2 mi) along the Frater Road. The hike to Agawa Falls and return is recommended as an overnight trip. There are several campsites along the way. Much of the trail is alongside the river, however there are several steep ascents and descents.
- Shorter hikes can be taken to Burnt Rock Pool (moderate; 2 – 4 hours return) or further upstream; retrace your steps to return.
At the turn of the century, visitors were often guided by Towabanasay (Tow-a-ban-a-say), often called Towab, an Ojibwe guide who held the hunting rights to a 1,300 square kilometre area which included the Agawa River.
The trail ends at Agawa Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the park (25 metres; 82 ft.)
- 24 km (15 Mile) Return, linear
- 10-12 Hours (Overnight recommended) (Very Demanding)
Crescent Lake – 1 Hour 17 Minute drive – ½ to 1 hour hike
Park at Gate of Crescent Lake Campground – short walk on Road to Trail. Trail takes you through a forest of Yellow Birch which is at least 80 years old and century old pines. You’ll pass by Crescent, MacGregor and Mudhole Lakes, part of the Crescent Lake Canoe Route. This is an ideal hike for families and nature enthusiasts.
- 2 km (1.2 Mile) loop
- ½ – 1 Hour (Easy)
