Points of Departure for Outdoor Adventures in Algoma

Algoma’s incredible array of easy-to-access backcountry adventures is a big reason why this region has been my lifelong home. No matter where you are in Algoma, there are many great opportunities for hiking, paddling, cycling and other outdoor pursuits within a short distance of urban areas. It’s hard to match this proximity to adventure anywhere else in Canada; and as a result, communities in Algoma are rapidly emerging as hubs for outdoor enthusiasts. With so many great trails and routes to choose from, I have no qualms with revealing some personal favourites.

Sault Ste. Marie Is A Trail Town

Algoma’s largest city features incredible access to nature, with fantastic urban greenspace along the non-motorized Hub Trail and impressive biodiversity (including nearly 250 species of birds) amidst the islands of the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. Huge investments in a vast, 55-km network of trails at Hiawatha Highlands, barely 10 minutes from the city centre, ranks Sault Ste. Marie is one of the best places to mountain bike in Ontario. The Voyageur Hiking Trail skirts the community and offers incredible Lake Superior vistas at Gros Cap and autumn colours in the Algoma Highlands Conservancy with trailheads for both of these half-day hikes located within a 20-minute drive.

• Check out Red Pine Tours for Sault Ste. Marie cycling packages. Adventure outfitter Forest the Canoe offers canoe rentals, guided hikes, accommodations and more. Indigenous-owned Thrive Tours combines hiking or paddling day trips with authentic cultural experiences in the Robinson-Huron and Robinson-Superior Treaty areas.

Get On The Water In Wawa

There’s much more to Wawa than the town’s iconic roadside goose. Sea kayaking and canoeing in Wawa are truly world-class. Nearby Michipicoten Bay is experienced paddlers’ gateway to hundreds of kilometres of rugged wilderness coastline; sea kayaking options range from day trips to cliffs, beaches and a historic lighthouse and weekend- to multi-week tours in Lake Superior Provincial Park and Pukaskwa National Park. The Michipicoten River is a great canoe or kayak day trip located minutes from Wawa. There’s also a mosaic of backcountry lake and river canoe routes close by, including the family-friendly Fenton-Treeby overnight canoe route, island-pocked Mijinemungshing Lake and the boreal forest lakes of Obatanga and The Shoals provincial parks, short drives to the north and east, respectively.

• Naturally Superior Adventures has 30 years of experience guiding and outfitting paddlers in the Wawa area and offers spectacular accommodations on the shore of Lake Superior at Rock Island Lodge.

At The Wilderness Edge: Hearst

The bustling town of Hearst is surrounded by a tapestry of lush boreal forest, pristine lakes and free-flowing rivers, with a frontier’s edge vibe and immense potential for outdoor adventure. Nearby campgrounds offer distinct wild camping experiences, including spacious waterfront sites for car-access tent camping at Nagagamisis Provincial Park and 12 private, paddle-in campsites at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park. Expert paddlers can use Nagagamisis as the jumping-off point for whitewater trips on the Shekak and Nagagami rivers; and Fushimi Lake features great fishing and hiking, offering a great opportunity for novice campers to experience the backcountry.

• Follow Her North is a Hearst-based adventure guiding company offering a wide range of paddling, fishing and other outdoor experiences in the region.

Bike The North Shore In Bruce Mines, Thessalon And Blind River

Located east of Sault Ste. Marie on Highway 17, a trio of picture-postcard communities embrace the spectacular shoreline of Lake Huron’s North Channel. Bruce Mines, Thessalon and Blind River are highlighted along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail cycling route, part of a long-distance bike tour spanning much of eastern and central Ontario. Road cyclists and gravel bikers alike will find a huge array of quiet country roads in the rolling Algoma hills north of Thessalon and Bruce Mines, including the scenic Sylvan Valley on Highway 638.

• Bruce Bay Cottages & Lighthouse offers unique accommodations in Bruce Mines
• Melwel Lodge rents waterfront cabins with all-inclusive meal plans on crystal-clear Basswood Lake, near Thessalon.
• Be sure to check out the Boom Camp Trails, a network of easy hiking and mountain bike paths (as well as a great Lake Huron beach) in Blind River. 

Top Of The Watershed Adventures In Chapleau

The Algoma town of Chapleau is a canoeist’s gateway to a vast wilderness at the junction of the Atlantic and Arctic watersheds in Northern Ontario. A drive-in campground at nearby Missinaibi Provincial Park, 88 km north of Chapleau, marks the headwaters of the historic Missinaibi River, which flows to James Bay and is renowned as a world-class three-week canoe expedition for expert paddlers. Meanwhile, a 10-day loop on the Chapleau and Nemegosenda rivers is a lesser-known canoe route option with easy access in downtown Chapleau.

• MHO Adventures offers a variety of guided Missinaibi River canoe trips for all levels of paddlers. Discover a peaceful campground, great paddling and walleye fishing at Wakami Lake Provincial Park, less than an hour’s drive from Chapleau. 

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