If you are seeking an outdoor adventure, Northeastern Ontario offers hiking trails to get your blood pumping and spirits soaring! From a trek through old-growth red and white pine forests, or elevations showcasing the white quartzite rock of the La Cloche Mountains, you're bound to create unforgettable moments leaving you panting for more! Pack a lunch and make it a day trip of exploring.
Killarney's wild landscape showcases the pink granite shores of the Georgian Bay coast and the white quartzite rock of La Cloche Mountains. You can make your way up to Killarney Ridge, boasting one of the best views of the park, by taking a hike along The Crack trail. Note, this 6 km trek is classified as difficult and requires you to be in good shape as you will find yourself climbing and maneuvering around huge boulders, but the view at the top is a rewarding one. Try your hand at the strenuous 80 km La Cloche Silhouette Trail, taking up to 10 days to complete, with the main attraction being Silver Peak, which towers 370 m above Georgian Bay. There are shorter trips starting from two trailheads in Georgian Lake Campground.
Near the town of Baldwin is an old abandoned fire tower overlooking Agnew Lake, north of McKerrow. This bush hike is a true wild adventure as there are no markers guiding you to the tower. If you plan to tackle this climb, be prepared with a GPS and coordinates, map, compass, water, and a trail of cookie crumbs (not literally!). The fire tower is aged, so please use at your own risk.
New Post Falls, north of Cochrane and part of the Little Abitibi Provincial Park, is rich in culture and history. This 1.2 km hike is road accessible, and popular by kayak or canoe, with local 2-day guided tours available. This impressive view of water cascading 120 m down a split rock gorge roughly marks the northern border of the Canadian Shield.
Rising from the shores of Temiskaming Lake is Devil's Rock, a granite escarpment dated to be 2,200 million years old with a height of 300 feet and a rock face of 600 feet. About 5 km south of Haileybury, this 30-minute hike is an essential trek and the views at the top are spectacular. Pick up a go-to lunch from Thornloe's (be sure to grab a pyramid of Devil's Rock cheese in the shape of the famous landmark) and enjoy a relaxing picnic at the top.
A popular site to climb your way to a rewarding vantage point is the Cup and Saucer limestone bluff on Manitoulin Island. An extension of the Niagara Escarpment with 70-metre high cliffs over 2 km long, this . Offering 12 km of hiking trails and 2 km of adventure trails, you can choose your degree of difficulty.
Another breathtaking view of the La Cloche Mountains and Killarney Park is from the 2 km trek up the Willisville Fire Mountain to the Willisville Lookout, located east off of Hwy. 6 and north of Little Current. Despite the dismantling of an 80-foot forestry service tower in 1986, there are remnants of its existence and the site remains a popular climb for tourists.
West of North Bay is the 20 km trail network consisting of a variety of levels of difficulty. The highlight here is the scenic Duchesnay Falls, being part of the Canadian Shield. This loop trail of approximately 3 km is a long cascade consisting of many drops and several turns. Hikers can explore every inch of the falls–there are no fences. You can even walk right to the edge of the upper falls.
Thirty minutes northwest of Sudbury is the charming Onaping High Falls, viewable from the A.Y. Jackson Lookout point, famous for it's naming after a member of the Group of Seven and portrayed in his painting "Spring on the Onaping River." With a variety of bush trails, you have the opportunity to choose your adventure. The visitor Information Centre has washroom facilities and picnic tables, and while open seasonally, the trails can be used year-round, especially when the fall colours are most vibrant. Unique to this site is the self-guided geological tour examining the rock types that create the vast mineral resources of the Sudbury Basin, formed by the meteorite impact 1.8 billion years ago.
Part of the Nastawgan Trails is Temagami's White Bear forest, a system of six trails between 2.8 km and 6.5 km in length. These provide access to varied terrain and the old-growth red and white pine forest. Located at the top of Caribou Mountina, the Temagami Fire Tower, formerly used by fire rangers, has been renovated to include an internal spiral staircase and landing, making it possible to reach the top. There are two cliff lookouts connected by boardwalks at the base of the tower. Learn more about the history of the Temagami Fire Tower here.
Halfway Lake Provincial Park, 90 km northwest of Sudbury, offers hikers a variety of scenery and trails. There's the easy Moose Ridge Trail (4 km), the medium length Osprey Heights (7 km) and Echo Pond (10 km), as well as the Hawk Ridge Trail (30 km), leading you into backcountry.
For a full listing of Trails Associations in Northeastern Ontario, click here.
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