Trail Running in Sudbury: Why Fall Is the Best Season to Hit the Trails

No matter where you are in Greater Sudbury, you can find trails to run on. Sitting on the Precambrian Canadian Shield and straddling different watersheds, the terrain is rugged and diverse. The trails reflect this and can be hilly, rocky, cut through valleys, and wind around one of the over 330 lakes in the city. You will run through both igneous and metamorphic rocks, and those with keen eyes will be able to spot clear indicators of the meteorite and comet impacts that have shaped this district. You will also discover the forested areas of the boreal forest ecozone and see the amazing results of reforestation and regreening that have regenerated the area after environmental disturbance from mining and logging.

Why Fall Is the Best Season for Trail Running in Sudbury

In my opinion, fall offers one of the best seasons to experience Sudbury’s trail system, when golden birch and aspen nestled in cracks and low spots stand out against the dark evergreens that cling to higher ridges. The bare rock, dotted with lichen that adds grey and pink tones to highlight the warmth of fall and foliage. You will also spot sugar maples as splashes of orange and red, particularly near lake edges or sheltered valleys. Boggy wetlands are surrounded by moss flats that shift from green to rusty red. Most spectacularly, the morning mists that rise from valleys and lakes are ethereal. If you plan your run for the right time, those fogs lift to reveal the forests outlined against the sharp blue of the fall sky—truly magnificent!

Kivi Park and South End Trails: From Easy Loops to Technical Challenges

For those who are staying or visiting the South End of Sudbury, here are three routes I’d recommend:

KIVI PARK

Kivi Park (location 4472 Long Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3G 1K4) offers an easy-to-moderate 3 or 5 km run starting from the main park office, with the option to follow the Green (easy) or Red (moderate) hiking loops. Both loops will take you past the wishing tree, and the longer loop will also take you up to stunning lookouts (complete with red Muskoka chairs) along the Kivi ridge. Kivi Park itself is over 480 acres and offers many trails to explore. 

For those who have the time and are looking for a long and challenging trail run (approximately 20 km), head to Crowley Lake. Follow the Yellow loop around Crowley Lake and then connect to the Teal loop around Linton Lake. This mix of loops is considered very technical and offers dramatic views of the lakes, cotton grass wetlands and panoramic views across the boreal forest. The Crowley and Linton loops can be connected to from the Main Office at Kivi Park. All trails at Kivi Park have well-signposted lookouts. The hiking trails are not for mountain bikes, so you should only come across hikers and dog walkers.

New Sudbury Routes: Rotary Park, Moonlight Beach, and Lake Laurentian

For those of you who are staying or visiting areas to the east of and in New Sudbury, both Rotary Park,  and Moonlight Beach, connecting to the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, provide fabulous trail options.

Rotary Park (Park at the Adanac Ski Lodge at 744 Beatrice Street, Sudbury, P3A 5E5). The easy 5-6 km (out and back) trail is largely hard-packed gravel and suits runners who want to push a stroller and/or wheelchair athletes. You have an opportunity to keep this route flat and stay along Junction Creek both out and back, or take the high route and add some elevation. The high route takes you to a lookout that offers a fabulous view of New Sudbury. For a further challenge, extend this route by adding in a run down, up and behind Adanac Ski Hill itself (if it is not ski season). A hilly 10km can be found by mixing in these extensions.

Moonlight Beach/Lake Laurentian Conservation Area offers numerous trails that can be accessed from Sudbury’s south end. A moderate 9-10 km route starting at Moonlight Beach takes you along a gravel-packed route towards the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area. At the BioSki Chalet, take the Beaver Pond and then the Red-winged Blackbird loops, ultimately winding back and following the Moonlight Beach path back to your car. On the Beaver Pond and Red-winged Blackbird loops, the trails are single track and technical. The Beaver Pond loop offers you a wooden platform with a view over the wetlands, and the Red-winged Blackbird loop has an interesting view of an active beaver lodge.

A challenging 18-20 km route requires continuing from the intersection of Moonlight Beach at the BioSki Chalet and connecting onto the Link Trail until the Nature Chalet, and then following the Red Trail around Lake Laurentian. This technical, rugged and hilly 10km trail around Lake Laurentian is a favourite with hikers and runners, offering glorious views from the lakesides, as well as vistas from the ridges. Additional extensions can easily be added to this loop. One unique feature to discover is the locally known Perdue Peak, with its growing rock cairn. I encourage you to find a local runner while you are here and learn the emotional story behind it.  
Routes are mixed usage, so be careful to look out for mountain bikers, hikers and dog walkers.

Beyond these areas, there are a myriad of further trails, including those at Walden Cross Country Ski Club, Capreol Cross Country Ski Club, others referenced in the Rainbow Routes Trail Guide and many that are hidden in green areas connecting suburbs to other areas around the city. If you want to learn more, I encourage you to join one of the many free running clubs, as the athletes there will be more than happy to share their knowledge of the trail systems and will likely offer to run with you.

Run Clubs in Sudbury: Social Routes With Sudbury Rocks, Crosscut, and Stack Brewing

Looking for a way to connect and socialize with like-minded runners? Here are a few running clubs in the city:

• Sudbury Rocks Run Club leaves the parking Lot of Apex Gym (125 Loach’s Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2P8) 6 pm Wednesdays, for both a 5km and 10km run (usually a mix of road and trails); and Saturdays from the Elizabeth Street parking Lot, at 8 am for a 15-20km run (usually a mix of trails and roads).
• Crosscut Distillery Run Club (1347 Kelly Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 5P5) offers a 3km and 5km run option 5:30 pm Tuesdays, with cocktails at the finish. The routes are relatively flat and again a mix of road and easy trail.
• Stack Brewing (947 Falconbridge Road, Sudbury, ON), in partnership with Adventure 365, also provides a run club on Thursdays at 6:30 pm, again 3 km and 5 km options are available, this time with a local pint at the finish. 

** Note: No clubs require pre-registration, and everyone is welcome.

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