If you spend any time at all researching “what to do in Thunder Bay” you’ll discover awe-inspiring images and videos: the famous Sleeping Giant rock formation that’s one of Ontario’s natural wonders, panoramic views from towering cliffs, and the vast waters of Lake Superior, the planet’s largest freshwater lake. Now, you can experience all that and much more through a brand-new boating tour from Sail Superior called Sleeping Giant Zodiac Adventure.
Formerly only bookable as a private group trip, this epic five-hour outdoor adventure is now available for two to 10 people, departing throughout the summer on Friday afternoons and Sunday mornings. "We wanted to develop a signature experience, one that encompasses all the best of Thunder Bay," says Sail Superior captain and owner Gregory Heroux. Here’s what you can expect when you book this unforgettable day out in Thunder Bay, where you explore Lake Superior by boat, relax on the shoreline and hike the Sleeping Giant!
Your adventure begins about 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time (2:30 pm on Fridays and 8:30 am on Sundays) at the Sail Superior site at Pier 3 on Thunder Bay’s waterfront, also known as Prince Arthur’s Landing. This beautiful spot is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike, with paved waterside trails, public art installations, a splash pad, restaurants and of course plenty of opportunities to see sailboats, cruisers, huge container ships in the bay, visiting cruise ships and more.
The Sleeping Giant, the huge rock formation that resembles a person lying down, is easily seen from the waterfront…but you’ll be getting a much closer view! At the Sail Superior dock, you’re greeted by friendly, knowledgeable staff who will check you in, confirm your waiver is signed, do a safety briefing and get you outfitted in the bright red survival suits (like big jumpsuits) and/or life jackets to keep you safe on the water, as well as goggles to protect your eyes when you’re zipping over the lake.
Your ride for the day is the Superior Rocket, a high-speed Zodiac rigid-hull boat. It’s powered by a motor and equipped with safety gear (and a rain canopy if needed). While technically it can reach speeds of 120 km (75 miles) per hour, your captain will generally keep it to 65 km (40 miles) per hour or less, so it’s a fast but comfortable ride. One or two professional guides will accompany you, depending on the size of the group. Remember that if you’re leaving in the morning, the ride out will likely be smoother and then potentially bumpier on the way back, and vice versa for afternoon departures and early evening returns.
When the Superior Rocket departs from the marina and heads into the Thunder Bay Harbour and beyond, it’s truly exhilarating. As you travel beyond the breakwall and its lighthouse and leave the city of Thunder Bay behind, you’re surrounded by the majestic clear waters of Lake Superior, dotted with rocky islands of all sizes, some with windswept jack pines and other greenery, some with bare rock speckled with bright lichen. During your ride, it’s all about the wind in your hair and the wide-open sky overhead.
Your trip to the Sleeping Giant takes between 35 and 45 minutes, with time along the way to slow down to get a closer look at some points of interest. The Welcome Islands, for example, are home to a variety of birds, including large showy ones like the American white pelicans, great blue herons, cormorants and often bald eagles soaring overhead. The Superior Rocket’s agile design means you can get close (but not so close you disturb the wildlife), making this a birdwatcher’s and photographer’s dream. “The cormorants work together with the pelicans,” notes Captain Heroux, explaining that the cormorants dive underwater to school and hunt the fish, and the pelicans sit on the surface of the water to get their share. Your route also takes you past a sunken ship off the shore of one of the Welcome Islands. The Robert Fryer is a wooden freighter that once sailed the Great Lakes and was scuttled (that is, deliberately sunk) in 1930. A cruise past Hare Island may reveal a bald eagle nesting site, easily spotted with its huge collection of sticks high in a tree. Your captain will share some legends and stories from the area too…maybe you can spot the hidden figure on Pie Island!
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is home to a network of more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) of hiking trails, and arguably the most iconic one is to the top of the Giant. Normally, this outing requires a solid 10- to 12-hour day, with drive time to and from Thunder Bay and a long hike to get to the trail to start your climb to get those epic views, followed by the trek back to your vehicle. The Zodiac Adventure gives you more flexibility and definitely cuts down on travel time. It takes you right to your destination on the Giant: Sawyers Bay, a lovely curved pebbled beach, and from the boat you get a unique and breathtaking viewpoint of the steep rocky cliffs soaring about 290 metres (950 feet) above you. [note: Sail Superior says 1,200 feet, but I haven’t seen that elsewhere.] Those 210-million-year-old cliffs are among the highest in Ontario, and your guide can tell you more about the unique geology and history. You can also take pictures of the gorge (the famous gap in the cliffs) from the water—a view that not many visitors ever see.
The Superior Rocket comes ashore on the rocky beach at Sawyers Bay. Once there, you have three options as to how you’ll spend the next three-plus hours. You can hang out on the beach, listening to the waves, watching the water and the changing sky, perhaps painting, sketching or taking pictures, or strolling the shoreline to look at interesting rocks. Choice number two is to take a guided 1.6-kilometre, two-hour, moderate hike on the Nanabosho Lookout Trail (this is the Chest of the Sleeping Giant). There, you get an unobstructed panoramic view of the Sibley Peninsula and three bays (Sawyer, Hoorigan and Clavent) as well as Silver Islet, Twinpine Lake, Black Bay and Porphyry Island Lighthouse. And choice number three is to take a guided 1.8-kilometre, two-hour demanding hike on the Head Trail, the steepest trail in the park and one that takes you right to the top of the Giant, with a lookout view that is truly unforgettable (that’s the one you see online all the time, with the gap in the ancient cliffs overlooking the vast expanse of water).
No matter which hike you choose, after savouring those memorable views—and definitely a sense of accomplishment—you hike down the same trail to return to Sawyers Bay, where you can take a refreshing dip in the cold waters of Lake Superior if you wish. Then it’s time to head back, skimming over the water and seeing the Thunder Bay waterfront growing ever closer, knowing that you’ve experienced the Sleeping Giant in a way that few people have!
Visit Sail Superior to get full details on how to book this special trip, which costs CAD$349 per person, plus 13% HST and 5% crew service fee. This price includes your park entrance fee, the guided hike, snacks and water, insect repellent, a walking stick and safety equipment. And, don’t miss the great deals that come with this package as well, including excellent discounts on local attractions, shopping, restaurants, rental cars and accommodations, so you can explore Thunder Bay even more.
