Conquer a Giant: Climbing to the Top of the Sleeping Giant

This iconic Northwest Ontario landmark rises 1000 ft above the surface of Lake Superior.

The top of the Giant provides spectacular view of Lake Superior

By Monica Prelle Monica Prelle is an outdoors, wine and travel writer.

October 28, 2024

Peering over the edge, I looked straight down at Lake Superior from the top of the Sleeping Giant.

"Careful where you step," said Greg Stroud, my hiking partner for the day from Parks Canada, "because each step could be your last."

There was no sign, no guardrail—just an unobstructed view of the world's biggest lake from one of Ontario's highest points.

Hiking the Top of the Giant Trail in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, is no easy feat. The goal was to reach the Lake Superior lookout that hovers 950 feet above, which means hikers have to climb every step of the elevation gain.

View of the Sleeping Giant from Prince Arthur's Landing at the Thunder Bay waterfront.

How Sleeping Giant Got Its Name

Looking from the waterfront in Thunder Bay, the formation of volcanic rock mesas that juts out into Lake Superior looks like a stone figure sleeping peacefully on his back. According to Ojibway legend, the Sleeping Giant is "Nanabijou" — The Spirit of Deep Sea Water — who was turned to stone when the white man was given the location of a nearby silver mine at Silver Islet.

The Best Hiking in Ontario

The Sibley Peninsula divides Thunder Bay to the west from Black Bay to the east and is a prominent figure in the landscape. With its abundance of trails, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is one of the best destinations for hiking in Northwest Ontario. Though the provincial park has a variety of hiking routes including a coastal trail and an abundance of easy trails for varying abilities, the Top of the Giant is among the more popular routes.

The hike to the top of the Giant is no easy task, but well worth the trek!.

After looking at the Sleeping Giant for a few days from across the bay I was determined to hike to the top. The trail winds its way through a boreal forest that is dense with foliage and surrounded by birdsong. More than 100 birds migrate to the park each year including Ovenbirds, Magnolia Warblers, Black-capped Chickadees, Swainson's Thrush, and Winter Wrens.

Hiking Top of the Giant from the South Kabeyun Trailhead

The Top of the Giant Trail departs from the South Kabeyun Trailhead on Highway 587 near the Silver Islet Township. From the trailhead, take the Kayebun Trail 5.0 km (3.1 miles) to the Talus Lake junction. Take the Talus Lake Trail for 1.5 km to the Top of the Giant Trail junction.

This is where the climbing begins. You'll head straight up the mountain for 2.7 km until you reach the "Top of the Giant," which sits 750 feet above Lake Superior. There you will find a "top of the giant" sign, a cold creek and a bench for resting, but you're still not to the best viewing point yet.

The spectacular view of Lake Superior from the rock towers at the top of the Giant.

To get to the Lake Superior lookout it's another 2.0 km of gradual climbing, but the extra hiking is well worth the trek. The top of Sleeping Giant is one of the highest points in Ontario and the view is spectacular. Once you reach the end of the trail, you'll look out over Thunder Bay and Lake Superior.

To shorten the distance of your hike, you can bike, kayak or sail to Tee Harbour, which takes 10 km off your total round trip.

Plan Your Hike to the Top of Sleeping Giant Today

Trail: Top of the Giant
Location: Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Distance: 22.4 km (13.9 miles) round trip
Elevation Gain: 950 feet
Level: Difficult

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About Monica Prelle

Monica Prelle is an outdoors, wine and travel writer. She is the camping editor and writer for About.com. Monica’s adventure travels have taken her sailing on the world’s biggest lake, mountain biking in the Colorado Rockies, wine touring in the Napa Valley, road tripping in Mexico and surfing in Fiji. Her writing and photography has been published in Alaska Airlines Magazine, Backcountry Magazine, Bespoke Magazine, and online at the Matador Network and the Active Times. Monica lives with her husband and dog in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.