Words and photos by Martin Lortz (@lortzphoto)
A newcomer to bikepacking, Martin Lortz joined a group of friends for a three-day mystery ride in Northern Ontario’s Algoma Country this fall. In this piece, he shares the story of pushing through his longest day in the saddle to date and getting to know bikepacking the hard way while soaking in the serene Canadian countryside…
Here’s the plan: three days, 300 kilometres give or take, destination unknown. It sure sounds like something worthy of a seven-hour drive and an early morning meetup. Allow me to explain.
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By Martin Lortz
Mountain Biking in Sault Ste. Marie.
It takes a village, the saying goes. And that’s never been more true than in the case of Sault Ste. Marie’s community efforts to turn a local mountain biking trail network into a destination. Judging by the quality of the trails, the buzz at the trail head before the ride, and the smiles after, it didn’t take me long to realize that when it comes to mountain biking, Sault Ste. Marie is that kind of village.
The Trails
The Hiawatha Highlands trail network is the Sault Ste. Marie go-to destination if rocks, roots, and waterfalls are on your mountain bike good-time menu. Located on the outskirts of town, the trail network combines three colour-coded loops that make up the 35-km trail network, offering an exciting supply of tech and flow. Mapped and well marked, there is something here for every skill level.
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By Conor Mihell
As a medium-sized city located on the doorstep of rugged northern Ontario wilderness and the heart of the Great Lakes, Sault Ste. Marie is rapidly emerging as one of Canada’s best outdoor towns. Locals have always recognized the city’s adventurous charms, which include over 100 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails at the Hiawatha Highlands and Stokely Creek Lodge (within a 30-minute drive of downtown); world-class fly fishing on the St. Mary’s River; incredible backcountry skiing at Bellevue Valley Lodge and Searchmont Resort (one of Ontario’s largest downhill ski areas); and easy access to long-distance canoe tripping on countless inland waterways and outstanding sea kayaking on Lake Superior. Sault Ste. Marie is a great place to go paddling in Ontario.
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