Mountain Bike Archives - Tourism Sault Ste. Marie

Camping, kayaking, mountain biking and more!

One of the perks of living in Ontario is that this beautiful province can be enjoyed all year round. With an abundance of natural beauty and opportunities for adventure, there’s one question every Ontarian has to face — where should my next staycation be?

That being said, current restrictions are keeping us from going farther afield, and anyone itching to escape their surroundings and step into nature is encouraged to stay as close to home as possible. But when we are allowed to freely travel again and explore all Ontario has to offer, you might want to consider looking north.

Sault Ste. Marie (affectionately nicknamed “the Soo”) is the place to go for unforgettable experiences right in your own backyard.

Nestled in between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, the Soo is just an hour by plane from the GTA (or a scenic seven-hour road trip) and has something to offer every adventurer.

From camping and fishing to kayaking, biking and much more, it can be hard to know where to start. Arriving with a convenient three-day itinerary like this one will help you make the most of the Soo for when it’s safe to go exploring once again.

Day 1: A Healthy Mix Of The Outdoors & City Life

Mountain Bike The Hiawatha Highlands

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By Martin Lortz

Choosing a cycling destination in Ontario is no easy task

From fat bikes in the highlands and city cycling along the historic waterfront, discover the endless biking options in the Soo.

Choosing a cycling destination in Ontario is no easy task with so many options. So it speaks volumes that my northern pilgrimage from southern Ontario to Sault Ste Marie has become an annual cycling tradition. Up until recently, the cycling adventure involved mountain bikes and fall colours, two things that Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma region can deliver in bulk. But spend enough time anywhere, and you are bound to discover more than expected. In the Soo, those discoveries were made in perhaps one of the best cycling communities anywhere. Friendships and new experiences mean that my annual biking journey around Sault Ste. Marie now includes a mountain bike and a gravel bike—and there is never enough time to get it all in.

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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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