check out some of the best hiking trails in ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a hiker’s paradise and home to some of the best hiking trails in Ontario.
Explore breathtaking lookouts, cascading waterfalls, the rugged Canadian Shield, and rich historical sites. Breathe in the fresh air as you take in the sounds of wind through the trees or waves along the shoreline.
Find family-friendly hikes to challenging multi-day adventures, there’s a trail for everyone. Here are 12 incredible hikes in and around Sault Ste. Marie to explore.
Hikes within Sault ste. Marie
If you are looking to stay within the city limits then check out these three great trails, perfect for a family hike or if you are looking for a less strenuous trail.
1. The Hub Trail and Fort Creek
- Length: 2km – 22.5km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Must See: Bridges over Fort Creek Conservation Area
If you are looking for a family-friendly hike in Sault Ste. Marie, then the Hub Trail is perfect for you. The trail as a whole is 22.5km of paved path and wooden boardwalk that circles the city.
You can, of course, choose the section you want to hike, and the Fort Creek section is a popular choice for many. The trail takes hikers over three picturesque bridges, where there are lots of opportunities to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the creek below, as well as many chances to spot interesting wildlife like hawks, great blue herons, and monarch butterflies.
For a complete guide on making the most of your hiking adventure, check out How to Spend a Day Hiking in Sault Ste. Marie.
Visit this Hub Trail page for more information, or find the exact hike route on AllTrails.
2. Attikamek trail and Whitefish Island
- Length: 1km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Must See: The St Marys River Rapids
Choose the Attikamek trail and Whitefish Island trail, part of Batchewana First Nation, for a beautiful and well-paced hike within the city limits. Parking and the trailhead is located at Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site and you can access the island across the locks themselves.
Whitefish Island is a National Historic Site for Canada. It’s also a traditional territory and meeting ground of the Anishinaabe peoples of the Great Lakes due to the abundance of natural resources and fish in the St. Mary’s River.
This site is complete with an easy-to-follow trail system marked with informational plaques explaining the importance and historical relevance of the island. These trails will lead you through nature preserves right to the historic fishery of the St. Marys River Rapids.
For more ways to explore the city, check out Mini Urban Adventures in Sault Ste. Marie.
And if you want to see the exact trail route, visit AllTrails.
3. The Voyageur Trail at the Hiawatha Highlands
- Length: 20km
- Difficulty: Easy to intermediate
- Must See: Crystal Falls
The Voyageur Trail is a public hiking trail consisting of almost 600km of wilderness style trails in Northern Ontario. The Hiawatha Loop (which goes past the stunning Crystal Falls), Odena Loop, Beaver Loop and Mabel Lake Loop make up around 20km of trails in this area. This trail is a great spot to take in the vibrant autumn colors. If you’re looking for more scenic spots, check out the best places to see fall colors in Sault Ste. Marie.
Lots of information is available on the Voyageur Trail Association website here. With maps of the trails at Hiawatha here. In addition, all the maps are available via the Ondago App.
4. Ojibway Park Nature Trail
- Length: 2.5km
- Difficulty: Easy
- Must See: Scenic Lookout Gazebo
Just outside the city limits, but only a 15-minute drive from Sault Ste. Marie, is the Ojibway Park Nature Trail, situated in Garden River First Nation. This short but beautiful trail offers visitors an opportunity to explore the natural beauty and cultural significance of the region.
This trail combines a gravel footpath and wooden boardwalk, winding through lush forests and wetlands before reaching a scenic lookout. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of chances to spot wildlife. Interpretive signs and markers share insights into the region’s history, making it both a scenic and educational experience. You can find the Ojibway Park Nature Trail route on AllTrails to help plan your hike.
Hikes within a one hour Drive of Sault Ste. Marie
These hikes are perfect for a day or half day of hiking and are within one hour’s drive of Sault Ste. Marie.
5. Robertson Cliffs
- Length: 4km – 7km
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Must See: Robertson Cliffs Lookout
This there-and-back trail through the beautiful maple forests of the Algoma Highlands takes you to one of the best lookout hikes in Ontario. The trail begins at Robertson Cliffs Road and takes you to three incredible south- and west-facing lookouts. From there you can continue along and do the Robertson Cliffs Loop, passing a beautiful waterfall loop hike, or head back the way you came.
The trails are owned and cared for by Algoma Highlands Conservancy, a not-for-profit organization that is run by local volunteers. To access maps of the trail system, click here.
6. Eagle Ridge Lookout at Harmony Beach
- Length: 3km
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Must See: Lookout over Harmony Beach
A 30-minute drive north of Sault Ste. Marie takes you to Harmony Beach, where you hike to a spectacular lookout, Eagle Ridge Lookout, overlooking Lake Superior.
This moderate trail is part of the Voyageur Trail System. Additionally, you can find the Harmony Beach Trail map at AllTrails or as hard copies. Forest The Canoe run guided tours to the lookout—click here for more info!
7. Chippewa Falls
- Length: 1km-3km
- Difficulty: Easy to intermediate
- Must See: The falls themselves
Chippewa Falls are a 35-minutes drive north of Sault Ste. Marie, parking and trailhead is right along the Trans Canada Hwy. The falls, which are visible from the highway itself, stand 25 feet high.
The hiking trail offers an easy 2.5km hike to the upper falls, which starts in the parking area and follows the river upstream to the top of the main falls. The path continues alongside the river past the upper falls if you want to explore further, check out the Chippewa Falls route map at Alltrails for more information.
The Chippewa Falls are a stop on the Group of Seven driving tour – the falls and rapids inspired A.Y Jackson’s sketch ‘Stream Bed.’ Look out for a ‘Moments of Algoma’ art easel at the trailhead with more information about the falls and the famous group of artists!
8. Rock Lake
- Length: 5km
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Must See: The unusual smooth rocks overlooking the lake
A beautifully scenic drive east of the city through the Sylvan Valley, and just north of Bruce Mines, takes you to the Rock Lake trailhead. The Rock Lake trail is a offshoot from the Voyageur Trail system, and end up at a unique, smooth rock-top that feels like it should be inspiration for a Group of Seven painting.
Theses smooth rocks face north and lookout over Rock Lake, with an array of maple forests beautifully surrounding it. If you love scenic views, explore the Rock Lake Lookout route map at Alltrails for the best experience in fall or summer season.
9. Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout
- Length: 13.5km
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Must See: Lookout over Pancake Bay
The Edmund Fitzgerald lookout trail is another trail with a spectacular lookout. This one overlooks Pancake Bay Provincial Park (in which the trail is situated), Lake Superior, and even as far as the place where the Edmund Fitzgerald ship tragically sank in 1975.
The trail system has 3 hikes available: 6km, 10.5 km, and 13.5km, with the latter hikes taking you to waterfalls and the inland Tower Lakes. For further information on how to experience the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout, click here.
Hikes To The Lake Superior Coast
If you are looking further afield and want to take in all that the Lake Superior coast has to offer, then consider these beautiful hikes.
10. Agawa Rock Pictographs
- Length: 1km
- Difficulty: Difficult (slippery, steep steps)
- Must See: The Sacred Pictographs
At the south end of Lake Superior Provincial Park are the Agawa Rock Pictographs. A clearly marked sign on Highway 17 directs visitors to a parking area at the trailhead—AP coordinates here.
The Agawa Rock Pictographs is one of the most famous pictograph sites in Canada and is one of the most visited indigenous archaeological sites too. It is a sacred site where generations of Ojibwe have come to record dreams, visions, and events.
Please respect and preserve the pictographs by not touching the paintings. Read the Indigenous Tourism article to learn more.
11. Lake Superior Coastal Trail
- Length: 65km
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Must See: The Rugged Beauty of the Big Lake
The Coastal Trail runs 65 km through Lake Superior Provincial Park, from Agawa Bay Visitor Centre to Chalfant Cove. There are various spots for beach camping along the trail; the route follows rocky headlands, cobble beaches, and boreal-transition forests along the largest and least developed Great Lake.
Expect technical terrain, including steep climbs to lookouts and sites of cultural significance. Experts recommend 5-6 days to complete the trek. Secluded beach campsites offer coastal views, and the Dark Sky Preserve status makes for prime stargazing and potential northern lights viewing opportunities.
For further reading, click here.
12. Nokomis Trail
- Length: 3.8km
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Must See: Lookout over Old Woman Bay
The Nokomis Trail is a 3.8 km round-trip hike leading to a stunning lookout over Old Woman Bay in Lake Superior Provincial Park. The trailhead is located across the road from the Old Woman Bay Beach parking lot. The hike takes about two hours, including breaks to soak in the incredible views.
For more details on this moderate hike, check out the Nokomis Trail route map on AllTrails and get ready for an adventure!
More Great Hikes in Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District has countless hiking trails. Others include Gros Cap, Wishart Park and Odena Lookout, all within the Sault Ste. Marie city limits. King Mountain is a great hike and can be reached by continuing your route past Robertson Cliffs. The Orphan Lake trail in Lake Superior Provincial Park is popular in the summer and fall. The ‘Park’ also has many side trails as well as the larger coastal trail mentioned above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hikes in Sault Ste. Marie for beginners?
For beginners, the Hub Trail in Sault Ste. Marie offers a paved path that’s easy to follow and perfect for a leisurely hike. Whitefish Island’s Attikamek Trail is another great option for easy hikes in Sault Ste. Marie, offering beautiful views of the St. Mary’s River.
To learn more about beginner hikes, check out this guide on hiking in Sault Ste. Marie
How long are hiking trails in Ontario, particularly in Sault Ste. Marie?
Hiking trails in Ontario vary in length, and in Sault Ste. Marie, you can find short 1-2 km hikes like the Ojibway Park Nature Trail, or longer, more scenic trails like the Voyageur Trail at Hiawatha Highlands, which spans 20 km. There’s a trail for every level of hiker.
Are there any challenging hiking trails in Ontario near Sault Ste. Marie?
Yes!
For more experienced hikers, the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout Trail offers a challenging hike with stunning views of Pancake Bay. The Lake Superior Coastal Trail is another rugged option in Ontario, offering a 65 km stretch of challenging terrain along the coast.
