Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario’s largest provincial park, stretches over 1550 square kilometers alongside the shorelines of Lake Superior in the middle of Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa in the Algoma District in the northeastern part of Ontario was established in 1944. Currently, Ontario Highway 17 passes through the park along the way. Best place to spend time with family and friends, filled with adventure and nature’s beauty.
Lake Superior Provincial Park offers you a spectacular view of cliffs, river valleys, beaches, waterfalls, Algoma Hills, hiking trails, camping, and many more. Explore the Lake Superior Coast, enjoy hiking and paddling along the shorelines of Lake Superior, and don’t forget to visit the visitor center that highlights the park’s cultural history, natural beauty, and recreational activities. Let’s check out the best places to visit and fun things to do at Lake Superior Provincial Park.
7 Things To Do At Lake Superior Provincial Park
1. Explore Hiking trails
There are a total of Eleven hiking trails that allow visitors to explore the scenic vistas of diverse landscapes, rugged terrain, rocky coasts, beaches, lakes and rivers, waterfalls, woodlands, marshes, and undulating hills can be accessed from Crescent Lake, Agawa Bay or Rabbit Blanket Lake campgrounds or Highway 17.
#a. Hike Short Trail Agawa Rock Pictographs
One of Canada’s most famous pictograph and indigenous archaeological sites, Agawa Rock, is located in Lake Superior Provincial Park. It is considered a sacred site as the generation of Ojibwe has recorded their dreams, visions, and events in red ocher paintings dated back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Agawa Bay is located in Lake Superior Provincial Park, approximately 135 kilometers north of Sault Ste. Marie. The trail descends between rock chasms and broken boulders and is short but challenging. The Pictographs are only visible when the lake is calm and can be approached from a rock ledge on Lake Superior’s edge.
#b. Hike the Sand River Trail
The Sand River trail, officially known as the Pinguisibi Trail, which means “Sand River” in Ojibwe, is located approximately 150 kilometers north of Sault Ste. Marie off Hwy 17 within Lake Superior Provincial Park. It is believed that the Ojibwe used this river as an old journey route for their hunting, fishing, and trapping their way north into the interior.
As soon as you get on the trail, you’ll find out why this hike is so popular. Not only will you be surrounded by stunning northern flora and fauna, but the trail will also take you along the spectacular Sand River’s side the entire way. For the most part, the trail will lead you along with a series of beautiful waterfalls, with plenty of opportunities to recline on the river’s side and soak in the scenery. As you get closer to the end of the trail, you’ll be brought along the river’s edge to a more tranquil section of the river with a breathtaking panoramic view.
2. Enjoy Lake Superior Provincial Park Car Camping
Car camping is available in two campgrounds at Lake Superior Provincial Park, with one-quarter of all sites having electricity. You can book sites for Agawa Bay and Rabbit Blanket Lake Campgrounds.
#a. Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground
The Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground is located on a small inland lake with a bit of beach. The campground is located nearby Highway 17. There is 60 campsites total, with 20 of them being electrical. There is one comfort station within the campground with showers, laundry facilities, and flush toilets. Rabbit Blanket Lake is just next to the campground. It is one of the best places to visit with your friends and family to spend quality time in this serene lake.
#b. Agawa Bay Campground
Agawa Bay campground is home to 152 campsites, including two comfort stations with showers, laundry facilities, a park store, and flush toilets. It is located on a three-kilometer beach on Lake Superior. Lake Superior can be seen from more than half of the campsites. The forest is mainly made up of aged pine trees.
The campground is close to Highway 17. The campground has an amphitheater, and park employees give presentations here frequently during the summer months. Agawa Bay is also home to the park’s visitor center, where visitors can learn more about the park and its surroundings.
3. Birdwatching
The diverse habitat of lake superior park gives you an excellent opportunity to take advantage of bird watching. Northern and southern species coexist in the transition between the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and boreal forests. The park is home to more than 250 bird species, with 120 to 130 of them nesting there. Migrating species can be seen in the spring and fall, especially around Lake Superior.
4. Enjoy a Day Out at Old Woman Bay
Old Woman Bay is situated at the northernmost point of Lake Superior Provincial Park. It’s an excellent site for a day’s journey along Lake Superior because it’s close by, and everyone can park and access the trail from Rabbit blanket lake campground. Although the trail is mostly flat, many areas have rough footing and some rock hopping to get across the river. A range of ferns and moisture-loving plants thrive on the chilly, damp forest floor along the river.
At Old Woman Bay, you’ll be surrounded by the natural beauty of Algoma by a magnificent sandy beach dotted with driftwood. The face of the Old Woman can be seen amid the 200-meter standing cliffs to the left as you look towards the horizon. To the north, the bay horseshoes out to the main body of Superior, leading to Entrance Island. With its convenient location, Old Woman Bay is a fantastic area for picnics, sightseeing, fishing, and even swimming.
Hiking trails are also accessible for anyone who want to get off the usual route. The Nokomis Trail is located across the highway from Old Woman Bay.
5. Explore the Lake Superior Coastal Trail
The Coastal Trail takes you on a ride to several spectacular trails stretched over 65 kilometers and can be hiked in one or more days, thanks to several access points. Katherine Cove, Agawa Bay, Coldwater River, Sinclair cove, Orphan Lake Trail, and Gargantua Road are all-access spots. Hikers along the shoreline should consult the Park Map.
The Coastal Trail, the park’s most arduous trail, takes you to Lake Superior’s towering cliffs and rocky beaches. From Agawa Bay to Chalfant Cove, the trail runs. The trail climbs and descends cliffs and rocky projections, crossing boulder and driftwood beaches. While hiking this challenging terrain, use extra caution. The trail may be obstructed by trees blown down by the wind. The rocks can be extremely slippery when wet from dew, fog, or rain.
6. Enjoy Boating, Canoeing, Swimming, and Fishing
Lake Superior Provincial Park gives you an excellent opportunity to enjoy power boating on Lake superior and Sand Lake. The park has eight canoe routes, from simple day trips to the 35-mile Sand River. On the lower Agawa River and the Anjigami River route, only the part inside the park is maintained. The Maps tab contains individual canoe route descriptions and maps in pdf format.
Lake and Rainbow Trout and three kinds of salmon abound in Lake Superior, and coastal streams and rivers give you an excellent opportunity to enjoy fishing. During the Summer months, you can enjoy swimming on these beaches, rivers, and lakes. You Can also enjoy winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
7. Wildlife Viewing
Being rich in flora and fauna, Lake Superior Provincial Park is home to a big moose herd. The ideal time to see moose is during the spring melt, which happens in April, May, and June. You can also find several other large animals, including White-tailed deer, Black bears, and Grey wolves. Its rocky topography is covered in coniferous and deciduous trees like pine, maples, and birch.
Facilities Provided at Lake Superior Provincial Park
1. Park Office
The park office is located in Red Rock Lake, north of the park. Senior employees, including the superintendent, can be reached in the park office during the summer between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. One can easily find Park souvenirs, maps, and recent publications related to parks at the park office.
2. Campgrounds
Lake Superior provincial park is home to 2 serviced campgrounds, namely Agawa Bay Campground and Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground, for RVs and tents and around 200 backcountry campsites. The backcountry camping on Lake Superior Provincial Park offers a variety of hiking and paddling options, ranging from short day hikes to multi-day expeditions along Lake Superior’s stunning coast. The Crescent lake campground is now permanently closed.
3. Visitor Centre
The visitor center is the best place to start your journey to this beautiful park. The visitor center is located on the Agawa Bay campground and highlights the park’s cultural history, natural beauty, and recreational activities.
The best time to visit Lake Superior Provincial Park, one of the best and largest Ontario provincial parks is from May to October.
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