To me they’re not hikes…they’re adventures.
My name is Susan Arbouw and I have a passion for hiking. When people learn this about me, the first thing they always say is: “I’d love to get out hiking but I just don’t know where to go.” Of course then I get excited and start rhyming off hike after hike and overwhelm the poor person.
This blog is an insider’s guide to hiking in the Thunder Bay area. I will be listing all the classic hikes such as those at the Sleeping Giant. But I will also be listing the little known trails that will take you to amazing places you didn’t even know existed right in your own back yard! I hope as you look through the list of hikes here that they will encourage you to get out and have an adventure of your own!
Trail Ratings
Each trail is classified according to levels of difficulty, and will have some or all of the following attributes:
Easy: 3-5 km, flat terrain, short climbs
Moderate: 5-10 km, uneven terrain, moderate climbs
Difficult: 10-20+ km, very rough terrain, steep climbs
Trail Distance Information:
Roundtrip: I am switching over to using this to describe the trail distance. Roundtrip is the total distance hiked back to starting point.
Linear: This means that you will return to your starting point on the same trail you went in on. Trail distance given is total distance there and back. This distance is confusing to people because some trail guides give the linear distance only one way and others will give the return distance. For this reason I have begun to supply the Roundtrip distance.
Loop: This means that the trail will bring you back around to your starting point. Trail distance given is total distance to be hiked.
Please let me know:
If this site has inspired you to get out on a hike please post a comment I’d love to hear from you. If there is a trail you would like to see added to the site please let me know.
I do hike each of these trails shortly before posting them, so if you have questions or need more information please ask. There is a comment form located at the end of every post.
If you would like to contact me please email me: superiorhiking at gmail.com
Mailing Address is:
Superior Hiking
147-1100 Memorial Ave
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A3
Popularity: 100% [?]
November 14th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
How about the Casque Isles trail? I’ve done the Rossport to Terrace Bay section and its sweet.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Great site you’ve got going! Very informative; excellent resource. Will definitely consult it before travelling in the area!
September 12th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I have been looking for a site just like this one for a while now. It seems very hard to find decent local trail information online – please keep it up!
I am sure you can sell some ad space to keep it going if needed.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Hi Susan,
I belong to thunder bay hike association.
I came across your website.
Is this another hiking group in TB?
Thanks
Luigi
October 30th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Hi Luigi, this isn’t a hiking group. This site is a place to share information about local hiking trails. Thank you for visiting.
Susan.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
thankyou so much for the website. I have been exploring Mt. Mcrae with my little dog, over the past couple of weeks and was looking for more info. Coming across your site has opened my eyes to many more places I have yet to visit. Thank’s again
December 14th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Neat site–I’ve been hiking the islands in Lake Nipigon for 30 years–still have a few to go.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Hi Karl, tell me more about hiking the islands in Lake Nipigon! Are there any that you would suggest I do? Susan.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:00 am
The hikes on the Lake Nipigon Islands are all of a difficult nature. It requires a boat to get to them for starters. One of the most memorable for me was I once walked from Ingall Point to Two Mountain Harbour. Thats well over 10 klicks, The trail is well marked but overgrown and full of deadfall. That particular trail is hundreds of years old–it is mentioned many times in the Hudson Bay archives.
Another is the Piwabic portage between Three Mountain Bay and MacIntyre Bay–good chance of seeing moose on that one.
Queen Anne Point to the old drive camp at Virgin Falls on the upper Nipigon River is kinda neat also.
Stop by Jumbo’s Cove sometime and I’ll mark a map out for you. The Lake has been inhabited for thousands of years after all.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Thank you so much for the info! I will take you up on your offer and come by your place with a map! I’ll call first of course. Do you know if the fire tower is still standing on Jackfish Island in Lake Nipigon?
March 7th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
What a great collection of hikes! There are a few here that I haven’t done and look forward to. I just came back from Flett Tunnel this afternoon. I’ve seen it numerous times from the air, but didn’t really know how to get to it. Thanks.
March 8th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Thanks for your comment Paul! I love it when my website is helpful to people!