MacKenzie Point

Roundtrip: 1 km +

MacKenzie Point

Difficulty: Easy

Location:  Thunder Bay, ON

Click here for Google Map.

MacKenzie Point is one of those places that surprisingly few local people have visited.  It is a small  rock outcrop on Lake Superior that is perfect watching the waves crash in or for an evening picnic.  The views of Lake Superior and the Sleeping Giant are beautiful, especially at sunset.

In the winter you can hike over the ice from MacKenzie Point up the MacKenzie River as far as you can –depending on the ice conditions.

From Thunder Bay, take Highway 11/17 east 20 km to Lakeshore Drive and turn right (west) onto Lakeshore Dr. After just 100 metres, turn left onto Coral Beach Rd. (at Fire Hall) and follow the road across the railroad tracks. Keep left and follow the road to where it ends at the parking area.

4 Responses

  1. Norine Howes August 17, 2010 at 1:42 am #

    I loved the pictures for a long time I have been looking for pictures of Coral Bay Road never dreaming that it had become a park.
    I used to live on Coral Bay rd many yrs ago before moving to
    BC. I lived towards the right rather than the left we were
    one of only two permant residents down there and all the rest
    were summer cabins. The fun us kids had playing in the river
    and the lake. Does the train still go over the river.
    I remember the bridge being wiped out in the rain and the
    train winding up in the river. Also the same conducter had
    hit a car at the the train tracks there. Needless to say the conductor soon retired. That was a great place to snow mobile and
    ice fish. And the sleeping giant is just beautiful from there.
    Those were the days the only thing the lake can keep is its
    mosquitos and black flies. I even miss the Thunder storms

  2. superiorhiking August 17, 2010 at 12:39 pm #

    Thanks for your comment! I don’t think the train still runs over the river, I think they took the tracks out…someone correct me if I’m wrong! They are currently building twin bridges over the MacKenzie River for highway expansion and found some interesting bits of history there: http://tinyurl.com/2wyfhpu

  3. Barry August 21, 2011 at 3:57 am #

    We stopped in here today on the way back from Dorion,and didn’t notice any tracks.
    If it was the same tracks that went by WEST FLORAL BEACH ROAD off Lakeshore Drive,then I believe these tracks were removed,as my uncle and aunt have a cabin on WEST FLORAL BEACH and said it was real interesting to watch how they removed the rails,spikes and ties.
    When we left here we drove Down Lakeshore Drive and stopped at a place called Wild Goose Park for a rest and bbq,this place is very nice to swim at with Sandy beach.Have you heard of this place? Try it out ,i’m sure you will enjoy.

  4. superiorhiking August 21, 2011 at 1:40 pm #

    Yes the tracks have been removed since I posted the directions. They’ve removed them from the entire Kinghorn line now I think. There is a group hoping to make the old rail bed into a recreational trail. I have been to Wild Goose many times, thanks for all your comments!

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