Sleeping Giant Park, Ontario, Canada

Sunset Country Guide Cover Order your FREE Sunset Country Travel Guide and Fishing Map  ORDER GUIDE

Sleeping Giant Park on Lake Superior Near Thunder Bay, Ontario

Sleeping Giant Park offers a dynamic year-round wilderness experience spread across 24,400 hectares of bountiful Ontario forest. See breathtaking views of Lake Superior from the top of the Giant Trail and Thunder Bay Lookout.

The park offers 200 drive up campsites as well as group camping sites, with half of these offering electrical outlets. Full-service comfort stations are located nearby and are handicap accessible. For the more adventurous camper, the park also offers 40 backcountry campsites.

In the Fall and Winter months, the park offers cottage rentals as well as a conference centre which has 15 double rooms. Sleeping Giant Park is well known for its winter activities, especially cross country skiing.

Canoes and Kayaks are available for rent at the park office as well as information on the park's many waterways. After a hard days paddle, you can take a refreshing swim in some of the park's beaches located on Marie Louise and Pounsford Lakes as well as Middlebrun Bay on Lake Superior.

Fishing is permitted in the park and anglers can find pike and perch in abundance, as well as smallmouth bass and walleye in some of the park's bigger lakes.

There is a wide variety of flora and fauna to take in around the park. Over 200 species of birds are found in the park, 75 of which nest there year round.

Sleeping Giant also boast an intricate system of 80 kilometres hiking and bicycling trails for those wishing to spend the day enjoying the natural beauty of the park, or are heading out to a remote campsite.

Burma Trail 11.4 km linear Great for birdwatching and spotting wildlife through stands of mature red and white pine, by the shores of small interior lakes and over rocky outcrops

Gardner Lake Trail 4 km return Known for its moose-viewing opportunities, this trail takes you down an old logging road to Gardner Lake.

Joe Creek Nature Trail 1.6 km return This trail follows picturesque Joe Creek down a series of small waterfalls from Highway 587 to Lake Superior. After crossing a small footbridge, the trail returns to the highway on the other side of the creek.

Kabeyun Trail 40 km linear Ideal for overnight backpacking trips as well as shorter, all-day hikes, this scenic coastal trail starts at Thunder Bay Lookout, rounds the tip of the peninsula - the Sleeping Giant's feet -- and ends at the trailhead at Highway 587.

Middlebrun Bay Trail 4.2 km linear This trail is an easy hike to a secluded sandy beach and a fen (wetland), full of plants that grow only in this type of habitat. An extension of the trail at the end of the beach leads to Finlay Bay.

Pickerel Lake Trail 10 km linear In the winter, this scenic trail through one of the park's impressive white pine stands is part of the network of cross-country ski trails. You can join this trail at several locations, including the parking lot at Rita Lake.

Piney Wood Hills Trail 3 km return Winding through open mixed forest into pine-forested hilly terrain, this trail ends at a viewpoint over Joeboy Lake.

Plantain Lane Trail 0.5 km linear, barrier free A section of the old, abandoned Silver Islet Road takes you over a small bridge on Sibley Creek. The view from the bridge is one of the park's many treasures.

Ravine Lake Trail 1.5 km return This trail climbs steadily to two lookouts over Grassy Lake and the peninsula's south coast. It then travels down to the shore of Ravine Lake, returning through a shaded cedar grove. The descent to the lake is steep.

Sawbill Lake Trail 2.3 km linear This trail is part of an old logging road. It provides access to the Sawyer Bay Trail from the Marie Louise Road and includes one moderately steep climb.

Sawyer Bay Trail 6 km linear This abandoned logging road leads to Sawyer Bay at the base of the Sleeping Giant. A number of hills offer views of the Giant and abundant wild berries in season.

Sibley Creek Trail 1.7 km return Leading you through a mixed forest to a marsh and stream section of Sibley Creek, this trail is ideal for viewing forest ecosystems and beaver dams and lodges.

Sifting Lake Trail 4 km return Visit the quiet shores of Sifting Lake on this trail.

Talus Lake Trail 5 km linear Known for its wildlife viewing, this rugged trail travels between the Sleeping Giant and Thunder Mountain, connecting the Kabeyun Trail (south) with the Sawyer Bay Trail. It takes you past three secluded lakes, a sedge meadow, spectacular cliffs, talus slopes and a small waterfall. Be careful in wet weather.

Thunder Bay Bogs Trail 0.8 km return This trail traverses rocky terrain to the shore of a small, still lake. At interpretive stops along the way, read about glacial features and how local plants have adapted to the harsh growing conditions.

Twinpine Lake Trail 4.7 km linear This trail connects the Burma Trail with the Kabeyun Trail and passes by picturesque Twinpine Lake. The section from the lake to the coast can often be wet, so be careful.

Wildlife Habitat Trail 2.4 km return Weaving through an area that has been altered to create habitat for moose, this trail offers plenty of opportunities to view wildlife.