Ontario Travel: Hiking & Waterfalls on the Lake Superior Circle Route - Thunder Bay to Nipigon, Ontario

Quimet Canyon Provincial Park

A few miles down Highway 11-17 in the township of Dorion, Ontario and worth a stop and a short hike is Quimet Canyon (500 feet wide and 350 feet deep). The paved road to the park is about 10 km off the main highway. The last part is a steep climb with switchbacks. But before you get to the steep section there is a place where you can park your trailer before beginning the ascent to the top of the canyon.

A one KM trail leads to two viewing platforms offering good views of the canyon. At least one of these platforms is wheelchair accessible. The park is day-use only; no camping facilities and limited services.

The micro-climate of the canyon floor is similar to the alpine tundra in Alaska and is a protected area. The vertical columns of diabase rock resisted glaciation while the softer sedimentary rock and soil was carried away to create the canyon. BTW, while some pronounce it "Wee-May" but my sources say "Wee-Met" is correct!

Hiking Trail - Red Rock and Nipigon, Ontario

There's a recreational hiking trail system along Nipigon River Bay between Red Rock and Nipigon.

Jo and I hiked a portion of it near Red Rock visiting Lloyd's Lookout and the Nipigon Bay Overlook. > > >

For more info on this trail check with the North of Superior Tourism website or drop me a line (roscoetrails@gmail.com) and I'll send you images of the Trail Map. Or if you've got time now, you can download them here: Nipigon Trail 1--- Nipigon Trail 2

There's also what is reputed to be an impressive waterfall on the SE side of Lake Nipigon. It was a little too much of a time consuming detour off the lakeside route for us to check out on our 2004 circle tour - but one of these days we have to make time to see it. If you are interested, the Cascades waterfall is about 50 km north of where Highway 11 and 17 split, the former going north and the latter east towards Rossport.