Lake Superior Provincial Park

“I'm thinking about taking my dad to Lake Superior Provincial Park for a few days of backpacking. Anyone been there? I would love suggestions.

Hyper - The Michigan Benchmarks website had links to Canada's park system web... Not to much there. Have you seen any other good sites?

I going out of town tonight (COLORADO!) and won't be able to check back to TT until the 24th. I look forward to your suggestions... if any!”

“tarabull, I did a 5-day canoe trip down the Sand River in LSPP 10 years ago. As for BPing, though, can't help. But it's wonderful country. There should be good park info available, including brochures and maps from the provincial government. I recently got a pretty detailed bunch of such materials for Killarney Prov. Park when I was at Canoecopia, and there was some at the booth for other parks too.”

“Thanks Pekka. I found some websites w/ stories and pictures. Looks great!”

“We took the train up to the headwaters, off-loaded our canoes & kayaks and paddled down to the highway just before Lake Superior. We left just after ice out on the headwaters lake, just before Memorial Day that year, and were essentially bug-free until the final day. But when they hatched, they hatched with a vengeance. The 15 minutes of throwing boats and gear on and in the truck at the takeout were miserable.

Puskaskwa (sp?) National Park a ways farther up and around the coast is supposed to have some interesting and rugged hiking in the interior.”

“LSPP and Pukaskwa are amazing places - true wilderness. I heard wolves howling almost nightly. I also saw moose. And there are free-roaming herds of caribou.

Both parks have lakeshore trails that are better than almost anything in Michigan.

LSPP is one hour north of Sault St. Marie, which is an hour north of the bridge.

As others have mentioned, the parks have great brochure packets. And if you are leaving the country for Memorial Day (good idea), stop at the information centers at the border. They have maps for almost any provincial park.

Go. Go. Go. Unless the bugs are bad, you will love these parks.”

“My guess is that bug season has started in LSPP. Since you are hiking, tarabull, waiting a bit won't be a big deal like it is for the paddlers that need spring's high water to minimize portaging. On the Sand River, there are something like 25 potential portages, but we had enough water that we only had to make 4 or 5, and three of those were waterfalls. A call to the headquarters will get you the latest dope. The rangers were very helpful when I was planning that canoe trip. I was calling pretty regularly waiting for ice out -- it was a very late spring that year and it barely opened up in time for our trip. Great fishing in the river and lakes, too.”

“Tarabull,

I have a book called "Exploring Superior Country" written by Craig Charles that has about 14 pages on LSPP - overview of camping regs./general trail descriptions. It's $9.95 at Borders. Or I could just make a copy of the section (my e-mail is mingels@monroe.lib.mi.us).

Other possibilities: Take the train through Agawa Canyon. On the regular runs, the trains will stop to drop you off. They'll pick you up at flag stops when you return.

Also, check into the Voyageurs Trail. This is a still-under-construction route along the entire north shore of Superior. I know that the coastal trail in LSPP heads north out of the park at least to Wawa.

The trans-Canada highway in this area was only finished in the mid-1960s because the territory is so rugged. It's pretty mountainous.”

“Here's the address for the Voyageur Trail:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/voyageur.trail/”

“RL and pekka - thanks. You two have given me plenty of info to work with.

RL - I will check out that book online. If I don't have any trouble finding it, I will just order it! I love to have books lying around. Otherwise, I will take you up on that offer to copy those pages.

If this trip happens, a trip report is promised.

Thanks again!”

“FWIW, I was told by a friend that had done it, that the LSPP lakeshore trail was as rough as any trail they had encountered in their lifetime.”

“Le Subtil - That is what I am hoping for. I took my dad to Porcupine Mtns last year and he LOVED it. It was his first backpacking experience and now he wants to try bigger and better things!

RL - I will take you up on that offer to copy those pages from your book. I checked borders.com, barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com and none of them had it in stock. Looks like it will be weeks before I could get my hands on it. I'll send you an email!

Thanks.”

“My partner and I have yet to experience hiking on Lake Superior's shores and could use some advice on selecting either Lake Superior Prov Park coastal trail vs Pukaskwa National Park coastal trail. We both like strenous and challenging trails, but appreciate well situated campsites and frequent swimming areas (yes, we know the big lake is cold). Any suggestions and recommendations from those who have experienced these places would be most appreciated.”

“Snowtiger knows this park well...he posts on the otherside (backpacker.com)...”

“These are both amazing places to backpack. The level of difficulty is generally high for both trails. The lower part of the Pukaskwa Trail up to Orphan Lake is pretty close to the highway, so you don't feel quite as removed - although it provides for easy access out if needed. The upper half of the trail from Orphan Lake to Gargantua is great- more removed - but tough hiking - rocks, rocks, rocks ---great overlooks. Pukaskwa is an awesome trail too. It is more removed from civilization than Lake Superior. You can either hike in and out on the same trail, or you can take a boat and have them drop you off at various destinations -- and then just hike back. Most people only go half way and hike back. If you do the whole trail, it will take about a week, and the first half of it (farthest drop off point) is not as well marked as the last half. It is a tough trail, but absolutely amazing! Either way, the backpacking there is better than anything in Michigan.”

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"Either way, the backpacking there is better than anything in Michigan.”
hikers6

I gather that you've exhausted hiking all the trails in Michigan.


BTW, welcome to trail talk.”

“Thanks for the welcome, nowslimmer!
I have been hiking Michigan trails pretty heavily for about 15 years. Don't get me wrong; there are a lot of great trails in Michigan - Pigeon River, Pictured Rocks, Keweenaw Peninsula, Pocupine Mountains.... They are all beautiful places, but none of them can compare to the Canadian Shield in my humble estimation (and I am a Michigander by the way). The whole Lake Superior Trail is spectacular actually! Minnesota has some gorgeous waterfalls in the north shore area! Lots of great memories by Lake Superior!!!!!”

“hikers6 - Your enthusiasm is great and I'm sure those trails are wonderful. Would love to hike them myself.

My real point is that different people might rate trials differently. This is especially true for people with handicaps. Also, ratings can change due to the direction of the hike, the season, the time of day (or night) and the weather. Wildlife encounters could be an influence, too.

Please keep posting your great information and trip reports.”

“Either way, the backpacking there is better than anything in Michigan.”
hikers6
6:14:31 PM
6/05/08

I'd rate Isle Royale N.P. and the Porcupine Mtns. on par with or better than the LSPP Costal trail. You'll see more wildlife on Isle Royale as well. More high scenic overlooks too.
last edited: 6/09/08 11:14:31 AM”