Sometimes you just have to take a day off, drive to Canada, and push through a 14 mile hike to the top of a giant.
The Sleeping Giant is one of the Seven Wonders of Canada located near Thunder Bay, Canada. Its name comes from the formation itself, which is said to resemble a “giant,” sleeping on his back.
Overlooking Lake Superior, The Sleeping Giant is part of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and the hike to the top is no joke! But, after seeing countless of beautiful photos, I decided I had to do it. The information for this hike is a little scarce on the internet, and I couldn’t find a map until I actually entered the park itself. So I’m going to share with you which trails to take and give you some pointers on this hike, because it’s definitely worth it!
To get to the top of The Giant, you’ll have to hike through several trails. It all begins on the Kabeyun Trail. Here, you can park and begin what will be a 14 mile hike by the time you make it back. But before you even make your way to the trail, make sure you have plenty of food and water. This hike took me 6 hours in total, and I spent about 45 minutes the top of The Giant. I don’t hike very often, but I’m in decent shape, so you could do this hike faster or slower if you wanted to. I ended up taking about 3 liters of water, which was enough for me, as well as enough food to eat lunch on top!
I will say, navigating the Sleeping Giant Park was a little tricky. There is an information center, but I never found it. I got to the trail by putting in the address: 84JV+88 Silver Islet, Unorganized Thunder Bay District, ON, Canada.
Once you enter into the park, you’ll actually drive for about 15 minutes before arriving to the trailhead. However, I ended up stopping quickly at the Marie Louise Campground, which is about 5 minutes ahead of the Kabeyun Trail. This is because there is an entrance fee to the park, $15 (Canadian Dollars), that you have to pay before leaving your car anywhere. At the campground, I was able to grab a map, talk to an employee, and grab the pass for my car. It’s marked by a huge sign, so don’t worry — you won’t miss it!
Now, onto the trail! You’ll see a sign on the main road for the Kabeyun trail, which will lead you into a parking lot. There are also restrooms here, which I would urge you to use, as it’s the last stall you’ll see for 14 miles!
The Kabeyun trail itself is a very easy, flat, wooded trail. It’s one of the longest stretches you’ll have, and you’ll be on it for 6.5 km (4 miles) before reaching a turning point. A lot of people opt to bike this portion of the trail, as there is a bike rack before you make the climb up the giant. I would highly recommend doing this as you can. While this portion of the hike very nice at the beginning of the trip, it felt a bit “never ending” by the end. My legs were pretty achey and I was ready for a break by the time I had to start on those 4 miles back.
You will take the Kabeyun Trail to Tee Harbor. When you get to Tee Harbor, you’ll take a right to continue on the path to the Giant. If you turn left you’ll actually be led to Tee Harbor, which is a little beach area that would be a great place to stop, rest, and snack. However, I’d recommend stopping on the way back, as you’ll probably be anxious to trek forward at the beginning!
From Tee Harbor, you’ll be heading to the Talus Lake Trail Junction. At this point, the trail is still very flat and easy. Once you get to the Talus Lake Trail Junction, this is where you’ll see a bike rack. This is where the Top of the Giant Trail begins.
You’ll have a short climb right off the bat, but don’t be fooled. This is not the main climb yet! Your hike will become a little more immersed in the woods at this point, but still pretty moderate in difficulty.
After walking for awhile, you’ll pass a little open field to your right, squeeze through some overgrown brush, and finally arrive at “the stairs.” Trust me, you’ll know them when you see them. This is where it gets tough.
The next mile is pretty much straight up. I think I had to stop and rest about 3 or 4 times. Part of the struggle is that the steps are SO big, so it’s like doing massive lunges for a mile straight. Hang in there, take breaks, drink your water, and don’t give up! The view coming up is worth the climb.
Once you finish climbing the stairs, you’ll reach a very anticlimactic sign that says “Top of The Stairs.” My destination was “The Gorge,” which trust me, you will not want to miss.
This part of the trail goes back to being primarily flat, so you’ll get a little breather! It’s also a very lovely portion of the hike because there are many places that offer beautiful overlooks of Lake Superior. Eventually, you’ll come to a post that says “The Gorge,” and if you’re like me, you might mist up at the sight that is before you.
The Top of the Giant is absolutely breathtaking! I would advise you to be careful, as there are no guardrails to hold you back from the absolutely enormous drop offs around you. But, it is worth it to inch a few feet away and look down into the abyss.
I ended up hanging out at the top and eating my snacks for almost an hour. It’s very peaceful, with a nice breeze, and breathtaking views no matter where you look. There are also plenty of places to sit on flat rock and take in the view.
Unfortunately, I had to eventually make my way back down. After all, you’re only halfway done with the hike at this point. To get back to the parking lot, simply retrace your steps, and be careful going back down the steps!
To reiterate, the path you will want to take is:
- Kabeyun Trail > Tee Harbor
- Tee Harbor > Talus Lake Trail Junction
- At the Talus Lake Trail Junction, you’ll begin the Top of the Giant Hike
- Reach the Top of the Stairs > The Gorge
- Retrace to return!
And that’s it! Again, don’t forget your water and snacks. There won’t be any place for you to fill up on the hike, so bring a backpack and bring plenty! You’ll probably be drinking more water than normal after huffing and puffing up The Giant! I’d also advise you to bring some bug spray, as I didn’t and paid dearly, ha!
I hope you feel ready to take on The Giant now! Have fun!
samanthanowhere 