Algoma’s Best Fall Colour Hikes

In the age of Instagram and TikTok, it’s no surprise the 5 km hike to the top of Robertson Cliffs — located in the Algoma Highlands a half-hour drive north of Sault Ste. Marie — has become so wildly popular. The views from the top are stunning, especially when the hardwood forest flames with the bold colours of changing leaves from mid-September through early October. You’ve probably seen the photos from the summit — along with everyone else who is planning outdoor adventures in Algoma. 

But not to worry: Algoma is a big, beautiful and wild place. Regardless of your skill level, there are plenty of other trails where you can escape throngs of leaf-peeping pilgrims to make your own autumn odyssey. From Blind River to Wawa, the Algoma region is a dreamscape for hikers — especially when summer gives way to fall, the bugs disappear, and the forests explode with colour. There’s something for everyone in these favourites.

Towab Lite

No need to ride the rails on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train when you can go on foot instead. The Towab Trail takes hikers into the depths of Algoma’s signature landform in the south end of Lake Superior Provincial Park, about 90 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie. The full 24-km (return) hike to Agawa Falls is seriously difficult and best for athletic hikers or overnight backpackers (backcountry campsites are scattered along the way).

Try the “Towab Lite” for an easier, 3-hour outing. Start at the usual trailhead, about 4 km up the Frater Road, near the Agawa Bay Campground, and follow the gentle trail to Burnt Rock Pool, where the canyon first takes shape. From here, walk another kilometre along the trail for even better views — just be sure to pack a lunch and water because the great scenery has a way of luring you “just around the next bend” in the trail.

Gros Cap Loop

This easy 5 km loop is located within 20 minutes of downtown Sault Ste. Marie, atop steep bluffs overlooking Lake Superior’s eastern terminus. The trail starts and ends on Marshall Drive, near the hamlet of Gros Cap and the end of Highway 550. Follow the well-marked, blue blazes of the Voyageur Trail through mixed forests to several bare rock lookouts, high above Lake Superior’s Whitefish Bay. The views are stunning in all seasons.

Aubrey Falls

Highway 129 runs between the towns of Thessalon and Chapleau, through the heart of Algoma Country. This fantastic touring route features incredible scenery, especially where the quiet secondary highway traces the sweeps and bends of the Mississagi River. Take a moment to stretch your legs at Aubrey Falls Provincial Park, hiking an easy 1 km path to witness a spectacular cascade set in a forest of evergreens and golden birch.

Old Baldy

The high country north of Elliot Lake offers fantastic trails for hikers, with a handful of options in Mississagi Provincial Park. For a unique, multisport activity, bring your canoe and paddle across clear waters to the southwest corner of Flack Lake, where a 5 km loop trail leads to the summit of Old Baldy. The bare rock peak offers views of a rugged, lake-dotted landscape that defines Algoma Country. In such high, forested country, it’s easy to see why a historic fire lookout tower still stands on a nearby hilltop. Laurentian Lodge offers luxury accommodations on the north shore of Flack Lake.

Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout

Pancake Bay Provincial Park is deservedly well known for its huge sand beach on Lake Superior. However, the park includes a large forested area rising into the Algoma Highlands on the east side of Highway 17, about an hour’s drive north of Sault Ste. Marie. A moderate 7-km loop on the Lookout Trail begins just north of the park’s main entrance and traverses hardwood forests, gradually gaining in elevation. The payoff is an elevated platform with views over a leafy expanse to the pewter waters of Whitefish Bay, aka the “Graveyard of the Great Lakes,” where Lake Superior claimed the Edmund Fitzgerald in November 1975. Keen hikers can add another 7 km to the basic trail for a full-day outing. 

Boom Camp

Just west of Blind River, the Boom Camp Trails are a year-round destination for outdoor activities like hiking, cross-country skiing and swimming at Lake Huron beaches. The reds, oranges and yellows of maples, oaks and birches contrast with the deep green of white pine trees along the Woodland trail in late September. This 5.3-km path is a refreshing stroll through the forest, with a few small climbs, lookouts and wetlands.

Potholes

Never heard of Potholes Provincial Park? You’re not alone. This compact, day-use park located about 45 minutes east of Wawa on Highway 101 is easy to miss on the way to Chapleau. But it is worth a stop for its fascinating glacier-carved and water-polished geology. Fall colours in the northern, evergreen-dominant boreal forest are more subtle, but they really pop when the birches and tamaracks turn golden in October. The easy 350 m walking path leaving from the parking area is a great way to stretch your legs and get a closer look at Potholes’ unique geology.

Beyond Robertson Cliffs

It’s undeniable that Robertson Cliffs is one of Algoma’s finest hikes; it’s certainly worth sharing the trail with a growing number of visitors. However, you can improve your chances of having a more private experience by going there on a weekday, and preferably first thing in the morning. Don’t forget the great trails beyond Robertson Cliffs, too, as a sure way to leave the crowds behind. From the lookout, follow the white blazes of the Voyageur Trail to an equally impressive summit view from King Mountain, in the heart of the Algoma Highlands Conservancy protected area. This makes for an excellent full-day hike with plenty of elevation gain.