Today was mostly about exploring around Thunder Bay and seeing how many uncomfortable drops we could peer over without actually falling off anything. Let me explain.
We started at Eagle Canyon Suspension Bridges, proudly advertised as “Two Breath‑taking suspension footbridges: 300’ & Canada’s LONGEST at 600’!” — and for once the marketing wasn’t exaggerating. The bridges were incredible, but with side rails that only reached your waist, they also had just enough fear factor to keep you alert. Thankfully it wasn’t busy, so we didn’t have to share the wobble with a crowd. We crossed both bridges and wandered down into the canyon trail feeling very pleased with ourselves for not panicking.
On the way out, we took a detour down a dirt road simply because the soil was so red it looked more Australian outback than northern Ontario. Then it was on to our second canyon of the day: Ouimet Canyon. It’s only about twenty minutes from Eagle Canyon, but the road in is a wonderfully narrow, winding, hilly climb — steep enough that they’ve built a dedicated trailer‑drop parking area before you attempt it.
The trail at Ouimet is only 1.7 km, but by the time we arrived the temperature had hit 40°C and the humidity was doing its best impression of a wet blanket. The walk felt twice as long. The canyon views were spectacular, but once again you’re leaning over railings perched right on the edge. Definitely not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights or an active imagination.
Next stop was Nipigon, where a five‑storey viewing tower overlooks the river bridge and the valley beyond. It’s solid metal, bolted together like it was designed to survive a hurricane, but the open metalwork floors somehow made it feel more nerve‑wracking than the suspension bridges. There’s something about seeing the ground through your feet that makes your brain reconsider its life choices.
Finally, we headed to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park for the walk out to the Sea Lion rock formation — a classic Lake Superior shoreline trail with huge views over the water. First challenge: getting out of the car park. A young bear had decided the bins near the trailhead were worth investigating, and was not in a hurry to leave. After a few attempts and some help from a couple of dog owners, the bear finally moved on and we could start the walk properly.
All in all, a day of canyons, cliffs, towers, shoreline trails, and one very determined bear — Thunder Bay really knows how to keep things interesting.
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