Griffin Lake Peak stands a tad over 2100' and is listed as the 7th highest peak in Ontario. It's a peak I only recently found out about, despite the fact it only sits a mile or so from a very memorable hike I did up Batchawana Mountain last year. It's located up one of my favorite trail roads, Mile 38 Road, about a half hour north of Sault Ste. Marie. I discovered it through Ontariohighpoints.com and was shocked to discover that not only was it taller than Batchawana, but it sported a completely open summit and an actual trail leading there!! The only catch is that to get to the trailhead you need a high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle which, as luck would have it, I just recently purchased. The mountain was calling and I had to go...
Mileage Hiked: 3.5 miles
Trailhead Temp: 50'F
Min. Elevation: 1,640'
Max Elevation: 2,152'
Mileage Hiked: 3.5 miles
Trailhead Temp: 50'F
Min. Elevation: 1,640'
Max Elevation: 2,152'
Cascade Falls was an added bonus to this hike. It was located along the Trans-Canada just before my turnoff...how could I resist?
A bit closer look at Cascade Falls...this is actually just the middle section...the lower is much larger but I think this section is prettier...
Yet another look at Cascade Falls...I had to tear myself away, reminding my brain I still had a hike to do...
The best place to be on this road...behind a logging truck...they're a good shield against any loaded trucks coming the other direction...
I love Mile 38 Road...mostly because of scenes like this...
Another quick stop, this time at Tilley Lakes, just a few miles from the mountain...
My "new" truck deserves big kudo's for this hike. The 4-wheel drive made saved me four miles of hiking...oh, and no fish were harmed in the making of this photo...
This loose gravel hill was A LOT steeper than it looks here...
This was where the drive ended...the trail begins to the right, in front of the truck...
Seriously, is there anything better than a nice, cool autumn hike?
This was turning out much nicer than my hike up nearby Batchawana Mountain...for one thing, there's a trail...
Um, if anyone lost a shirt...it still up there...
The first half of the trail climbs pretty relentlessly...
I just about got a wet foot here as I was paying more attention to the colors than to where I was walking...
An autumn pool...
Autumn reflections...
The higher I climbed the more vibrant the colors got overhead...
As I topped the ridge the woods around me were glowing...
My hat tends to get in the way of my flash, so I occasionally have to break out the pirate look...
Water is a definite nuisance on this trail, there was hardly any choice but to walk through it...
Just another pretty bit of trail up along the ridge...
An open patch of rock I mistakenly thought might be the summit...good thing, there's supposed to be 360-degree views from this peak!!
Why, oh why, does there always have to be moose tracks? There go my nerves again...
Summit in sight...
Another look at the summit fire tower...the summit itself is the high group of rocks to the right...
You know you're back in Canada when you find these little sculptures along the trail...I'm not making fun, I quite enjoy them!
Looking down at the summit clearing from the tower...
The official top o' the mountain...
...and the views open up...
Looking west towards Gitchee Gumee from the summit...
A closer look at Lake Superior...
Griffin Lake sits quietly among the hills to the east...
Last years' conquest, Batchawana Mountain, sits just to the north...you can check out that hike in my 'Hikes 2008' collection...
A closer look at Batchawana Mountain. The open face of Batchawana faces away from Griffin Lake Peak, which is a big part of why I didn't know about Griffin Lake Peak until recently...
This peak was definitely worthy of a self-portrait...
One final look south before heading back...it was looking more and more like rain and I thought it best not to linger...
What a place...I love doing what I do...
Another successful hike in the Algoma wilderness...stunning views, no bear or moose encounters, and the rain held off...we'll put this one in the 'thumbs up' category!
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