Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 2,100'

Batchawana Mountain is, depending on your source, the 3rd, 4th, or 16th highest peak in Ontario. Taken from the Ojibwe word Badjiwanung meaning “water that bubbles up,” Batchawana is fairly unremarkable compared to the uncounted thousands of low, rocky peaks that make up the highlands of Algoma with two important exceptions. First is the peak’s relative proximity to an access road and second, perhaps more importantly, is the fact that it boasts a partially open summit. This provides Batchawana with outstanding views to the north, south, and west.

Batchawana Mountain rises from the north shore of Batchawana Bay about 45 minutes north of Sault Ste. Marie. The mountain is covered in forest dominated by northern hardwoods which, at this latitude, are beginning to give way to the great boreal woodlands of the north. The Sugar Maple is king of the forest here with a mix of conifers, yellow birch, and ash filling in where it is absent. The vegetation is also very thick. Hiking to the summit of Batchawana requires bushwhacking through thick stands of raspberry and other low shrubs which can be disorienting as well as frustrating. What, to me, makes Batchawana so unique is the thick mat of Juniper that clings to the steep western side of the summit. Likely the result of an ancient blow down, the tenacious junipers cling tightly together against the chilly winds off nearby Lake Superior. It really is a remarkable place…

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 47.057951, -84.417552

Route Type: Out-and-back Difficulty: EXTREME (due to ill-defined route & summit bushwhack)

Hike Length: 3.0 miles Hike Duration: 1:45

Trailhead Temp: 56'F Trail Traffic: None!

Min. Elevation: 1,200' Max. Elevation: 2,142'

Total Vertical Gain: 950' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 317'

Batchawana Mountain, Ontario (9-4-08)

Batchawana Mountain Hike Route Map
A rough approximation of the track of my hike up Batchawana Mountain...
Trans Canada Highway-Mile 38 Road Junction -- 650'
Mile 38 Road was my turn off the Trans Canada. Its just north of the scenic Chippewa Falls area...
Mile 38 Road -- 650'
I've been warned! Mile 38 Road to Batchawana Mountain got a lot rougher than this...
Mile 38 Road -- 700'
The still waters of a beaver pond reflect the surrounding forest alongside Mile 38 Road...
Mile 38 Road -- 800'
Around 4 miles in the road passed over this two-track bridge...
Mile 38 Road -- 900'
Shortly before reaching the trailhead I passed this government field camp for the neighboring Turkey Lakes area...
Mile 38 Road -- 1,220'
Another pretty pond, not far from the trailhead...
Mile 38 Road -- 1,250'
As I entered the Turkey Lake Research Area I passed a number of these "stations"...
Mile 38 Road -- 1,300'
This was the only view of the mountain I would get from below. This is Mile 38 Road about a mile from the trailhead...
Mile 38 Road Trailhead -- 1,200'
After 15 miles of bone-jarring gravel road I finally reached the parking area...
Mile 38 Road Trailhead -- 1,200'
The trail took off up the ridge directly behind the shelter...
Pearly Everlasting
Being eyeballed by a patch of Pearly Everlasting along the trail road...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 1,300'
My vague directions were to "follow the trail road until it stops going up, then head left into the trees..."
New England Aster
A group of New England Aster along the trail road...these guys were everywhere...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 1,460'
I estimated this to be the high point on the ridge and almost convinced myself this looked like a trail...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 1,600'
See, it looks like a trail, doesn't it? Maybe I wouldn't have to bushwhack after all...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 1,700'
Unfortunately the "trail" soon started looking like this...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 1,800'
Finding this moose print was cool but also made me nervous as the thick brush would likely hide one of these big fellas until I ran right into 'em...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 1,900'
At this point right here all impressions of a trail ended. From here it would be a full-on bushwhack straight up the mountain...
Mountain Ash
I spotted this bunch of Mountain Ash berries overhead...a sure sign of fall...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 2,000'
As I struggled higher the terrain got more rocky, which I took as a good sign...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 2,100'
After what seemed like an hour (more like 20 minutes) I broke out onto the Juniper mat below the summit...
Batchawana Mountain 'Trail' -- 2,100'
A thick carpet of juniper covers the steep western side of Batchawana's summit. At this latitude plant life is very slow to recover so I tried to step lightly...
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
This interesting "thing" marks the top of Batchawana Mountain - 2142 feet
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
The sweeping view west from atop Batchawana. A tiny sliver of Lake Superior can be made out in the far distance.
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
This nicely decorated pole was lying on its side amog the brush, I wonder at its signifigance?
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
Looking north from the summit. Very few peaks are named around here so I can't really name landmarks...
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
The eastern side of the summit is thickly forested...
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
A closeup of Turkey Lake looking south from the summit...
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
I eventually decided to see about getting that fallen pole upright, thought it would make a nice summit marker...
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
The feathers blowing in the breeze were very cool...I was proud of my accomplishment...
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
I wandered off the back side of the summit an stumbled on this campsite...looks quite well-used considering the location!
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
Another panorama of the view west to Lake Superior from the summit of Batchawana...
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
Alas, with rain moving in I had to descend. Climbing down along the Juniper was tricky...this is a lot steeper than it looks!
Batchawana Mountain - 2,142'
Batchawana Mountain Bushwhack -- 2,120'
Looking back up towards the summit as I drop back into the trees...
Mile 38 Road -- 1,200'
The bushwhack down was a bit of a struggle as my rusty compass skills quickly took me off my original course. As it turned out, however, I hit the main road only a couple hundred yards from my car, so maybe my skills aren't that bad after all...