Griffin Lake Peak, ON (9-28-09) - dwhike

Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'

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...

Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 47.058826, -84.381683

Hike Length: 3.5 miles Hike Duration: 1:30

Trailhead Temp: 50'F Trail Traffic: None!

Min. Elevation: 1,640' Max. Elevation: 2,152'

Total Vertical Gain: 512' Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile: 146'

Griffin Lake Peak, ON (9-28-09)

Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls was an added bonus to this hike. It was located along the Trans-Canada just before my turnoff...how could I resist?
Cascade Falls
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...
Cascade Falls
Yet another look at Cascade Falls...I had to tear myself away, reminding my brain I still had a hike to do...
Mile 38 Road
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...
Mile 38 Road
I love Mile 38 Road...mostly because of scenes like this...
Tilley Lakes
Another quick stop, this time at Tilley Lakes, just a few miles from the mountain...
Mile 38 Road
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...
Mile 38 Road
This loose gravel hill was A LOT steeper than it looks here...
Griffin Lake Peak Trailhead
This was where the drive ended...the trail begins to the right, in front of the truck...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Seriously, is there anything better than a nice, cool autumn hike?
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
This was turning out much nicer than my hike up nearby Batchawana Mountain...for one thing, there's a trail...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Um, if anyone lost a shirt...it still up there...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
The first half of the trail climbs pretty relentlessly...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
I just about got a wet foot here as I was paying more attention to the colors than to where I was walking...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
An autumn pool...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Autumn reflections...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
The higher I climbed the more vibrant the colors got overhead...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
As I topped the ridge the woods around me were glowing...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
My hat tends to get in the way of my flash, so I occasionally have to break out the pirate look...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Water is a definite nuisance on this trail, there was hardly any choice but to walk through it...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Just another pretty bit of trail up along the ridge...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
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!!
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Why, oh why, do there always have to be moose tracks? There go my nerves again...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Summit in sight...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail
Another look at the summit fire tower...the summit itself is the high group of rocks to the right...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
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!
waterfall hike algoma mountain sault sainte marie ontario lake superior batchawana rabbit lakes
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
Looking down at the summit clearing from the tower...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
The official top o' the mountain...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
...and the views open up...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
Looking west towards Gitchee Gumee from the summit...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
A closer look at Lake Superior...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
Griffin Lake sits quietly among the hills to the east...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
Last years' conquest, Batchawana Mountain, sits just to the north...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
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...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
This peak was definitely worthy of a self-portrait...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
One final look south before heading back...it was looking more and more like rain and I thought it best not to linger...
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
Griffin Lake Peak - 2,152'
What a place...I love doing what I do...
Griffin Lake Peak Trailhead
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!