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

Route Type: Out-and-back Difficulty: MODERATE

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)

Griffin Lake Peak Hike Route Map
The approximate track of my hike up Griffin Lake Peak...
Chippewa Falls -- 660'
Chippewa Falls was an added bonus to this hike. It was located along the Trans-Canada just before my turnoff...how could I resist?
Chippewa Falls -- 660'
A bit closer look at Chippewa Falls...this is actually just the middle section...the lower is much larger but I think this section is prettier...
Chippewa Falls -- 660'
Yet another look at Chippewa Falls...I had to tear myself away, reminding my brain I still had a hike to do...
Mile 38 Road -- 650'
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 -- 700'
I love Mile 38 Road...mostly because of scenes like this...
Tilley Lakes -- 860'
Another quick stop, this time at Tilley Lakes, just a few miles from the mountain...
Mile 38 Road -- 1,240'
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 -- 1,350'
This loose gravel hill was A LOT steeper than it looks here...
Griffin Lake Peak Trailhead -- 1,560'
This was where the drive ended...the trail begins to the right, in front of the truck...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 1,600'
Seriously, is there anything better than a nice, cool autumn hike?
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 1,650'
This was turning out much nicer than my hike up nearby Batchawana Mountain...for one thing, there's a trail...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 1,680'
Um, if anyone lost a shirt...it still up there...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 1,720'
The first half of the trail climbs pretty relentlessly...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 1,780'
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 -- 1,830'
An autumn pool...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 1,830'
Autumn reflections...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 1,900'
The higher I climbed the more vibrant the colors got overhead...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 2,000'
As I topped the ridge the woods around me were glowing...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 2,040'
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 -- 2,020'
Water is a definite nuisance on this trail, there was hardly any choice but to walk through it...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 2,000'
Just another pretty bit of trail up along the ridge...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 2,060'
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 -- 2,080'
Why, oh why, do there always have to be moose tracks? There go my nerves again...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 2,100'
Summit in sight...
Griffin Lake Peak Trail -- 2,130'
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!
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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 -- 1,560'
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!