Lake Superior Provincial Park -- Orphan Lake Trail (10-4-11) - dwhike
Orphan Lake

Lake Superior Provincial Park -- Orphan Lake Trail (10-4-11)

If ever there was a trail that I longed to get back to...

The Orphan Lake Trail is a 4.5 mile loop through some of the prettiest terrain in Lake Superior Provincial Park. The path leaves the Trans-Canada in the south end of the park. It climbs to a beautiful overlook of its namesake lake, which is landlocked some 400 feet above Lake Superior. From the overlook it follows Orphan Lake for a bit, crosses a burned area from the 1990's which offers beautiful views, and then makes the steep descent to the lakeshore. After a brief time along Superior the trail turns back inland past what, in warmer seasons, is a series of nice cascades and then makes the STEEP climb back to Orphan Lake past some impressive cliffs.

I had snowshoed this trail in 2010 and swore I'd return that year to experience it in the summer...a year and a half later I finally got the chance to fulfill that promise...


Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 47.490125, -84.810591


Route Type:  Lollipop                    Difficulty:  HARD

Hike Length: 4.5 miles                   Hike Duration: 2:30

Trailhead Temp: 62'F                    Trail Traffic:  1-5 people

Min. Elevation: 600'                       Max. Elevation: 1,020'

Total Vertical Gain: 800'               Avg. Elevation Gain / Mile:  178'