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'
Mike Eplin
on August 1, 2012Really enjoyed your gallery. It left me quite emotional. I have hiked the Orphan Trail a few times and it is one of my all time favorite places to be. I haven't been able to make it up to the park in a couple of years due to work and I am severely missing the experiences of this wonderful place. Thank you for sharing.