It’s an all-too-familiar debate: “Where do we go on vacation?” So often, family members have conflicting priorities. One person might prefer to lounge on the beach in the sun, while another would rather pedal deep into the woods on a mountain bike trail. Or perhaps the kids aren’t quite old enough to enjoy the rigors of mountain biking, but they’d love to build sand castles on the beach.
Whenever there’s an either/or decision like this, as a thought experiment, I like to ask, “Why not both?”
In Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, you can.
Sault Ste. Marie sits between two Great Lakes
Lake Superior — the world’s largest freshwater lake — dominates the landscape around Sault Ste. Marie. “Lake Superior should have global recognition,” said Travis Anderson, Director of Tourism and Community Development for Sault Ste. Marie. “It’s like a freaking ocean.”
For mountain bikers, Lake Superior’s shores offer steep hills lined with rock slabs and gnarly roots — especially on the Canadian side. While Lake Superior-adjacent destinations like Marquette and Copper Harbor are well-known, a new must-ride destination has joined the mix: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (“The Soo”).
The Soo boasts over 40 miles (65km) of purpose-built trails featuring gnarly rock slabs, high-speed jump lines, and flowing XC singletrack. But what makes it truly magical is the location: tucked between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, riders can access world-class trails and pristine sand beaches in the same trip.
During my visit, I found myself constantly drawn back to the region’s crystal-clear waters after each ride, whether lounging on Lake Superior’s beaches or stopping for a mid-ride swim at Crystal Lake.
Here’s a recommended 3-day itinerary to experience the trails, beaches, and incredible scenery of Sault Ste. Marie.
Day 1: Ride Town to Hiawatha Highlands: Red Pine and Crystal Creek
While Hiawatha Highlands is technically one trail system, within this expansive network, mountain bikers will find different zones that each provide a distinct riding style. After spending a week exploring these trails with Anderson as my local guide, I was able to get a sense of the different zones and how you should best divide and conquer if you only have three days to ride.
While Anderson’s job title might say “Director of Tourism,” he’s so much more than just another government employee. In many ways, building Hiawatha Highlands is Anderson’s life work — his fingerprints are all over the trail system. Anderson and some of his buddies built the first renegade singletrack at Hiawatha back in the late 90s, and many of those trails are still rideable today in the Red Pine area of the trail system.
In recent years, Anderson has led the trail development at Hiawatha Highlands. To date, through the support of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie and the City, his team has raised over $3.7 million CAD in grant money to fund trail building in the Soo. The modern trail building funded by this grant money kicked off at Hiawatha Highlands in late 2020 and has continued through the present day.
New for 2025: The Wishart Park Connector
Both the newest trail development and the oldest trails in the Soo can be combined into a perfect ride for Day 1. For an ideal warmup, pedal from the town of SSM to Hiawatha via the new Wishart Park Connector trail and then pedal the southern end of the trail system, which includes the classic Red Pine and Crystal Creek trails.
A natural surface trail connection from SSM to Hiawatha has been in the works for many years. As of my visit in July, crews were putting the final touches on the 2.5-mile (4km) connection, with official completion expected in mid-August. Since the trail is two-way and is expected to carry substantial traffic to and from the trails, the corridor is very wide and not technically singletrack — but it is still a natural-surface trail running through a wild section of forest.
While Wishart Park isn’t a technical trail, there are a surprising number of short, steep hills to negotiate to reach Hiawatha. But the biggest challenge? Crossing the Root River. The river might look small during mid-summer, but it can flood during the springtime, which necessitated a massive $1 million CAD bridge to cross the river. The entire project, including park upgrades, cost just under $2 million CAD.
In the end, the effort was worth it. “It was a huge project, but it’s a game changer for us,” said Anderson. “To be able to hop on your bike and rip some trails and then just roll right onto the Hub trail and end up at a brewery or the waterfront or wherever, it’s been a long-term dream of mine.”
How to connect from the Soo to Hiawatha Highlands
You can begin this ride from anywhere in the Soo by hopping on the Hub Trail, a 14-mile (22.5km) paved trail that loops around the city. The Wishart Park Connector begins on the northern end of the loop, running to the Red Pine trails on the southern end of Hiawatha Highlands.
Riding Red Pine and Crystal Creek
The Red Pine zone provides some of the most natural-style singletrack in the system. The trails are tight and twisty, running over exposed bedrock slabs, tricky root webs, and down the occasional rock garden. If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll even spot some sections of Anderson’s original trail that aren’t well-ridden anymore, but they can still be worked into your ride for added spice.
In between the spicy bits, you’ll also find beautiful spots in the forest where smooth, serpentine singletrack runs through a sea of ferns in a scene that feels straight out of a fairytale.
Heading north from Red Pine, the next zone you’ll reach is Crystal Creek. This central section of the trail system has been the focal point of much of the trail construction at Hiawatha Highlands, and thanks to the concerted trail building efforts over the last few years, it’s now home to a bevy of top-tier jump lines and flow trails. “We built some big-ass jumps,” said Anderson. The trails at Crystal Creek offer “some really nice berms, some smaller tabletops, rollers, what have you, and then expands all the way up to what we call Big Kahuna and Jaws, where we’ve got 20-plus-foot-long tabletops, some big step downs.”
If the jumps on Big Kahuna and Jaws are too much, never fear: there are plenty of intermediate-friendly jump lines to choose from. My personal favorite is “Soonami,” and it gets bonus points for being one of the punniest and most creative trail names in the system. Don’t let the double black diamond sign scare you off: Soonami is a high-speed descent with massive berms to rail and plenty of jump opportunities. However, all of the jumps consist of floaty lips, step downs, and a few modest tables, and advanced intermediate riders can roll everything. Soonami is a ripping fun time that’s worth lapping more than once.
Exact mileage for this ride depends on where in town you begin and how far north into the trail system you go, but expect to pedal between 15 and 25 miles (24 to 40km).
For a shorter ride, turn back south at mile 9.5 and skip the northern loop with the jump trails.
Day 1 swim: Pointe des Chênes Park
One of the best beaches close to SSM is Pointe des Chênes Park, just 20 minutes from downtown. Pointe des Chênes Park lies at the very end of Lake Superior, and it boasts expansive sugar-fine sand beaches backed by grass lawns. Thanks to the long, shallow stretch of water off the beach, the water temperature is generally quite a bit warmer than you might expect from Lake Superior.
You’ll find plenty of amenities like picnic shelters, washrooms, shaded spots, and even a disc‑golf course, making it easy to spend the entire afternoon with the family. This well-equipped park is popular enough to warrant summer weekend bus service from downtown (just $3.50 each way, free for kids under 12 riding with an adult), in case you don’t feel like driving.
Day 1 sightsee: Gros Caps Bluffs
While you’re in the area (and assuming you drove your own car), consider a quick stop at the Gros Caps Bluffs for one of the most iconic views of Ontario’s rugged Lake Superior coastline. The bluff rises sharply from the water, offering panoramic views that stretch for miles across the lake’s endless horizon.
If you still have some energy to burn, you can choose to hike the Gros Cap Loop Trail and the out-and-back connector for a more natural experience of this beautiful area.
Day 2: Ride Farmer Lake Loop
The Farmer Lake Loop is the most remote section of the Hiawatha Highlands trail system. This long-distance trail climbs steeply into the “backcountry,” with nary a bar of cell service to be had. The singletrack rolls up and down through the wild northwoods, occasionally climbing and descending some impressive rock slabs and the occasional root web, before popping out onto a rock outcropping above Farmer Lake itself.
Angry GOAT to Swamp Donkey provides a ripping reward for all the pedaling you just completed. Swamp Donkey is arguably one of the best trails in the system, with flowing berms, optional jumps and drops, and plenty of rock features.
New for 2025: Mile High Club
After Swamp Donkey, you’ll pop out onto Connor Road, take a left, and then another left to access the brand-new Mile High Club.
The Mile High Club was still under construction by Holocene Trail Company when we rode it, but by the time you read this, it should be open to the public. The new 1.5-mile (2.5km) trail climbs steeply and descends just as steeply. While a few of the climbs can be a grunt, the effort is worth it: Mile High Club boasts some of the tallest rock slab rolls in Hiawatha Highlands. The trail rightfully earns a black diamond rating thanks to the massive slabs hidden deep in the forest. While SSM might be part of the Great Lakes region, compared to the vanilla singletrack found in many places throughout the American Midwest, the trails here are gnarly and technical, with features reminiscent of Squamish in British Columbia. While Mile High Club might be short, it’s guaranteed to be a new favorite in the trail system.
For now, the return to the car on this clockwise loop follows a rugged dirt road, but Anderson’s goal is to build a continuous singletrack loop so riders won’t have to pedal the road. Once construction concludes on the Mile High Club, Holocene will move over and begin work on the loop connection, which will parallel the road. Anderson expects that construction on the connection will be completed in 2026.
While Mile High Club earns a black diamond rating, the Farmer Lake loop connection will be rated as a blue intermediate trail, to match Farmer’s rating. The trail will pass through some massive boulder fields, though, so expect to encounter some rock features.
If tackling Farmer Lake as a standalone ride, it’s best to park at the Connor Road trailhead and pedal a loop from there. The route described here measures about 8.5 miles (12.9km), although plenty of options exist to extend the ride — especially with the enduro trails. Or, you can save your legs for pedaling around town later (see below).
Day 2 swim: Crystal Lake
Just past the exit of the Mile High Club, a short trail will lead you to a peninsula jutting out into Crystal Lake. From this vantage point, you’ll see that the shoreline of this idyllic lake is absolutely wild — there’s no sign of human development anywhere in sight. It’s easy to jump in the water for a refreshing mid-ride swim, right off the point — and the water in this tiny backcountry lake is quite a bit warmer than what you’ll find in Lake Superior!
Day 2 sightsee: Hub Trail to the waterfront, and Whitefish Island
At least once during your trip, you should take the opportunity to pedal from your lodging down to the waterfront on the aforementioned Hub Trail. Along the way, you can even hit a few sections of singletrack, like the newly built Dragon Tail trail (shown as “Finn Hill” on some maps), which parallels the Hub Trail.
Down at the waterfront, there are plenty of options for drinks and dining (see below), but one can’t-miss stop is Whitefish Island. Whitefish juts out into the waterway, providing pedestrian and cyclist access to the Saint Marys Rapids. Whitefish provides plenty of great spots to stop and wade into the water and enjoy the incredible views of this unique location. It’s also a great area for spotting wildlife and birds, and you’ll likely see at least a few fly fishermen in the rapids.
Day 3: Ride enduro trails and jump lines
If you haven’t yet checked them out, it’s time to shred the renowned “enduro trails” at Hiawatha. Bring your pads, and consider a full-face helmet, because of all the trails in the network, these truly serve up the gnar!
The enduro trails are clustered around the climb up to Farmer Lake, which you rode on day two. While the downhills are short, they’re steep and vicious. With the convenient access to the climb trail, it’s easy to pedal back up and just keep lapping until you’ve ridden them all. Currently, there are seven technical downhill lines, ranging from intermediate (blue) to expert (double black), with the majority earning a single black diamond rating.
These technical test pieces boast everything from brutal rock gardens, root webs, and steep slab rolls to jumps and drops. The trails are all still bike-optimized, with some big berms to keep the speed up and a few well-crafted lips, but the majority of the time they seek out steep, natural, fall-line terrain down the exposed slabs of Canadian Shield.
While perhaps the Mile High Club is home to some of the biggest slabs in the network, a few of the slabs in the enduro trails come close… and they’re generally sketchier to ride clean. The entries into the largest slabs are worth scouting, and even the most obvious ones feature plenty of rough-and-tumble ripping down rippled rock.
Once you’ve had your fill of the tech trails, it’s a quick spin south into the Crystal Creek area of the network to finish the day with some high-speed jump laps on trails like Berm Baby Berm (intermediate) and Happy Hour (double black). You can also access Soonami, Kahuna, and Jaws as well.
If you just want to ride the enduro trails and hits like Happy Hour, consider parking at the Connor Road trailhead. But if you’re going to loop in Soonami or Kahuna, you could choose to park at the primary trailhead in the center of the network.
Distances vary depending on which of the options you choose. But if you’re getting after it, you can loop all of the enduro trails in an hour, even without a motor — but you’ll pay for it with plenty of vert!
Day 3 swim: Batchewana Bay Provincial Park
Since you’ll already be in the car, consider driving north about 40 minutes to reach Batchawana Bay Provincial Park for your next beach outing. Batchawana boasts pristine sand beaches on an idyllic bay, with picnic tables and restrooms. Along the way, be sure to stop at the waterfalls at the midway point of the Trans Canada Highway.
Off the bike: Lodging, dining, and bike shops
Lodging
I stayed at the Water Tower Inn on the north end of town during my visit. The Water Tower provides easy access to the Hub Trail, and if you’re going to follow the from-town itinerary on Day 1, the Wishart Park Connector is just over a mile away via paved trail. The Water Tower offers a great indoor pool and a large outdoor hot tub for soaking those sore post-ride muscles.
If you want to stay closer to downtown, numerous options abound, but the Delta Hotels Sault Ste. Marie is located right on the water.
Dining
The Soo offers a respectable selection of restaurants for its population, and several local breweries to choose from. Here are a few top recommendations to choose from.
- Blockhouse Pub — Local brewery paired with pub-style food in the historic Canal District.
- Peace Restaurant — Delicious Asian fusion with hip vibes.
- Outspoken Brewing — Downtown brewery with appetizers.
- Ernie’s Coffee Shop — Local favorite that actually serves dinner from 4:30pm to 10pm most nights, despite the name.
- The Taj Indian Cuisine — Highly-rated Indian food, located walking distance from the Water Tower Inn.
- The Soup Witch — Sandwich and soup shop serving lunch, just a few miles from Hiawatha Highlands. They also offer a wide variety of vegan options.
Bike shops
There are two main bike shops to choose from in the Soo, but hopefully nothing goes wrong with your rig on the weekend. Hours are limited on Saturdays and non-existent on Sundays.
- Velorution — An MTB-focused shop located just down the road from Hiawatha Highlands, with a knowledgeable staff and plenty of stock. The shop closes at 5pm on Saturdays (6pm other days) and isn’t open on Sunday or Monday.
- Algoma Bicycle Co. — Downtown bike shop with some mountain bike offerings, but a distinct commuter focus. Shop closes at 4pm on Saturdays (5:30pm other days) and isn’t open on Sunday or Monday.
“Why not both?”
Most mountain bike destinations force you to choose: either you get world-class singletrack or you get family-friendly amenities. Sault Ste. Marie refuses to play by those rules. With over 40 miles of purpose-built trails that stand head-and-shoulders above the other MTB destinations in Ontario, plus pristine Great Lakes beaches that could hold their own against any coastal destination, the Soo delivers an experience that’s genuinely rare in the mountain biking world.
The timing couldn’t be better to visit, either — the Wishart Park Connector finally links downtown to the trails, the Mile High Club has just opened to the public, and there are plans for additional loop connections in 2026. Hiawatha Highlands is finally getting the recognition it deserves, with word spreading fast about what locals have quietly enjoyed for years.
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