Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park

Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park is located just northeast of Thunder Bay and is known as Canada’s Grand Canyon. It features a wide gorge with steep vertical cliffs. It’s a day-use park that contains a single hiking trail with two viewing platforms that provide sweeping views of the gorge, Lake Superior and surrounding area.

We’ve been to Ouimet Canyon the following times:

Hiking Trails

There is a one hiking trail in the park, the Ouimet Canyon Trail. It’s relatively short (about a kilometre) and contains two viewing platforms that overlook the rim of the canyon. The first stretch follows along a wide gravel path towards a boardwalk. After crossing the bridge, the trail branches off to form a loop.

The first viewing platform contains a few interpretive panels that provide more information about how Ouimet Canyon was formed. Over a billion years ago, hot molten rock rose up from the earth’s surface. It flowed and cooled horizontally, becoming a diabase. Over time, the rocks above the diabase eroded and the diabase itself experienced extensive cracking and fracturing.

It’s a short stretch to the second viewing platform, which provides another spectacular view of the canyon. The canyon’s narrow opening and high vertical walls creates a unique climate, which supports a different habitat compared to along the rim. In the shady depths of the gorge, the air is significantly cooler year-round, which allow certain arctic and sub-arctic plants survive beneath the large boulders.

Other Activities and Attractions

Besides hiking, there are no other activities or attractions at Ouimet Canyon. There are a few other provincial parks nearby including:

Camping

Since this is a non-operating park, camping is not permitted.