Sleeping Giant Provincial Park - hiking

Unhealthy air quality

After our morning bike to the beach to check messages, we head out to do some mild hiking. Unfortunately the smoke isn't great again today so we have to be a bit cautious what we take on. Thunder Bay is the closest for the Air Quality report but we are very close so it's a good indication. 

Vertical slab of magma

We do the short hike out to what's called The Sea Lion, a rock formation formed by the erosion of softer shale surrounding a harder base. It's a vertical sheet of solidified magma that once resembled a sea lion. On the hike, we come to this cool rock formation jutting out and don't realize yet what it is. We sit for a few minutes and enjoy the partial views through the smoke. It comes and goes. Still not seeing the brilliant blues we think are out there. 

Lake Superior

The Sea Lion

Once we continue on the trail, we see the arch and what is called The Sea Lion. Apparently the head has fallen off from erosion but they keep the fondly remembered name. 

The Sleeping Giant in behind the Sea Lion Arch

This picture of the Sea Lion has a glimpse of The Sleeping Giant in behind. It is not clear enough to make out exactly what the giant looks like. 

From the Sea Lion trail head we continue down the Kabeyun Trail, which is part of the /Top of the Giant' trail. It's a 22km challenging hike to the top of The Sleeping Giant. We hike a few kilometers down the trail for the experience but have no intention of hiking it on a day where smoke would not only make it more difficult, it would take the spectacular views of Lake Superior away. 

Our names scribed with a stone pencil :)

We opt for lunch on a pebble beach. There is a little stone shrine where people write their names on a rock using another piece of stone that actually resembles a pencil. We decide to join in the fun and our names now adorn a rock on the wall.  

Stones on a wall shrine

Silver Islet General Store

We head farther down the peninsula to Silver Islet and stop at the little general store. The area was once home to one of the world's richest silver mines located on a tiny island just offshore from the general store. Discovered in 1868, the mine operated very successfully for 16 years but failed over various engineering difficulties and eventually flooded. Today it's a lovely destination with remnants of the mining past. 

Lovely old general store

The general store is filled with all sorts of paraphernalia. It's old and original.

Picture for sale of the old general store :)

Toward the back they are serving Northern Ontario Blueberry pie. Yes please with a scoop of ice cream. Delicious little treat we share on the beautiful deck out back. 

Sheila enjoying her tea on the deck with pie :)

Traditional style canoes

We head out and walk about the grounds. There is a little marina with a couple gigantic canoes on the dock. 

The smoke has dissipated somewhat so a touch of blue sky can be seen. 

Back road to our campground

We take a back road around the islet and back to our campground. The day has flown by and it's getting late. We have a G&T before supper and call it a day as we are moving on tomorrow.