The Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is the primary feature of the park and is also visible from the city of Thunder Bay. The Sleeping Giant, an Ojibwa Legend is “Nanna Bijou” the Spirit of deep seawater, which turned into stone, when the white man was given the location of a nearby silver mine. The stone figure of the sleeping giant sleeps peacefully, arms folded on his chest and laid on his back. The park is a 244 sq km park located on the Sibley Peninsula in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.
What Is This Park Famous For?
The Sleeping Giant is one of Canada’s most iconic tourist places to visit. The top of the sleeping giant is among the highest points in Ontario. Here at Giant Park, you can spot more than 200 varieties of species of birds.
Things To Do At Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
There are excellent hiking and mountain biking facilities designated on the park trails. More than 100 km of hiking trails available here with several amazing geological features such as the ‘Sea Lion’ and Tee Harbor. From the top of the Giant Trail, you can experience breathtaking views of Lake Superior and the surrounding areas. The trails offer challenging day hikes, multi-day backcountry trips, and short accessible walks.
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at about 50 km of groomed trails are also very popular here during the winter season.
You can witness excellent wildlife in the park’s boreal forest, including wolf, lynx, deer, fox, and more than 200 bird species. Fully serviced cabins are available here for rent, round the year.
You can explore the cultural history of the Sibley Peninsula and a model of the Silver Islet Mine at the visitor Centre of the park.
The park’s signature sites are Sawyer Bay, Tee Harbour, and Lehtinen’s Bay. Multiple campsites equipped with designated metal fire-pits and picnic tables are available here. There are more than 200 car campsites available at the Marie Louise Lake Campground. Few of them are designed specifically for tents while others are for small or large recreational vehicles.
Sleeping Giant also offers opportunities for bicycle exploration at South Kabeyun trail, Talus Lake trail, Sawbill Lake Trail, and Burma Trail. The park is located next to the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory. Here you can spot over 200 bird species. About 75 bird species are known to nest in the park, including songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds.
The park store offers canoes and kayaks for rent for use on Marie Louise Lake. In the months of July and August, Natural Heritage Education leaders provide interpretation programs to the park visitors. You can explore Sportfishing also in the park. Although, the use of baitfish is prohibited in park waters, allowed at Lake Superior.
History
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park was established in 1944 as Sibley Provincial Park. It was renamed in 1988 as Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.
Conclusion
Finally, here is everything you must know about the famous Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in Ontario.
