9/10/08 - Dorion and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Captain’s Blog


This morning stopped at Ouimet Provincial Park to view Ouimet Canyon. It is called the Grand Canyon of Canada. The sheer walled canyon was created 10,000 years ago by volcanic activity. The canyon shelters rare Artic-alpine plants along its boulder-laden floor. Snow often lasts until late spring at the bottom of the canyon. The walk to the canyon is via trails and a network of boardwalks. There are two viewing platforms above this spectacular gorge. You can feel the cool air rising from the floor of the canyon. It does resemble the Grand Canyon but on a much smaller scale and without the color.

As we have been traveling along the highways there are warnings about moose running in the roads but we have yet to spot any wild animals. No moose, deer or bears. I think they are all in hiding.

There is constant road construction going on and traffic is held up for long periods of time because traffic is only one way along the construction routes. Additionally, the roads under construction are gravel and dirt. Our RV and car are beyond dirty. Once we are back in the states we will be looking for a truck wash.

The next stop was Sleeping Giant Provincial Park along the southern tip of a rugged peninsula of Thunder Bay. We secured a site on Lake Marie Louise for the night a place beyond serene. It had been raining when we arrived so we settled in and waited for it to clear before we hiked out to Sea Lion Trail.

The brochure states that the trail is 0.5 kilometers but in reality it is four times that long because you have to take another trail to get to the Sea Lion Trail. The trail was long a little more strenuous then expected but well worth the effort. I know I sound redundant but beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Back at the campsite we had another campfire and watched the ducks and seagulls fight with each other on the lake. This is another great place for quiet and peace.