Hiking & Cycling

The M'Chigeeng Hiking Trail

The M'Chigeeng First Nation Ballpark on Highway 551 marks the entrance to this 8km hiking trail. The trail is designed to provide you with that special outdoor experience, and will also give you a look at nature at its best, not to mention the bird's eye view of M'Chigeeng and the surrounding area. Beginning at the east to the main bluffs where you can reach the top, you travel due north for about 3km, ending up at the north end where you can visit points of interest, such as the "bear cave", "fossil rock","name cave", and lookout points. Your camera is a must. The return train is found by ascending the stairs at the north end and following it as it runs parallel with the main bluffs. The whole family will enjoy this trail with many varieties of wildlife and thick forest ever-present throughout. For more information on the trail and other points of interest, call the M'Chigeeng Economic Development Office at 705 - 377 - 5362.

Cycling

Vehicle traffic on Manitoulin is generally light, although ferry traffic on Highway 6 can be heavy during July and August. Be aware of transport and logging trucks, slow-moving farm vehicles, cows being moved to pasture, and the odd truant animal.

And yes, we have hills! At least two require caution going down and considerable stamina going up. One Highway 6, at Ten Mile Point, the hill going south is 1620 m (5500 ft) long with a 5% grade. On Highway 540, the east side of the West Bay/M'Chigeeng hill is 900m (3000 ft) long with a 5 - 8% grade. Between West Bay and Kagawong there are four hills with an 8% grade of 300 m (900 ft), 360 m (100 ft), 423 m (1200 ft), and 540 m (1400 ft) respectively.