Hiawatha – MTB Trail

Length –  26 km

70% MTB single track
20% hiking trail
10% double track access roads

Elevation – descent on trails south of the road, other side (red trails) more level, medium size hills, some steep and sandy

Terrain – forest soil, sandy spots, some gravel, large boulders, a few mud holes

Skill – all levels

Trail Pass – free

Facilities –  parking lot, outhouse, park office, ice cream shop

Trail Maps – at the trailhead, paper map at the Sugar Shack, numbered posts on trail

Phone – 705 946 8530

Website – Hiawatha Highlands Conservation Area

Similar Trails – 3 Stage,    Laurentian,  Georgian

Local Clubs – Sault Cycling Club,   Facebook page

Trailhead – large parking lot where the road bends north on Fifth Line

Fatbikes welcome summer or winter.

Just north of Sault Ste. Marie in the wooded highlands are some excellent riding trails for any mountain biker in need of a spin while traveling around Northern Ontario.

Here you will find about 26 km of marked trail in three different areas. I only had time to do one, the Crystal Creek Trails with my son and we found them enjoyable.

The terrain is a mix of forest soil, sand and gravel. Though not too hilly, there are short climbs and large rocks to weave around as you ride one way through this mature forest.

Most of the track is cut for MTB riding, flows well with just enough of a challenge and is well maintained. We found a number of nice berms on some fast turns and a few small puddles to zig around.

The difficult black diamond markers on the map were only briefly harder to do. You can walk it if unsure as most of the trail is for a moderately skilled mountain biker. The sandy downhill at the beginning is steep, so keep that front wheel straight.

I found the Wedding Crasher section #21 as the highlight of the ride, with many switchbacks around rocky outcrops. This section can be bypassed but give it a try. And Wave #17 was fun to crank through too…

Read more of this review in my MTB guidebook with topo maps and riding tips, available as an eBook or paperback.