The best walks and hikes around Oliver Paipoonge

Forest Trail is the longest route through Mills Block Conservation Area, running just over 2 kilometres through mixed-wood forest. It’s a quieter walk than the wetland side of the park, and a great way to appreciate the recovering woodland the restoration effort helped bring back.

Wetland Trail runs about 1.7 kilometres, following the edge of the wetland in the heart of the park. It’s a good stretch for spotting wildlife, with an active beaver pond nearby and amphibians often seen sunning themselves along the trail. Dogs are welcome here too, just be sure to keep your pup on leash.

Mills Block Conservation Area sits just outside Thunder Bay, covering 284 hectares of wetland and mixed-wood forest. This area was logged from the late 1800s into the 1900s, but in the 1960s, a Forest Recovery Strategy was implemented, resulting in the planting of over 200,000 seedlings to help restore the old-growth forest. A 4-kilometre network of looping trails now winds through the area, making it a popular destination for walkers, wildlife photographers, and nature clubs.

This lookout is situated on a rocky outcrop with fantastic sweeping views of Thunder Bay, Fox Mountain, Mount McRae, and Sawdust Lake. After a steady climb through dense forest, this exposed spot opens up to beautiful panoramic scenery that's worthy of taking a long break to take it all in.

This trail climbs through relatively steep forested sections before circling the upper slopes of Lost Mountain. It is a combination of rocky and wooded terrain that is unmarked and sometimes challenging to follow, especially around trail junctions and less obvious sections of path. Carrying a printed or downloaded map and your komoot GPS route is a good idea to help stay on course. As the climb progresses, the forest opens up to wide views over Thunder Bay and the surrounding mountains.

This trailhead sits at the end of Coppin Road, with a small spot for informal roadside parking. Since there is no formal parking lot, visitors are asked to park legally, without blocking driveways, hydrants, or local traffic, before starting the trail on the east side of the road. Before heading out, it’s important to note that several unmarked intersecting paths begin in this area, so it’s a good idea to have a map or your komoot GPS route handy to keep you on track.

Little Falls Trail is a relatively easy loop with a few rooty sections that descends through mixed forest to a quiet cascade on the Kaministiquia River. The trail passes through shaded ravines and rocky outcrops, and is a wonderful path for a more secluded experience than the main falls. At the turnaround point, Little Falls tumbles over a low ledge into a beautiful, tranquil pool, framed by mossy banks and forest canopy.

Kakabeka Falls, often called the “Niagara of the North, is an impressive 40-metre-high waterfall on the Kaministiquia River. The falls plunge into a steep, ancient gorge carved through Precambrian rock, revealing 1.6-billion-year-old fossils in the exposed shale. There are several boardwalks and lookouts around its rim, for plenty of opportunities to capture some unforgettable photos while you’re here.