The Coastal Hiking Trail
- Hiking
- five days
- August, 2026
Route
Hideaway Lake → (1) Simons Harbour, the White Spruce River, and White Spruce Harbour, to the White Gravel River; (2) Fisherman's Cove, Nicols Cove, and Dampier Cove, to Oiseau Bay; (3) Ahdik Lake, Cave Harbour, Fish Harbour, Morrison Harbour, and Shot Watch Cove, to the Willow River; (4) north along the shore, then inland up the White River to Hook Falls; (5) the White River suspension bridge and Chigamiwinigum Falls, out to Playter Harbour → Hattie Cove
Notes
After falling on my face in a rock crossing section and being so weighed down by my 50 lb pack that I had to roll on my back and unclip it just to get up, I admitted to myself that Pukaskwa was not for the faint of heart and I was not in the shape I would want myself to be to be trying to traverse the coastal trail in 5 days.
This trip was a beautiful slowly shifting kaleidoscope of all the shapes and colors of the boreal forest where it touches the cold north shore of Lake Superior. The conversations blended into each other much as the landscapes did as it transitioned from deep forest to bare rock and back through various forms of boulders, beach, moss, and fungus. If I could have done anything for this trip, I would have planned more days so we could take in the beauty and spent more time in leisure at the beautiful campsites we had.
Pukaskwa Coastal Trail comes highly recommended for anyone physically up for the ruggedness of the experience.
I did this trip with good friends who each gained their own trail names for various skills on the trail. Generator who could always lift our spirits, either with her energy, her carefree laughing, or with the speedy pace on the trail. Butterfly whose social attention fluttered between us and could make our packs feel lighter and feet less sore in the midst of deep conversations. Rock for the one who was never tired, always prepared, and made sure every one of us three made it safely to our campsite every night.
Days
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Day 1 · August 26 · 11.1 km · 250 m climbed
Started at Hideaway Lake, about four kilometres north of the North Swallow River, and walked up the coast past Simons Harbour, the White Spruce River, and White Spruce Harbour, to camp at the mouth of the White Gravel River.
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Day 2 · August 27 · 15.8 km · 480 m climbed
The biggest climbing day of the trip, over the headlands between the White Gravel River and Oiseau Bay by way of Fisherman's Cove, Nicols Cove, and Dampier Cove — close to nine hours between camps.
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Day 3 · August 28 · 18.4 km · 320 m climbed
The longest day, and nine and a half hours on the trail. Inland past Ahdik Lake, back out to the shore at Cave Harbour, then Fish Harbour, Morrison Harbour, and Shot Watch Cove, and a last four and a half kilometres to the Willow River.
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Day 4 · August 29 · 7.3 km · 160 m climbed
A short one, three hours. North along the shore, then inland where the trail leaves Lake Superior and turns east up the White River, to camp above Hook Falls.
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Day 5 · August 30 · 10.5 km · 160 m climbed
Out over the White River suspension bridge and past Chigamiwinigum Falls, back to the coast at Playter Harbour, and in to Hattie Cove before one in the afternoon.