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Sleeping Giant

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Backcountry Camping

It takes just over an hour to complete the 75km drive from Thunder Bay to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Branching south off the Trans-Canada Highway, Highway 587 bisects the entire park and provides access to most trailheads.

The South Kabeyun Trailhead, located 36.5km south on Highway 587, serves as the main launching point into the park’s backcountry. The entrance to this large parking lot is marked by an obvious brown and yellow sign which reads “Kabeyun Trail, Sawyer Bay Trail, Ravine Lake Trail, and Sea Lion Trail”.

Capacity issues are sometimes encountered at the South Kabeyun Trailhead and it is recommended to arrive early in the day, especially during the summer months. Alternatively, hikers are encouraged to explore some of the park’s lesser used trails during peak-season.

Permits

A valid permit must be displayed on the dash of all vehicles within Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. This includes day-use permits, annual or seasonal passes, camping permits from the Marie Louise Lake Campground, or backcountry camping permits. To guarantee your day use spot, you can obtain a daily vehicle permit online up to five days in advance of your trip beginning at 7:00 a.m. Visit our reservation service to obtain your daily vehicle permit.

Backcountry camping permits are required for camping at any of the 27 backcountry sites within the park and can be purchased year-round online at https://reservations.ontarioparks.com/, by calling the Ontario Parks Reservation Line at 1-888-668-7275 (open 363 days per year), or in person at the Marie Louise Lake Park Office from mid-May to mid-October. To ensure site availability, booking online and printing your permits prior to arriving at the park is highly recommended. Two copies of backcountry permits are provided: one to leave on the dash of your vehicle, and one to carry with you into the backcountry. The copy you bring with you must be presented at the request of Park Wardens.

Backcounty Zoning

The 27 backcountry campsites in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park are sorted into seven zones. The most popular zones include the Tee Harbour Zone which has 10 campsites, the Lehtinen’s Bay Zone which encompasses 3 campsites, and the Sawyer Bay Zone which contains 3 campsites. Most backcountry campsites in these popular zones have designated metal firepits, access to privies (or Thunderboxes), and access to shared bear-proof stainless-steel lockers for storing food. Campsites in the Talus Lake Zone (3 campsites), the Nanabosho Zone (4 campsites), the Twinpine Lake Zone (3 campsites), and the Finlay Bay Zone (1 campsite) have basic stone fire-rings and do not have access to privies or bear-proof food storage lockers. All campsites are marked with a blue-diamond tent-symbol and have a maximum capacity of 9 people. Backcountry camping is only permitted on the 27 designated campsites and backcountry camping permits must always be available for presentation to Park Wardens. Permits are tied to specific zones on specific dates and changing itineraries mid-trip is not possible. Though permits correspond to a specific zone, they do not assign a specific campsite. Within each zone, campsite selection is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Detailed topographic maps that feature Sleeping Giant’s backcountry camping zones are posted at posted at important trailheads throughout the park. These maps and are also available for purchase by calling the park office at 807-977-2526. A low-resolutions map of the seven zones can be viewed during the reservation process at: https://reservations.ontarioparks.com/.

Car Camping

Sleeping Giant has 200 campsites at the Marie Louise Lake Campground, almost half of which have electrical service. All campsites feature designated fire pits and picnic tables and are close walking distance to water taps and vault toilets. Some campsites are designed specifically for tents while others are best suited for small or large recreational vehicles. For visitors who want a more secluded camping experience ten sites are located on the west shore of Marie Louise Lake.

Group Camping

Two group campsites are available at Sleeping Giant. The Small Group Site can accommodate up to 25 people and the Large Group Site can accommodate up to 50 people.

Both group campsites offer electricity and water taps and vault toilets are located nearby. The group sites are a short walking distance to the public beach.

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

Roofed Accommodation

Roofed Accommodation Rustic Cabin

Number at Park: 5

Site Number(s) / Name: 1-Dragon's Mouth, 2-Rose Pogonia, 3-Fairy Slipper, 4-Pink Moccasin Flower, 5-Coral Root

Recreate amidst the beauty and splendour of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park while you enjoy all the conveniences of home. Cabins are available year round.

Check-in/Check-out

4pm/10am

Sleeps:

6

Amenities

Cottages include electric heat, propane fireplace, oven, stove, microwave, fridge, pots, pans, cutlery, firepit, mud-room, full-service washroom (flush-toilet, shower, sink), potable tap water, and 3 bedrooms (two with double/full-size bed, one with set of bunk-beds).

What to Bring

Linens/bedding, dish cloths, towels, food, paper towel, toiletries.

Restrictions

Cabins 1, 2 and 5 - Reservations are available for 6 nights only (Saturday to Friday) from the 3rd Friday in June to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving weekend. Outside of this window there is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Cabins 3, 4 - There is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Pets are not permitted in 4 of the 5 cabins. One cabin (cabin #4) permits dogs for a fee of $20.00 per night

Please note that smoking and open flames (candles) are not permitted in the facilities. Alcoholic beverages are permitted only in the accommodation, on deck or at the campfire pit area. Accommodation rentals include one vehicle permit. Additional vehicle permits must be purchased separately.

Parking

Parking available nearby.

How to Reserve

Reservations can be made online or by phone.