The Guide to Sudbury’s Best Hikes and Trails
Sudbury offers endless hiking trails. With hundreds of kilometres of trails that wind through forests, around lakes, and even right within the city limits, it’s easy to get outside without going too far. It’s a launch point for trails, lookouts, and epic day trips across Northern Ontario.
Crowley Lake Loop: Kivi Park | 7 km
A newer trail in Sudbury, thanks to Kivi Park! This challenging trail loops around Crowley Lake, offering incredible views. Pick up a day pass at Kivi Park or buy a membership!
Points Trails Loop: Lake Laurentian Conservation Area | 4.3 km
This loop is such a favourite of mine at Lake Laurentian Conservation because it offers a stunning panoramic view over the eastern part of the lake. As you follow the trail, you'll enjoy beautiful shoreline scenery most of the way, with lovely views of the water. The Point trails branch into Loop One and Loop Two, and there’s no wrong way to explore it since you’ll return to the central area before choosing the other loop, making each hike a unique adventure. Keep an eye out for wildlife!
Lake Laurentian Loop: Lake Laurentian Conservation Area | 10km
If you want more of a challenge or an excuse to spend more time outside, the Lake Laurentian Loop offers great views and elevation changes as you make your way around the lake. Overall, this trail is very well marked and not too difficult, and there are even some large blueberry bushes that can ripen in August.
Moonlight Beach Trail: Sudbury | 7.5km
This route follows an old gravel road and crosses a beautiful floating boardwalk over a wetland area. The walking trail is lined by a beautiful forest, with great views of the lake. This trail is a great option for a scenic walk.
Hillfield Trail: Lively | 4km
Enjoy a beautiful hike along the Trans Canada Trail, where you can walk from Kinsmen Sports Complex to Fielding Memorial Park. Cross charming bridges, stroll through peaceful wood ravines, and keep an eye out for interesting local wildlife and birds along the way.
A.Y. Jackson Lookout Trail: Onaping | 2.5km
One of the most popular hikes in the Greater Sudbury area, this trail offers stunning views of the Onaping High Falls! You’ll enjoy hiking along the falls and can even walk right down to the river for a closer view of the waterfall. As you hike along, the next part of the trail involves crossing the iconic bridge. You'll find endless viewpoints that are perfect for taking in the scenery. Feel free to pack a picnic and hang out for a while you’re here, or if you're up for it, continue across the bridge for a charming loop through the woods.
Osprey Heights Trail: Halfway Provincial Park | 4km
My opinion? This is an absolutely beautiful trail that should be in your summer plans. The trail may be only 4km, but it will take you through high cliffs to a beautiful lookout. This hike was closed for a while, but I do believe it has been reopened.
Day Trip Ideas: Within 1 Hour Drive
Sudbury makes a great home base for exploring the nearby hiking trails. With a variety of options to choose from, I’m excited to share some of my personal favourites that I plan to enjoy again and again. Just a little tip! Please remember that day trips usually involve about a 2-hour round-trip drive, so roughly an hour each way. Enjoy your adventures!
The Crack: Killarney Provincial Park | 8 km
Known as one of the most beautiful and most challenging day hikes in Ontario, The Crack will take you through mixed forest, low + wetlands and then into the white cliffs of the La Cloche Mountains to end in panoramic views of Killarney’s many lakes. The Crack’s rugged terrain, long distance, and steep incline make this trail difficult, even for experienced hikers. Be physically and mentally prepared to climb up a rock scramble before the view. Despite being extremely steep, going up is often easier than coming back down, and it will test your comfort zone. I recommend giving yourself a full day for this hike, and please be cautious of staying on the trial.
Chikanishing Trail: Killarney Provincial Park | 2.5 km
Chikanishing Trail is one of my favourite trails in the park. It offers endless gorgeous views of Georgian Bay as you hike along the granite rock. It’s great for beginners, with only a couple of steep sections and small ridges. The park has set up interpretive plaques with information about the history of this part of Georgian Bay, which is fun to read along the way.
Paradise Lagoon Falls: Greater Sudbury Area | 2 km
Okay, first things first: DO NOT DRIVE UNLESS YOU HAVE A HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLE. The drive up to the trailhead is a logging road that seems to get worse every year. I also recommend packing a picnic, lots of water and hanging out for the day. This trail does get super busy in the summer with limited parking, so be warned. Once you read the trailhead, enjoy this 1.8-km out-and-back trail. There are multiple views of this gorgeous waterfall, and a few swimming spots.
Arabella Loop: Whitefish | 7 km
I’ve only hiked the Arabella loop in the winter (it’s on my hiking list for 2026), and it is quite hilly, with lots of steep up-and-downs, but you are treated to a beautiful view at the summit. I recommend downloading the offline map for this one, it is pretty well marked, but there are a few trails that intersect with each other.
No road trip is complete without coffee!
I LOVE exploring cute, cozy coffee shops instead. Over time, I’ve started saving my favourite coffee shops across Northern Ontario, and these are places I genuinely look forward to revisiting and always recommend when someone asks where to stop. This list is exactly that: my go-to cafés for great coffee, cozy spaces, and small-town charm, all across Northern Ontario.
Day Trip Ideas: Within 2 Hours Drive
Although these are all doable in a day (a long day!) I would highly recommend making it an overnight or adding into a weekend adventure.
The Cup and Saucer: Manitoulin Island | 5 km
The Cup and Saucer Trail needs to be in your summer plans! The hike brings you through a beautiful deciduous forest. That rewards you with the best view of Manitoulin Island and Lake Huron. There are amazing views at the top, but watch your footing as you get up there. There’s some rocky terrain, and it can get muddy. The other section to note is the wooden ladder you need to climb up. If Manitoulin Island is in your summer plans, I’ve written an entire guide to help you plan it out.
Twin Bridges Trail: Chutes Provincial Park | 5.5 km
The Twin Bridges Trail at Chutes Provincial Park is my new favourite day trip from Sudbury. The trail winds along the riverside and offers SEVEN views of multiple waterfalls. Along the trail, you'll also find informational panels that provide historical insights about the area. At the end of your hike, head to the beach and swim at the base of one of the waterfalls.
Duchesnay Falls: North Bay | 3-5 km
There’s zero excuse to miss this short and scenic hike this summer. The walk to the falls is short from the parking lot, and the trailhead is right off Highway 17. The hike is a beautiful trail along the falls on both sides of the river. So many areas to get close to the water and the falls along the way.
White Bear Trail: Temagami | 2.5. km
If you’ve never hiked through an old-growth forest, the White Bear Trail loops offer the perfect opportunity to. Hike along red and white pines that are close to 300 years old! You can access the route from the Temagami Forest Fire Ranger Center (which I recommend visiting after the hike).
Helenbar Lookout: Mississagi Provincial Park | 7 km
Considered a moderate trail because there is a good, steady climb up to one of the best lookouts in Northern Ontario, with unique geology. You can’t miss the giant boulder, and take time to soak in all the views along the way. There’s an option on the way back to an extension of the trail to go where the 1946 crash landing of a Gloster Meteor, Britain’s first jet fighter to fly in World War Two, occurred. Lt. Mackenzie of the RCAF ditched the aircraft in the lake after he lost his way in a storm and ran out of fuel. I highly recommend booking a weekend at Mississagi Provincial Park to soak it all in.
These are just the tip of what’s waiting to be explored in the Sudbury area. What makes Sudbury special is how easy it is to access amazing trails. You can plan a full weekend of hiking and exploring without ever feeling rushed. Pack the snacks, lace up your boots, and let Sudbury be your basecamp for whatever kind of adventure you’re in the mood for.
