Road Trip Marathon → Pukaskwa – Lake Superior Coastal

Marathon Hattie Cove
25
km
0h30
drive
Summer
season

The Itinerary

Pukaskwa National Park (Parks Canada), east of Marathon in Ontario, protects 1,880 km² of wild Lake Superior coast — the largest national park south of Ontario's 60th parallel. Its Anishinaabe name is pronounced "PUCK-a-saw," meaning "water of fish."

Lake Superior's north shore — the "North Coast" — is one of the continent's last great undeveloped expanses. Beyond the park, no road follows the shore between Hattie Cove and Michipicoten — only hikers on the Coastal Hiking Trail (60 km, multi-day, expert) experience it. For day visits, Mdaabii Miikna trail (3 km) and the Boardwalk suspension trail give a spectacular glimpse.

Hattie Cove's sand beach is one of Superior's rare swimmable beaches (cold water). For history buffs, the pre-European Pukaskwa Pits remain an archaeological mystery. Don't miss: the White River Suspension Bridge 23 m above the rapids, 30 km north of the park.

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Pukaskwa Coastal Trail
    60 km extreme wilderness trek on Superior's wild coast.
  • ✦
    Mdaabii Miikna Trail
    3 km, accessible, spectacular lake view.
  • ✦
    Hattie Cove Beach
    Rare swimmable beach on Lake Superior.
  • ✦
    Pukaskwa Pits
    Pre-European stone structures, archaeological mystery.

Fishing Spots Along the Route

🎣
Ahdik Lake
Lake
🎣
Alberta Lake
Lake
🎣
Bamoos Lake
Lake
🎣
Beggs Lake
Lake
🎣
Bells Lake
Lake
🎣
Bill Lake
Lake
🎣
Birston Lake
Lake
🎣
Black River
River

Protected areas along the route

🌿
Marathon
General Use Area
🌿
CRAIG'S PIT PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Craig's Pit Provincial Park Addition
Recommended Provincial Park
🌿
RED SUCKER POINT PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
NEYS PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
WHITE LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
PRAIRIE RIVER MOUTH PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
PAN LAKE FEN PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
🌿
Pic River/Kagiano River
General Use Area
🌿
ISKO DEWABO LAKE COMPLEX CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
🌿
The Interior
General Use Area
🌿
White Lake Forest Reserve
Forest Reserve

Take this route offline

Cell coverage thins out fast once you leave Marathon. Export the map as a geo-referenced PDF before you go and open it in BorealMaps — your GPS position shows on the map with no signal at all.

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Practical info
  • Departure Marathon
  • Destination Hattie Cove
  • Distance 25 km
  • Duration 0h30
  • Category Short (< 100 km)
  • Best season Summer
Themes
national-park lake-superior Hiking wilderness parks-canada beach anishinaabe adventure

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