Things to Do in Thunder Bay: Waterfalls, Canyons & the Giant

Set on the northwest shore of Lake Superior and watched over by the Sleeping Giant, Thunder Bay is the largest city in Northwestern Ontario and a natural base for exploring this wild stretch of Canada. It’s known for the famous rock formation and beautiful scenery, but spend a few days here and you’ll find waterfalls and canyons within easy reach, a deep Indigenous heritage, a fur-trade history, and a food scene that can rival any big city’s offerings. 

We first passed through Thunder Bay back in 2020, on our vanlife adventures with Benji, the van. We stopped just long enough to admire the Giant from a distance, promised ourselves we’d return to properly explore, and it stayed on our list ever since. 

This past August we finally came back. We timed our visit to coincide with Anishinaabe Keeshigun, an annual Indigenous gathering so we could attend a pow wow and get immersed in the rich Indigenous history of the region. We came for the culture, but what we discovered in Thunder Bay was much more!

Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Thunder Bay.

How to Get to Thunder Bay

By Air

Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) is the quickest way to reach the city, with regular daily connections through Toronto and Winnipeg. Flying saves a considerable amount of driving time if you’re coming from southern Ontario, and it’s the option we chose. 

By Car

Thunder Bay is located right on the Trans-Canada Highway, roughly a 15-hour drive from Toronto and about 8 hours from Winnipeg, which makes it a natural stop on any cross-country road trip. We made this drive back in 2020 and it’s how we originally discovered the Thunder Bay charm.

Getting Around

Once you arrive, renting a car is the most practical way to explore. The city is spread out, and many of the best waterfalls, canyons, and amethyst mines are located just outside of town, so having your own vehicle makes it much easier to explore. 

Best Time to Visit

Thunder Bay is a true four-season destination, with each time of year offering a different way to experience the city and the landscapes around it.

Fall brings crisp air and brilliant colour with cooler temperatures usually hovering in the low teens. It’s a beautiful and quieter time to explore the parks and waterfalls.

Winter is cold and snowy in Thunder Bay, with temperatures regularly dropping well below freezing. Many parks and attractions close for the season, though it’s a great time for snowshoeing, skiing, and cozy nights indoors.

Spring brings the thaw. As the snow melts, Thunder Bay slowly comes back to life. Temperatures are cool and variable, often ranging from a few degrees to the mid-teens, but, as with many destinations in the Spring, the trails can be muddy as the ground thaws.

Summer is warm and comfortable, with daytime highs in the low to mid-20s and long hours of daylight. It’s the ideal season for hiking, getting out on Lake Superior, and enjoying the festivals and events that fill the calendar.

We visited in late August and feel like we hit the perfect sweet spot for visiting Thunder Bay. This is when the weather is at its best for hiking and getting out on the water, and a time when you’ll find plenty of festivals and events in town. 

We specifically timed our visit with the Anishinaabe Keeshigun, an annual Indigenous celebration that takes place in August.   

Things to Do in Thunder Bay

Here is how the region stacks up at a glance, roughly how far each one sits from downtown, how long to set aside, and what it is best for. Everything below is within a comfortable day trip.

Step Back in Time at Fort William Historical Park

Located on the banks of the Kaministiquia River on the city’s south side, Fort William Historical Park is one of the largest living-history sites in Canada, a full reconstruction of the early-1800s fur-trading post. We joined a guided tour of the grounds led by interpreters who stayed completely in character, with reenactments of the era playing out around you. It was an immersive experience that helped us learn so much about the fur trade and its relationship with the Indigenous peoples of this region.

If you can, plan your visit around Anishinaabe Keeshigun, the Fort’s free celebration of First Nations culture, traditions, language, and technology, held here in late August. Alongside the pow wow dancing and drumming there were local vendors, handmade crafts, smoked meat and traditional foods to sample, and hands-on activities like axe throwing and woodcarving. The pow wow at Anishinaabe Keeshigun was a little smaller than we expected, so if you are interested in this cultural experience look into the bigger annual gatherings held around June. 

Explore the Waterfront District

Prince Arthur’s Landing in the Waterfront District is the heart of Thunder Bay’s Lake Superior shoreline, with walking paths, public art, a marina, and wide views across to the Sleeping Giant. The waterfront is lined with shops, restaurants, and patios, and through the summer there’s a splash pad for families and a free concert series, Live on the Waterfront, that brings touring musicians down to the lake.

The waterfront became part of our daily routine during our stay in Thunder Bay. It’s a beautiful area for a stroll, and you can also rent bikes to explore the trails that run along the shore. The sun came up just before 7 a.m. while we were there, so we caught the sunrise over the lake every morning, and Max happily worked his runs along the water into the trip.

Take in the View from Anemki Wajiw (Mount McKay)

For the best panorama of the city, drive up to Anemki Wajiw, also known as Mount McKay, the highest of the Nor’Wester Mountains, on the Fort William First Nation. The lookout offers sweeping views over Thunder Bay, the harbour, and the Sleeping Giant beyond. It’s a sacred and culturally significant site, so visit respectfully and go on a clear day for the full effect.

If you are visiting Thunder Bay during the big annual pow wow, this is where the events typically take place. 

Browse Goods & Co Market

When you need a break from the outdoors, Goods & Co Market is an easy way to spend an hour or two. Set in a restored downtown heritage building, it’s a curated marketplace and food hall filled with local makers, independent shops, and food vendors, and a great place to support Thunder Bay’s small businesses and pick up something you won’t find elsewhere. 

Stop for a coffee, a drink or a bite to eat and don’t miss a chance to pick up some locally made souvenirs. 

Visit the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

Across the harbour from the city, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, is arguably the most popular attraction in the region. The name “Sleeping Giant” comes from the dramatic mesa formation that resembles a giant lying on its back, a landform tied to the Ojibwe legend of Nanabijou. 

With more than 100 km (62 miles) of trails and some of the highest cliffs in Ontario, most people visit for a few days and camp in the park. The trails range from quick nature walks to serious full-day treks. A few of the most popular:

• Top of the Giant (22 km / 14 miles round trip): most famous hike, a strenuous 6-8 hr trek from the South Kabeyun trailhead to the clifftop lookouts.
• Head of the Giant (about 17 km / 10.5 miles round trip): another difficult full-day hike from the South Kabeyun trailhead, via the Sawyer Bay and Head trails, with big Lake Superior views.
• Sea Lion (2.4 km / 1.5 miles round trip): a short walk out to a dramatic rock formation reaching into Lake Superior.
• Sibley Creek Nature Trail (2.3 km / 1.4 miles loop): an easy, interpretive walk through wetlands.
• Piney Woods Nature Trail (2.8 km / 1.7 miles round trip): a gentle forest trail ending at a lake overlook.

Beyond hiking, you can paddle the calm waters of Marie Louise Lake, watch for migrating birds at the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory, and catch the northern lights on clear nights from late summer into fall. 

Take the Sleeping Giant Zodiac Day Tour

If you don’t have a few days to spare, there’s now a way to experience the Giant on a day trip, and it turned out to be one of the best days of our whole trip. 

The Sleeping Giant Zodiac tour with Sail Superior departs right from the Thunder Bay Waterfront and takes you all the way to the park across Lake Superior. The boat ride alone was half the fun:  the zodiac flies across Lake Superior, and with the water stretching out around you it honestly felt like being out on the open ocean. Along the way you pass towering cliffs and watch for wildlife before arriving at Sawyers Bay, right at the base of the Giant.

From there, you can tackle the best part of the Head of the Giant trail, cutting the hike down from 17 km (10.5 miles) to just over 2 km (1.2 miles). Don’t let the length of the hike fool you. It’s steep and a real workout, but completely doable, and the views out over Lake Superior from the top are the reward. 

The tour takes about five hours all in and includes the ride over and the guided hike. Bring good footwear, pack a lunch and bring plenty of water for the hike.

Chase the Falls at Kakabeka Falls

A 30-minute drive west of the city brings you to Kakabeka Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Ontario, known as the “Niagara of the North.” A boardwalk loops around the gorge for front-row views of the water thundering over the edge. The falls are accessible and easy for all ages. Follow the trail down toward Little Falls for a quieter walk through the woods once you’ve taken in the main attraction.

Hike Ouimet Canyon

Located about an hour east of Thunder Bay, Ouimet Canyon is one of the most dramatic landscapes in the region, a sheer-walled gorge that drops away suddenly from the forest.

A short and easy 1 km (0.6 miles) loop leads to two viewing platforms perched over the edge, with jaw-dropping views straight down and across the canyon. It’s a lot of payoff for very little effort, and a great option for all fitness levels.

Cross the Suspension Bridges at Eagle Canyon

Eagle Canyon Adventures, located about an hour from the city, near Dorion, is home to Canada’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge.

There are two suspension bridges to explore at Eagle Canyon. The longest one is 183 m (600 feet) across the canyon and hangs 46 m (152 feet) above the spring-fed lake below. The other is 91 m (300 feet) long and runs almost parallel to the first, creating plenty of photo ops for those wanting to capture the experience on camera.

Once you cross the bridges, you can take the stairs down to the canyon floor and walk the shoreline for a different perspective. There’s a zipline here too, billed as one of the longest in the country. It was closed during our visit, but watching the line run the length of the canyon, it looked like an incredible ride, and one we’d save for next time.

Dig for Your Own Amethyst

Thunder Bay is the amethyst capital of Canada, and visiting one of the working mines turned out to be far better than we anticipated. We half expected it to feel gimmicky, and it was the opposite: plenty of amethyst to sift through and real, beautiful gems to uncover.

Amethyst Mine Panorama and Diamond Willow Amethyst Mine are two of the most popular mines in the region open to the public. 

• Amethyst Mine Panorama charges a small entry fee that includes a guided tour of the working mine. You pay by weight for gems you collect. 
• Diamond Willow offers free admission with a flat fee for a full bucket of rocks. They have cleaning facilities on site, to help you take away only the best finds. 

Visiting a mine is an easy way to spend an afternoon in search of the perfect stone. 

If you are planning a visit, give yourself plenty of time to dig and lots of extra luggage allowance. 

Visit Pigeon River Provincial Park

The Pigeon River marks the border between Ontario and Minnesota, and the Pigeon River Provincial Park is well worth the hour’s drive south of the city. 

Build in a stop on the way down. We picked up danishes at The Bakeshop on Boundary and ate them at the tables outside, looking out across the fields, which set the day up rather better than anything we could have grabbed in town.

It sits on Boundary Drive out in the Slate River Valley, about 3 km (2 miles) along the same road as Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, so the bakery and the cheese farm pair into one easy detour west of Highway 61. Check the hours before you count on it: they open Wednesday to Friday only, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Its highlight is High Falls, a dramatic waterfall of about 36 metres (118 feet) that straddles the international boundary, reached by an easy 2.5 km (1.6 miles) loop trail to a lookout over the gorge. There’s a second cascade too, Middle Falls, along with riverside trails that run toward Lake Superior.

Because the park is located on the international boundary, it’s possible to hike on both the Canadian and American sides in a single day, pairing the park with Grand Portage State Park across the river in Minnesota. We didn’t but found the Canadian side to be worth the visit on its own. 

Where to Stay in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay has a good range of places to stay, from waterfront hotels in the downtown core to budget-friendly motels and welcoming bed-and-breakfasts a little further out. If you want to be close to the lake and the restaurant scene, the waterfront is the area to book.

For our stay, we based ourselves at Delta Hotel by Marriott. Located right on the waterfront, the hotel offered the perfect location with great lake views, an easy walk to Prince Arthur’s Landing and plenty of restaurants. 

Sustainability also factored into our choice. As part of Marriott, the property ties into the group’s Serve 360 program, with measures like linen and towel reuse, reduced single-use plastics, and energy-efficiency initiatives. It made a comfortable, well-placed base, and we’d happily stay again. 

Where to Eat in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay’s food scene offers a surprisingly wide selection of great restaurants ranging from creative shared plates and modern Italian to homemade Mexican street food, longtime comfort-food diners, and Finnish classics rooted in the city’s heritage.

Here are a few favourites and recommendations from our trip:

Tomlin was a real vibe and one of our best meals in the city. The kitchen works with local producers on a seasonal, ever-changing menu of creative shared plates. Go early, as they fill up quickly and don’t take bookings. 

Grotto Trattoria is a lovely spot for traditional Italian in the downtown core, pairing time-honoured recipes with a strong wine list.  

Nook came recommended and did not disappoint, an intimate spot known for its modern Italian cooking. Expect a more casual and younger vibe compared to Grotto. 

Norteños Taqueria is the place for tacos, serving homemade Mexican street food from barbacoa and birria to quesadillas and tortas. Simple, fresh, and delicious.

Caribou Restaurant & Wine Bar serves modern North American plates alongside a well-chosen wine list, while The Sal (Salsbury Grill) is a longtime local favourite for comfort-food classics like burgers, fish and chips, and all-day breakfast. Both are well-loved spots we’d planned to try. They happened to be closed on the days we stopped by, but they come highly recommended and are worth building into your plans.

For breakfast, Rooster’s Bistro is a friendly, family-run spot in the Waterfront District serving home-style classics with a seasonal twist. And when you want to eat on the go, Maltese Grocery, a specialty deli and grocer with daily lunch specials, is perfect for putting together a picnic.

Speaking of picnics, make the short drive to Thunder Oak Cheese Farm in Neebing, the first farm in Ontario to make Gouda. The Dutch Schep family crafts award-winning Gouda from their own herd’s milk, from mild to extra-old and a range of flavoured varieties, and their farm store also stocks Dutch imports. Picking some up for lunch on your way to the falls or canyons is a lovely way to do it.

To dip into Thunder Bay’s Finnish heritage, Kangas Sauna is a local institution. We came for the famous Finnish pancakes, which lived up to the hype.  You can also book a private traditional sauna here, one of the last of its kind in North America.

Don’t Leave Without Trying a Persian

We have to talk about the Persian. A Persian is Thunder Bay’s own invention: a soft, oval, cinnamon-bun-style fried dough roll, slathered in a sweet pink icing made from raspberries or strawberries (the exact recipe is a closely guarded local secret).  

We got ours from The Persian Man, widely considered the best spot in the city, though you’ll find persians at cafes and bakeries all over town. It was the most delicious doughnut-adjacent thing we’ve had in ages, and we would happily travel back to Thunder Bay for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thunder Bay worth visiting?

Yes, and for more than the view. Thunder Bay works as a base, not a stopover: the Sleeping Giant, Kakabeka Falls, Ouimet Canyon, Eagle Canyon and two working amethyst mines all sit within an hour of the city, and the city itself carries a reconstructed fur-trade post, a living Anishinaabe cultural calendar and a food scene that outpunches its size. Three to four days is enough to do it properly.

What is Thunder Bay best known for?

The Sleeping Giant, the mesa formation across the harbour, tied to the Ojibwe legend of Nanabijou, is the image most people know. Beyond it, Thunder Bay is the amethyst capital of Canada, the home of Kakabeka Falls (the “Niagara of the North”), the site of Fort William Historical Park, and the birthplace of the Persian pastry. It is also the biggest city in Northwestern Ontario and a standard overnight for anyone driving across the country.

How do you get to the Sleeping Giant?

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is across the harbour from the city and reached by road in about an hour, which is how most visitors arrive to camp and hike. If you only have a day, the zodiac tour with Sail Superior departs from the Thunder Bay waterfront, crosses Lake Superior and lands at Sawyer Bay at the base of the Giant, cutting the climb to just over 2 km (1.2 miles) each way. The full tour runs about five hours.

Do you need a car in Thunder Bay?

Effectively yes. The waterfront, Goods & Co Market and the downtown restaurants are walkable if you stay centrally, but every waterfall, canyon and amethyst mine is between 15 minutes and an hour outside town, with no practical transit to any of them. Renting at the airport is the simplest option.

What is a Persian in Thunder Bay?

A Persian is a soft, oval, cinnamon-bun-style fried dough roll topped with a sweet pink icing made from raspberries or strawberries. It was invented in Thunder Bay, the exact recipe is a closely guarded local secret, and you will find them at cafes and bakeries across the city. The Persian Man is widely considered the best place to get one.

How far is Thunder Bay from Toronto?

Roughly a 15-hour drive, or about 1,400 km (870 miles), along the Trans-Canada Highway, which is why most visitors from southern Ontario fly. Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT) has daily connections through Toronto and Winnipeg, and the flight takes under two hours. Winnipeg is the closer drive at about eight hours.

What else is worth seeing in Northern Ontario?

Thunder Bay sits at the western end of a very long province, so the drive east along Lake Superior is the natural next leg. Pukaskwa National Park is the closest national park to the city. Further along, Sudbury and North Bay both work as overnight stops on the way south. If you are travelling in summer and are after swimming weather more than hiking, Ontario’s best beaches are almost all a long way further south.

Final Thoughts

From sailing out to the Sleeping Giant and hiking to its summit, to chasing waterfalls, digging for amethyst, crossing Canada’s longest suspension bridge, and watching the sun rise over Lake Superior each morning, Thunder Bay gave us so much more than we came for. It took us four years to make it back after that first drive-through with Benji, and we’re so glad we finally did.

Whether you’re planning a summer road trip across Ontario or flying in for a long weekend, we hope this guide helps you discover the best things to do in Thunder Bay.

Have you visited Thunder Bay, or is it on your list? Share your favourite experiences in the comments below, we’d love to hear your tips.

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