With 65 kilometres of purpose-built trails, millions invested in expansion and a culture that welcomes everyone at the trailhead, Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie is becoming one of Canada’s must-ride MTB destinations.
Words & photography :: Tory Powers
Among the Great Lakes lies what was once one of Canada’s best-kept secrets: Sault Ste. Marie. A city built on steel, hockey and cross-country skiing, the Soo is quickly climbing the ranks of Canada’s mountain biking destinations.
I first came to Sault Ste. Marie, known by the locals as “The Soo,” just over four years ago. I was initially surprised by the quality of the trails given the limited elevation. In many ways, the terrain felt similar to what you might find in the Midwest or southern United States. There were promises back then of expanding the trails, and four years later, the Soo has delivered.
This time around, we got to show Jason Lucas what the Soo was all about.
Before I knew it had been deemed “the friendliest city,” I had an inkling that something felt different here. You won’t find folks ignoring your “hi, how are ya?” nor screaming “Strava!” in the Soo. What you will find is a community that prides itself on just that—community. Everybody seems to know each other and will happily chat at the trailhead or trailside, genuinely interested in what others have to say.
Since 2022, Sault Ste. Marie has cumulatively invested $4 million to expand its already extensive network of trails, bringing their total to 65km, aiming for 70km by next summer. This went directly towards not just mountain biking, but cycling as a whole. On top of the 35-40km of singletrack built since 2021, the in-town and MTB connector, the Hub Trail, was expanded. This included the installation of multiple large bridges and dirt/paved connector trails uniting the town and the trails themselves.
Before I knew it had been deemed “the friendliest city,” I had an inkling that something felt different here.
Travis Anderson, head of tourism, had this to add: “As for future plans, we’re going to add a few more kms next year, ~5K or so, but after that we’re mainly focused on hosting fun events, like the Salty Marie Trail Festival and Frozen Toe Fat Bike Race….just trying to build on what we already have. Basically a bunch of riders that like to get together, have fun and drink a few beers. Seems to be the recipe for success for any bike-related event!”
Tourism articles have a habit of embellishing a destination’s first impression. That isn’t the case here. Coming from Colorado, I’m constantly told that we have some of the best riding in North America. Colorado may have the views people are looking for, but I can promise that our public trail systems have nothing quite like the quality found in the Soo.
Since 2022, Sault Ste. Marie has cumulatively invested $4 million to expand its already extensive network of trails…
Originally built around quality rather than quantity, the network is now beginning to offer both. Along with this, the trails are definitely designed around progression. Every turn, roller and jump feels intentional, creating an experience I haven’t found in any other public trail system. From green trails to double blacks, there’s something for nearly every riding style at each trailhead.
You’re probably still thinking about the idea that surely the trails can’t be “mountain biking” without mountains.
The landscape may consist primarily of undulating hills, but the riding feels much bigger than the terrain suggests. Short, punchy climbs that test your legs give way to (intentional) expertly designed descents that feel like much longer segments. I was surprised to see elevation-per-kilometre numbers similar to what I encountered back home in Colorado. While I may be used to grinding through one sustained climb, the quickness of each section allows you to link up multiple trails in plenty of different fashions so that each ride feels different than the last.
The community here is growing rapidly. The trails feel noticeably fuller. This isn’t cause for concern, though, because the growth in the sheer number of trails and the inclusion of plenty of directional/downhill-only trails keep things flowing smoothly.
From green trails to double blacks, there’s something for nearly every riding style at each trailhead.
We ran into people from Quebec City, Montreal, and elsewhere during our short stay who, nearly mimicking each other’s words, said when they come through the Soo, they always stop to get a ride in. Beyond tourism, the Soo riding community is also flourishing. Rides such as “Titty Tuesdays,” organized by Danielle Anstess and in partnership with Vélorution, have created a welcoming and supportive space for women to learn from one another and have a great time.
Let’s get into what y’all are really here for, the specifics. First, we met up with the people behind the expansion, Alder and Zak from Holocene Trail Company. Moving massive rocks and cutting roots by hand, these builders were clearly doing it for the love of the trails.
Moving massive rocks and cutting roots by hand, these builders were clearly doing it for the love of the trails.
Near this expansion were a few shorter trails that were way gnarlier than I expected, Headbanger and Slippery When Wet. Both featured North Shore-style rock slabs that certainly earned their respective black and double-black ratings.
A close ride from downtown, and technically within city limits, is the Wishart Park Trail system. Some shorter trails that were easily lappable provided the goods. Approachable wooden drops and flowy jumps make it an excellent progression zone, all without much—if any—driving from downtown.
The next day, we checked out “Farmer’s” which borders Farmer Lake. A zone I had previously visited, this was the most noticeable change. What was once a collection of out-and-back and primarily cross-country trails now features multiple different loops and bike park-level features making the descents feel like something out of a dream.
What was once a collection of out-and-back and primarily cross-country trails now features multiple different loops and bike park-level features…
Big rock slabs and berms were complemented by views through the canopy at Farmer Lake and the unforgettable Crystal Lake, where Jan, owner of the town’s Vélorution bike shop, says he always stops for a swim.
It wouldn’t be a trip to the Soo without visiting Lake Superior, and stopping for some fish and chips along the way.
Trails like “Thunder Thighs,” aptly named for its gruelling climb, prove terrain is what you make of it. Despite being rated blue, Jason and I both mentioned how this is a trail we could easily see ourselves wanting to lap with buddies. The descent is extremely fast and flowy with optional jumps, S-turns and the kind of repeatability that makes you want to head straight back up for another lap.
Trails like “Thunder Thighs,” aptly named for its gruelling climb, prove terrain is what you make of it.
The next morning we found ourselves at Crystal Creek to go see what the Soo had been cooking up in the jump-line department. Big Kahuna was the one trail we had the time to check out, purely because we spent so much time lapping it that we didn’t have time to go elsewhere.
The descent solidified my admiration for trail design in the Soo—and made me slightly reluctant to return home to Colorado. Reached by a quick pedal to the top, this approximately 2-3 km trail had me feeling more than a little envious. Large, rollable jumps, wood wallrides, tall berms, and fast chicaning rollers pieced together a little bit of everything.
Large, rollable jumps, wood wallrides, tall berms, and fast chicaning rollers pieced together a little bit of everything.
After riding, we stopped at a local favourite, the Soup Witch, where you can grab, you guessed it, soup and sandwiches.
For our final afternoon and evening, we spent some time checking out downtown. Bush planes, ship propellers, and countless murals cover the city, giving downtown its distinctly “Soo” character.
Downtown has plenty of cyclist-friendly spots, with outdoor patios, bike parking and even hair-band cover bands. Even one of the breweries, Outspoken, is cycling-themed.
We certainly weren’t the only ones on bikes downtown.
There are plenty of great spots to grab a bite after a day at the trails, including Peace Restaurant. We ordered a little bit of everything, including cauliflower stir-fry, Korean bao buns and sushi, paired with locally brewed beer just down the street at their partner, Outspoken Brewery.
One of the Soo’s greatest strengths is how easily riders can move between downtown and the trails. Paved and unpaved connectors now link the city with the trailheads and connect the individual riding zones, crossing several impressive new bridges along the way.
Paved and unpaved connectors now link the city with the trailheads and connect the individual riding zones, crossing several impressive new bridges along the way.
After running into plenty of out-of-town riders during our trip, Jason Lucas summed it up best: “I guess what they say is true: if you build it, they will come.” The Soo is quickly turning into one of Canada’s best mountain biking destinations. Come see for yourself why it’s making such a lasting impression on Canada’s mountain biking community.
Article sponsored by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie.
