Ontario park with ancient volcano and giant cliffs looks like 4km-long giant

Just east of Thunder Bay, Ontario, a huge silhouette stretches along the horizon of along Lake Superior. It looks just like a huge, sleeping human stretching kilometres— and the namesake of a popular provincial park. 

That natural rock formation is known as the Sleeping Giant, the eroded remains of an ancient volcano that erupted nearly 1.1 billion years ago during the Midcontinent Rift. 

The park, aptly named Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, sits along the north shore of Lake Superior on the Sibley Peninsula. It boasts wide landscapes and massive lakeside cliffs, a wonder to anyone curious enough to visit. 

At Sleeping Giant, see cliffs that are almost 250 meters wide. Photo: Brester Irina/Shutterstock

The Sleeping Giant's mass formation of rocks resembles a row of mesas and cliffs that appear to form an almost four-kilometre-long body, seemingly snoozing in the distance, complete with cliffs that resemble a face, a chest, and a stomach. 

The cliffs carved out by the volcanic eruption offer breathtaking views for hikers who want to gaze upon the horizon and feel the wind on their faces.

Originally named Sibley Provincial Park, the sprawling attraction was later renamed Sleeping Giant after the peninsula, which earned its current name through an old Ojibway tale. 

The sleeping giant is actually thought to be a spirit named "Nanabijou", meaning The Spirit of Deep Sea Water. 

When European traders arrived in the land, Nanabijou gifted the Ojibwe people a secret silver mine. The only catch was that the location was never permitted to be disclosed.

When a Sioux scout who spied on the Ojibwe later drunkenly revealed the mine's location to the Europeans, Nanabijou unleashed its rage and turned to stone to keep the secret of the mine’s whereabouts forever.  

The story goes that the location of the mine rests at the feet of Nanabijou, laid to rest there forever. 

In a 2007 CBC competition, the large rock mass was voted number one of the Seven Wonders of Canada, even beating out Niagara Falls. 

If you're curious to visit this billion-year-old park with a rich history, there are numerous outdoor aspects to marvel at, but be prepared to get adventurous.

Today, the park is best known for having over 200 kilometres of rugged wilderness to explore. There are campgrounds where you can fish, swim and go boating. There's also mountain biking for the thrill-seekers, where you can bike on treacherous and steep paths. 

Enjoy boating or a hike up one of the park's trails. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock
 

Plus, there is plenty of wildlife to look out for, like deer and foxes. You can also bird watch over 200 avian species. 

Amongst the rugged trails at Sleeping Giant, you can look forward to climbing the Top of the Giant trail, which takes you hiking up to the Lake Superior lookout that sits around 250 meters above the lake. 

Full-service cabins are also available to rent year-round. 

Be sure to consult Ontario Parks to check the availability of facilities and activities at the park, as they may be weather-dependent due to ecological and seasonal conditions.