Where to Climb

There are almost unlimited spots to climb ice in Algoma, and dozens of areas have been visited. Here are a few of Danylo Darewych’s suggestions for your first visit. (Some material reprinted, with permission, from Danylo Darewych, Granary Lake Ice Climbs, North of Huron.)

Granary Lake

From Blind River head north on Highway 557, and keep going straight onto Granary Lake Road when Highway 557 makes a sharp turn to the left (west) about 3 km north of town. Follow Granary Lake Road to its end and park at the side of the road (another 15 km). Follow the snowmobile tracks (which usually go down the last driveway) to the lake and head across the lake to the big cliffs on the north shore. It’s about a 15 minute walk to the cliffs.

Climbs are up to 45 metres long with a good range of difficulty. The steep curtains of the Go Go Beavers and Gong Show areas are spectacular.

Lake Lauzon

From Blind River head north on Highway 557, and keep going straight onto Granary Lake Road when Highway 557 makes a sharp turn to the left (west), 3 km north of town. Almost immediately turn right (east) onto High Road at the cemetery. Drive east along High Road. After about 5 km the road will make a leftward (northward) turn near a hydro line. Follow the main road to its end, by-passing a left-hand turnto Bass Lake. The road ends at a public boat launch. It’s approximately 7 km from the Granary Lake Road, 10 km total from Blind River. From the boat launch head out into a small bay, then turn right and head west for 1 km to the north shore of a big peninsula jutting into Lake Lauzon (passing to the right of a large island). A long discontinuous cliff line runs for over 2 km along this peninsula. The cliff varies in height from 15 m to 60 m. There are about 20 routes here, mostly in the moderate grades.

Constance Lake

From Iron Bridge head north on Highway 546, but at the 10.9 km mark – instead of heading straight ahead on the 554 – continue on Highway 546 as it turns right (north). Constance Lake is another 8 km north of this intersection or 19 km total from Iron Bridge. Park at the road leading to the garbage dump at the north-west corner of Constance Lake. From here you should be able to look across the lake to see whether the ice is in (binoculars would be useful). Cross the road from the dump and walk along the nearby creek for 50 m to the lake (watch for thin ice at the mouth of the creek), then head southeast across the lake to the big cliff on the eastern shore. It’s about a 20-minute walk to the cliffs. There are about 17 climbs here, including some steeper and harder ice.