Don’t wait for the perfect conditions!
That’s the consistent advice Sault Stryders’ Run Club gives to its newbie runners. So while summer may be over, Algoma’s fall trails are still well-maintained and offer picturesque views that rival any season – even on those early mornings when frost appears on the windshield.
Here’s one Sault Stryder’s take on the best fall routes to soak up Sault Ste. Marie’s vibrant colour-scapes and scenic views.
Nick Brash, a running promoter and world-class marathon runner, runs virtually every day and is a veritable expert on the best local paths for runners of every stripe.
“If you’re talking about close to town, I would first choose Whitefish Island on the other side of the locks,” he says. “There’s a whole network of trails back there that are cleared regularly and you end up crossing over the top of the locks and running along the waterfront where the people of Whitefish Island and First Nations communites have put up boardwalk trails.”
Novice runners can take advantage of a map that’s available at the start of the trail system.
"Although there are several trails intersecting, it’s pretty tough to actually get lost,” says Brash, who also recommends beginners run with a group. “Sault Stryders is great because it’s not just a motivational group for people new to the sport, but also a social group,” he says.
Another favourite trail for Brash is Fort Creek.
“The paths are well-groomed at the moment and there is no snow. The only thing you can see are leaves and gorgeous views.”
That said, Brash wears a bear bell when running and says that, as many Saultites know, wildlife is everywhere.
“Sure there’s bears, racoons, porcupine, but probably the worst interaction I’ve had so far has been a flock of Canadian Geese who blocked the trail completely.”
Brash says he had a bit of a standoff and eventually carved a pathway through them after kicking up some dirt.
Of course, the Hiawatha Highlands is a classic Algoma go-to for runners. For people worried about getting lost in the wilderness there is an interactive app, Trailforks.com that allows you to follow your run in real time and to choose your trail by difficulty.
When not running in town, Brash trains near his home north of the city in Goulais River. He recently hosted the Ultra Trail Stokely Creek event which brought more than 150 runners from two provinces and seven states together at Stokely Creek Lodge.
“Stokely Creek offers some of the most gorgeous – and challenging fall running I’ve ever experienced,” says Brash.
For those who are willing to drive a bit for the perfect trail, Brash says the trails are comparable to those in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France, where he has competed in the past.
“You’re running up mountains and through various landscapes,” says Brash.
Probably not ideal for first-time runners.
“Still, it’s one of my favourite places on earth to run – in any season.”