Tip Top Mountain

Posted by Derek on Mar 26, 2018

Rank: 21
Height: 2103 feet / 641 m
Lat/Lon: N48 16.405 W86 00.228
Line Parent: Blackspruce Lake Peak
Key Col: N48 17.390 W83 57.048 (1115ft / 340m)
Clean Prominence: 988ft / 301m
Date Summited: N/A

Overview:

Tip Top Mountain is located in Pukaskwa National Park in the Canadian province of Ontario. Its summit is 641 m (2,103 ft) above sea level and 457 m (1,500 ft) above Lake Superior. It lies north of the Swallow River, about 10 km inland from Lake Superior. Before 1966, Tip Top Mountain was considered the highest point in Ontario.

Tentative Itinerary:

When: August, 2019

Day 1

Drive to Wawa/Marathon/Hattie Cove (6-8 hours)
Stay at hotel in Wawa/Marathon or Camp at Hattie Cove (Pukawska)

Day 2 (13.90 km / 8.64 miles)

Drive to Hattie Cove at Pukawska National Park (If staying in Wawa or Marathon)
Boat shuttle from the Visitor Center at Hattie Cove with North Shore Adventures to North Swallow River (2 hours)
Hike 13.9 km (8.64 miles) from North Swallow to White Gravel River
Camp at White Gravel River

Day 3 (12.46 km / 7.74 miles)

Hike/bushwhack 12.46 km (7.74 miles) from mouth of White Gravel River along White Gravel River to Camp A (Lake: N48.288048 W86.014752)
Camp at Lake (N48.288048 W86.014752)

Day 4 (11.95 km / 7.43 miles)

Hike/bushwhack 2.83 km (1.76 miles) from Lake (N48.288048 W86.014752) to summit of Tip Top
Hike/bushwhack 9.12 km (5.67 miles) from summit of Tip Top to Camp B (N48.308182 W86.082859 – where bushwhack track returns to riverbed of the south branch of the White Gravel River)
Camp along south branch of White Gravel River

Day 5 (20.48 km / 14.10 miles)

Hike/bushwhack 6.18 km (3.84 miles) from Camp B (campsite along south branch of White Gravel River at N48.308182 W86.082859) to mouth of White Gravel River
Hike 14.3 km (8.89 miles) from White Gravel River to Oiseau Bay
Camp at Oiseau Bay

Day 6 (22.7 km / 14.10 miles)

Hike 22.7 km (14.10 miles) from Oiseau Bay to Chigamawinigum Falls
Camp at Chigamawinigum Falls

Day 7 (7.8 km / 4.85 miles)

Hike 7.8 km (4.85 miles) from Chigamawinigum Falls to Hattie Cove
Drive home from Hattie Cove

Expenses:

Cost of Water Shuttle: equal share of $600? (estimated — might be possible to share cost with a second group)
Park fees for 5 days: $50 ($9.80 per person, per night)

Contact me at if you’re interested in joining the excursion.

View a larger version of the map

Tip Top bushwhack overlayed on Forest Resource Inventory Imagery

Tip Top Mt. Route – Planning (.gpx format)