Schreiber on Lake Superior: Hiking and Railway History

Schreiber brings together two distinct themes: hiking trails through the landscape along Lake Superior and the railway history that shaped the town. As you plan your trip, you can focus on the routes and their individual characteristics, or put the historic sites at the center of your plans. When choosing a hotel in Schreiber, you can start by considering which experiences matter most for your stay.

Hiking: Trail Length and Character

The Casque Isles Trail is a 53 km recreational wilderness trail. It begins in Rossport, passes through Schreiber, and ends in Terrace Bay. Schreiber Beach is an access point to the Schreiber Channel segment; access is via Isbester Drive in Schreiber. Access conditions may vary. Before hiking, check the conditions and access information for the route you plan to take.

If you’re looking for a shorter route to a lookout, the Picnic Table Lookout Trail is at Schreiber’s southernmost end. Rated easy, the trail covers 2 km each way to the destination—for a total of 4 km round trip. The Red Chair Trail is considered the shortest and relatively easiest trail to explore. At the chairs, hikers can stand on unique rock formations along the shore of Lake Superior.

The distances refer to different scales: 53 km is the length of the entire Casque Isles Trail, while the Picnic Table Lookout Trail distance is given one way. This lets you compare the two trails by their planned distance without assuming the length of the Schreiber sections of the longer trail.

Schreiber Beach and the Route to the Water

Schreiber Beach is a local destination on Lake Superior. From there, you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the lake, and the shoreline near town is quiet. Visitor parking is available near the beach. Visitor facilities may vary by season, so it’s worth taking the current situation into account when planning.

The trail in Schreiber connects the town area with the water at Schreiber Beach. This adds a route with a specific lakeside destination to the hiking options. Schreiber Beach is also the access point for the Schreiber Channel segment of the Casque Isles Trail. The information about the beach and trail access helps distinguish these two connections to the same place.

Railway History in Town

Schreiber was founded in the 1880s as a railway construction camp and developed into a Canadian Pacific Railway terminal. The Schreiber Discovery Centre and Railway Museum exhibits include a historic locomotive, a passenger car, and a freight car. These different objects offer a tangible glimpse into the town’s railway history.

A screening room is located inside a restored freight car. Visitors can watch a short film there about the Canadian Pacific Railway’s connection to Lake Superior. The museum also includes two restored railway cars, including a VR car with a video about the history of Schreiber and the Canadian Pacific Railway. A visit brings together a look at historic railcars and films about the railway and the town.

The Schreiber Cemetery Heritage Tour also explores the people and stories that shaped the community. It invites visitors to explore the cemetery and learn more about the town’s history. Together with the railway museum, the tour offers another way to discover Schreiber’s past: through the railway on one hand, and through its people and their stories on the other.

Discover more destinations: Mount Forest, Eganville, Deep River, Kirkland Lake.

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