Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park lies in the heart of the Mattawa Valley in Ontario, Canada. It is a region rich in history dating back to the early fur trading days of Canada’s beginnings. It is not hard to imagine the Metis paddling their traditional birch canoes down the Mattawa River with its steep rocky banks and towering White Pine trees.
Today the area is a Provincial Park spanning multiple lakes and the Mattawa River itself. There are two campgrounds, a Mattawa River Visitors Centre , hiking trails, as well as kayak, SUP, and canoe rentals available for visitors to the park. It is the perfect place to unplug, connect with nature and enjoy the historical landscapes of Canada’s history.
How to Get There
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is located approximately four hours north of Toronto just outside of Mattawa, Ontario. The park cannot be reached by transit, so having your own transportation is essential. The closest town centre for stocking up on last minute supplies is North Bay.
Camping Facilities
There are two campgrounds located within the park: Jingwakoki Campground and Babawasse Campground. Both campgrounds are located on the northern banks of Moore Lake where it meets the Amable du Fond River. The campgrounds have sites with electrical hook up and are perfect for either tent camping or trailer/RV camping.
We stayed at Jingwakoki campground and loved the beautiful sites right on the lake! The sunset views were lovely and we loved the soft pine needles on the all of the trails around the site. We found the perfect place to read, listen to the bullfrogs and watch the sun set into the golden hour!
Activities
There are so many things to do at Samuel de Champlain Park! We filled our time with hiking, swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. The perfect camping activities in our book!
Kayak, SUP, and Canoe Rentals
The park has made it easy to get out and explore the many lakes and rivers by providing kayak, canoe and SUP rentals around the park. The Park Store, centrally located in the park provides lifejackets, paddles and keys to unlock the rental boats that are stored right by the shore. No need to transport boats through the park! Just pick your rental location and away you go, key in hand to unlock the boats right at the water.
We started our day bright and early on stand-up paddleboards on Moore Lake. We picked up the SUPs at Bagwa Beach on the south side of Moore Lake and paddled along the shoreline looking for frogs on lily pads! The water was calm to begin with but the wind quickly picked up and we were glad to be close to shore when heading back to Bagwa Beach.
In the afternoon we opted to rent kayaks that we picked up near Babawasse Campground. This time we paddled along the northern shore of Moore Lake and enjoyed seeing where the lake meets the Amable du Fond River. The kids had a blast practicing their paddling skills and exploring around the lake!
Hiking
There are numerous hiking trails to choose from throughout the park. The trails range from easy to moderate with some steep climbs. The trails loop around the different lakes and rivers in the park and offer different views of the water as well as lots of wildlife viewing. There are a total of 7 hikes to choose from. There are three trails close to the campgrounds:
- Forestry Research Trail: 1km , less than 1 hr. Easy
- Kag Trail: 2 km, 1.25 hrs. Moderate with some steep climbs
- Wabashkiki Trail: 1 km, 0.5 hrs. Easy
The rest of the trails are part of the Etienne Trail System and loop around Long Lake and the Mattawa River.
- Geology Loop: 5.5 km , 3 hrs. Moderate with steep cliffs
- History Loop: 8.5 km, 5 hrs. Moderate with some cliffs
- Nature Loop: 8 km, 4.5 hrs. Moderate with steep cliffs
- Red Pine Loop: 3 km, 1.25 hrs. Moderate
We opted to do the Kag Trail . The trailhead is within walking distance of the Jingwakoki Campground and loops beside Gem Lake. We all thought it was a beautiful trail with a variety of terrain. It changed from a smooth open trail to steep climbs up rocky slopes covered in pine needles.
The second half of the loop follows a bit of a ridge and offers views down to Moore Lake. It was the perfect place to catch the breeze and stop to admire the view.
This was an easy hike for us to do and we completed it in just over one hour. The trail was very easy to follow as there are frequent tree markings to keep you on the trail. Just follow the blue hikers on the signs!
Voyageur Canoe Experience
One of the special things about the park is that it runs Voyageur Adventure Tours where you can experience the life of a voyageur at the height of the fur trade by paddling a 30 foot canoe on the Mattawa River. The tour is run by knowledgeable guides who will help you to discover a part of Canadian Heritage.
The program runs daily during the summer months of July and August. There are 3 different program lengths to choose from ranging from 1 hour to 3 hours. The cost varies from $8 to $17 pp.
It is worth noting that the tour only runs if there are at least 6 registrants as the boat is large and needs a minimum of 6 paddlers to make the journey. It is also weather dependent and will be cancelled if there are thunderstorms in the area. Unfortunately for us, we were not able to do the tour due to thunderstorms. We were very disappointed as this is a total highlight of any visit to Samuel de Champlain, but it means that we have a reason to return to this amazing park!
If you are looking for a place to explore the outdoors, connect with nature and learn a little about Canada’s history, than Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is the perfect Ontario Parks location to visit!
Thinking of visiting here in the future? Pin it for later!
Want to explore more Ontario Parks? Check out our hiking guide to Lion’s Head Provincial Park along the shores of Georgian Bay on the Bruce Peninsula!
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