I’ve always found it worthwhile to head to remote locations, whether in Canada or beyond our borders. When it comes to Ontario Parks, some of my best hiking and wildlife experiences have been in the most northern parks I’ve visited.
Sign for the Teck Lake Trail
Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
A little off the radar for many campers, Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park is up near Foleyet, Ontario. That’s over an hour east of Chapleau or an hour west of Timmins. Still not sure? How about 8-9 hours of riving north from Toronto!
It’s a beautiful lake, with spacious campsites and plenty of privacy. The nosiest neighbour we had was a mamma duck who kept waddling around our campsite with her babies in tow.
There are actually quite a few decent hiking trails at Ivanhoe Lake. The first one we did was the Teck Lake trail.
Teck Lake at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
Hiking the Teck Lake Trail
At only about 1km long, this is a short trail. Even so, this trail offers a nice range of scenery, as it meanders through mature forests and takes you to a pretty kettle lake (Teck Lake).
While the trailhead for Teck Lake isn’t very far from the campgrounds, we didn’t see, or hear, any other hikers our entire time on this trail!
The only sounds were our own steps, and the birds and squirrels chirping and chattering away at us.
Hungry Red Squirrel at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
It was a pretty hot mid-summer day when we hiked this trail, so upon reaching the little lake, it definitely looked refreshing to swim in! No beaches or anything here though, so we headed back to our waterfront campsite, where we had lots of space on Ivanhoe Lake to enjoy the water.
The trail itself is quite easy overall. It does have some decent inclines and declines to get your heart pumping a bit, but there are no real challenging areas.
Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park – Teck Lake Trail
Most people should be able to do this trail in decent running/hiking shoes. I still tend to hike in my hiking boots on such trails to avoid possible ankle injuries, but they weren’t really needed on this hike.
Expect to see some forest dwelling creatures along the way too, mostly red squirrels. Maybe chipmunks too.
Berries by the trail at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
In terms of vegetation, it was a lot of big pine trees, as well as some smaller berry bushes, and mixed forest in areas. A good variety! Some decent sized, colourful mushrooms were spotted too.
Teck Lake, a kettle lake, at Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
The pathway was narrow in many places, and slightly overgrown at times, as can be expected at the lesser-visited parks further north.
Overall a fun trek in the woods that only takes about half an hour of hiking.
Have you ever gone camping for Thanksgiving? We did the other year and had an absolute blast!
Autumn colours, cool nights and a cozy rustic cabin made for an ideal Thanksgiving getaway at Bonnechere Provincial Park. Enjoying some of the last warm days before fall took full effect, our group had a fantastic time exploring the park and taking advantage of the somewhat quiet conditions that fall camping allows for.
Rustic Cabin at Bonnechere Provincial Park
While the rustic cabins seemed booked up, the campground itself looked to only be 1/2 or 2/3rd full. Considering the weather was better than most of the summer, we felt lucky being able to go hiking on the trails, and canoeing down the river in relative peace and quiet, save for the sounds of busy birds, beavers, squirrels and chipmunks running around.
One fun highlight at Bonnechere that cracked us up was the McNaugton Trail with its “Footprints in Time”, which we dubbed “infologs” instead, as we thought it was a catchier name! it was actually a lot of fun reading and learning about the traditional local First Nations history and culture in a traditional way.
An “Infolog” at Bonnechere
By the light of the moon, we even did a midnight paddle down the river all the way to the lake. So peaceful, except for the occasional “splash” from an animal slipping into the water as we paddled by.
We even had time to take in a few games of horseshoes! How about that? Bonnechere was a surprising park for all of us. It had been on our radar before, but we were impressed by the range of trails, the nice beach area and the overall features of the park. While we are not camping for thanksgiving this year, it is quite possibly the start of a new tradition for years going forward.
Rustic Cabining at Bonnechere
What is a Rustic Cabin?
First off, it isn’t too rustic!
By rustic they mean it doesn’t have a washroom on-site, so you have to use the communal bathrooms and showers just as if you were car camping. But the rustic cabin does come with a screened in porch area, a spacious living room area and kitchen, plus two bedrooms.
BBQ Area at the Cabin
Outside you get firewood included, a BBQ area with propane BBQ included and a canoe for your use as well! Pretty sweet, if you consider that the cost of those extras can add up pretty quickly.
In fact, we had so much space around our cabin at Bonnechere that we were able to take advantage of the nice weather and play some lawn games like bocce ball and spikeball when we weren’t enjoying a campfire.
Horseshoes anyone?
The cabin kitchen had a kettle and mini-fridge and microwave that were handy. We did bring a couple of coolers along to keep extra food cold on the screened in patio, since it was Thanksgiving after all and we BBQ’d a turkey breast, along with all the extras for a special dinner.
We spent our days exploring the park, and sitting by the campfire, or lounging in a hammock we put up near the river. It was a hard camping experience to beat. With more and more Ontario Parks adding some rustic cabins, yurts or other accommodation options, this is the way to go for those early season and late season weekends where weather might not always cooperate – or where you simply want some extra comforts compared to sleeping in a tent.
Chipmunk!
We did have a short time of rain on our camping weekend, but a high-stakes game of Yahtzee in the cabin quickly turned that into a fun time too. A visit from one of the park wardens was fun too, giving us some insights into what it is like working at Ontario Parks, seemed like quite an interesting gig!
We can imagine this park to be a popular, busy place during peak summer months. It has a lot to offer for families with kids and the beach was impressive too. While we didn’t go swimming on Thanksgiving weekend, we were tempted! maybe we’ll have to return to go for a dip next time?
Hammock Time at Bonnechere
Checking out the little Library
Canoeing back to our cabin at Bonnechere Provincial Park
One of the most impressive landscapes found North of Lake Superior is the Ouimet Canyon.
If you want to truly appreciate the size and unique nature of this canyon, then you need to visit Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park. It is by no means a large park, but it is conveniently close to Thunder Bay and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.
Ouimet Canyon in Northern Ontario
What makes the day use park so attractive is the towering cliffs of the canyon that can reach as high as 100m. As interesting as that is, it is the fact that at the base of this canyon you’ll find arctic plants growing, which are typically found more than 1000km further north on the shores of Hudson Bay! How crazy is that?
Walking Bridge at Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park
Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars to get some cool views from the lookouts on the 1km loop trail here, which takes you right up to the edge of the canyon for some fantastic lookout views. There is also a nice boardwalk and bridge along part of the trail. This is a super sensitive area, so as tempting as it may be to think about heading down into the canyon here for a closer look at those arctic plants – it is strictly prohibited. Gotta keep nature pristine for the next visitor, you know!
Boardwalk at Ouimet Canyon
There is a cool rock formation called The Giant here too, keep your eyes out for it if you visit!
The Giant at Ouimet Canyon
A lot of people may never get to visit the Arctic, so this is the next-best thing – an ecosystem that varies from Boreal forest to sub-arctic tundra.
The Achilles Lake Trail at Fushimi Lake is more of an easy path to a scenic lake view than any sort of adventurous hiking trail.
Achilles Trail at Fushimi Lake
Almost completely flat from start to finish, at only 500m in length (1km round trip) you’ll find many families and campers enjoying this trail at any time of day, because it starts and ends quite close to the campground in the park – only about a 5-minute walk away.
This is the kind of little trail that is perfect for an early morning walk while enjoying your first cup of coffee for the day, or for going on a evening stroll at sunset to see if there is any wildlife hanging out along the shores of Achilles Lake.
Achilles Trail Map
Spruce trees, and small shrubs line the path, which opens up to some rocky clearings along the shore of the lake. There are well-located benches nearby that are perfect for either fishing or just soaking up the views.
If you want a more leisurely fishing experience than heading out on a boat on Fushimi Lake, this is the spot to head to. Spend a bit of time casting a line from the shore and you’ll likely come away with enough fish for dinner, all just a short little walk from your campsite. Doesn’t get much easier than that! Walleye and Northern Pike both being plentiful.
Red Squirrel along the Achilles Trail at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park
Moose and other wildlife such as fox are frequent visitors to Achilles Lake. The easy access makes it perfect for launching a canoe into the lake to do some wildlife spotting. Alternatively, the rocky shoreline also provides some places to explore as well.
A good contrast to the longer, more challenging Fire Tower Trail, the Achilles Lake Trail can be your go-to morning and evening walk in the park. Spend a weekend, or week, camping in Fushimi Lake and chances are pretty great that you’ll come across some moose or loons if you take daily excursions out to Achilles Lake.
Achilles Lake – Bench View
View across Achilles Lake
For people who want to launch their canoe at the lake, there is a small parking area closer to the trailhead so that you don’t have to carry your canoe all the way from the campground. It’s a much quieter, calmer lake than Fushimi (much smaller as well), so definitely a better option for a casual paddle.
If you’re not familiar with the great nature and wilderness of our northern Ontario Parks, Fushimi Lake Provincial Park is just northwest of Hearst, which is about 6 hours north of Sault St. Marie, 7 hours north of Sudbury or 11 hours north of Toronto.
Canoe Rentals are available
Many interesting flowers and mushrooms are found along the trail to Achilles Lake
One of the more remote provincial parks in Ontario that you can drive to, Fushimi Lake Provincial Park is home to a couple of impressive hiking trails.
While fishing attracts most people to this park in Northern Ontario, hiking and camping are equally rewarding with potential wildlife sightings, including iconic Canadian creatures like moose and loons.
Fire Tower Trail – Windswept Trees
Hiking the Fire Tower Trail at Fushimi Lake
This is the more challenging of two main hiking trails at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park.
For the most part, it is an easy trail, which skirts along the shore of Lake Fushimi for a good portion of the trail. There are plenty of places to stop and look for wildlife or admire the views at the lake, or even go for a swim near the start and end of this trail.
Some marsh areas are found along the portions of the trail as well, where you may hear, or spot smaller animals such as frogs, squirrels and turtles. Depending on the time of year you’re hiking, be sure to be prepared for plenty of mosquitos and annoying horse flies.
Starting the Fushimi Lake Fire Tower Trail
Red Squirrel – Hiking at Fushimi Lake
Fire Tower Trail – Do you know what kind of Butterfly this is?
The park says to allow yourself 4 hours for hiking his trail. As with most Ontario Parks, this is a generous time allotment, as even with a handful of stops along the way, you can hike this trail in a bit over 3 hours. If you do decide to take a lengthy break for a picnic lunch up at the Fire Tower, or to go for a swim, then sure it could be a 4 hour adventure.
One thing that stood out while hiking this trail was the sheer number, and variety, of mushrooms along the trail. Fungus, fungus everywhere! They added a bit of colour to the landscape, along with the red squirrels that were extra chatty along this trail.
Expect lots of mushrooms and fungus along the Fire Tower Trail
Lots of Black Spruce and Balsam Fir trees make up the majority of trees and vegetation you’ll be walking through on this trail, from start to finish.
The Old Cabin
One of the ‘highlights’ on the trail is the old cabin that was used in the past when the Fire Tower was operational. Both were built in the 1930s. Not knowing what to expect before arriving at this part of the trail, I was expecting a nice, restored cabin that could serve as an emergency refuge even today. But, as you can see from the photos it’s barely a real highlight anymore.
The ruined old cabin, won’t sleep here tonight…
At first, I wasn’t even sure if this was the cabin mentioned in the park brochure and hiking trail map, because it was in such terrible ruins, barely recognizable. But sure enough, this was it. With some imagination, you could picture it in better days. The official trail brochure helps bring the history to life a little more, but for the average hiker, it’s a bit of a disappointment.
Would I call this a highlight of the trail? Not really. It was more of a let down than anything. But, still interesting as it does bring to life some of the history of the area.
Some parts of the Fire Tower Trail at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park can get a bit rough
Good Spot for a Lunch / Snack Break
From the cabin area, you have a choice. The trail here has begun to wind inland, and beyond the cabin you’re going to start climbing up to the Fire Tower. Alternatively, you can take a break and head down a side trail to a beach and picnic area.
The picnic / beach area was somewhat overgrown when I visited and wasn’t the most appealing spot for a swim, but was a decent spot to stop for a picnic lunch or short break to fuel up before heading to the top.
Lake view, plenty of decent picnic spots along this trail
Heart-Pumping Incline
Up until the Cabin, the trail is easy and mostly flat. But as you go past the cabin and the trail turns inland, it also begins to climb. Part of the trail beyond the cabin has a decent incline to it, which can get the heart pumping if you’re hiking at any type of speed.
Typical scenery along the Fire Tower Trail
As you’d expect from a trail with a Fire Tower, the tower needs to be located somewhere with a great 360 degree vantage point of the surrounding forest. That means it is atop the hill that you’re now climbing.
If you’re climbing with kids, there will probably be a few “are we there yet” type of moments, but after some sweating it out, you’ll catch a glimpse of the tower in the distance.
At first sighting, it is a bit deceptive, as you still have a fair distance to cover before actually reaching the tower. Still, nothing motivates you better than seeing the end of the trail, or in this case, the highlight of the trail.
The Fire Tower at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park!
Reaching the Fire Tower
There are very few old Fire Towers still standing in Ontario. Once a critical, widespread network across a large portion of the province, todays modern world doesn’t really have a need for having people stand watch in these towers, peering out across the trees in search of forest fires.
While this fire tower is abandoned and not in use anymore, it is maintained enough to be a real highlight for the hike. Just know that it you are not allowed to climb the tower. There are warning signs reminding you that it is dangerous, as well as illegal.
Fire Tower – Looking Up
It is tempting to want to see the view from “up there”, but gazing up at the tower from the clearing below is as high as you’re allowed to go. There are mossy rock outcrops and plenty of areas to stop and rest while you catch your breath after the hill climb.
The Fire Tower makes for a nice backdrop for some photos as well, before you continue on your hiking trail and begin the return path back to the start.
The return hike is easier (downhill) and a bit uninspiring as it follows the same path you took to get here. It would be nice for this trail to be a loop, instead of a single track, linear path, but even so it is worth spending a morning of afternoon to explore.
Rays of Sunshine atop the hill on the Fire Tower Trail
Overall roundtrip distance of the trail is about 7km (3.5km each way). Allow yourself 3 hours to enjoy the trail and surrounding nature. The suggested 4 hour hiking time is a bit much, unless you stop at the beach for a swim or lunch.
While this is the most challenging and longest trail in the park, If you’re more keen to spot wildlife or relax on the shores of a lake, I found the short Achilles Lake trail to be more enjoyable.
Expect lots of birds to be around while hiking this trail in Fushimi Lake PP
More vegetation from the Fire Tower Trail at Fushimi Lake
