At Killbear Provincial Park in Parry Sound District, you can canoe and kayak. The park also features more than 12 kilometres of rugged shoreline and three islands to explore. The shores and islands offer different points of reference for your time on the water: here, the coastline and islands take centre stage.
A different waterscape awaits you at the French River. The 105-kilometre canoe route in French River Provincial Park runs from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay, passing through interconnected lakes, gorges and rapids. In contrast to Killbear, the French River is characterised above all by this succession of waterways and rocky landscapes.
Massasauga Provincial Park also brings together islands and inland landscapes in its own way: it includes hundreds of wind-sculpted islands, as well as forests and lakes inland. On Georgian Bay, the park offers wilderness camping from Parry Sound to the Moon River. Calhoun Lodge also offers a glimpse of cottage life in the 1930s.
History Along the French River
The French River is a river of national historic significance and was the first designated Canadian Heritage River. At the French River Provincial Park Visitor Centre, you can learn about the history of First Nations and the French and English cultures that lived, worked and travelled on these waters for centuries. The canoe route and the river’s history intersect here, though they do not tell the same story: the route passes through lakes, gorges and rapids; the visitor centre focuses on the people and cultures that shaped these waters.
At the Museum on Tower Hill in Parry Sound, the permanent exhibition covers logging, shipping and the early years of life in the north. The Northern Nature Exchange is for people of all ages: through observation, it encourages appreciation of nature and learning about the environment. Another cultural discovery is the two Artists' Stations in Parry Sound. Each looks out over views that Tom Thomson painted during his visit in 1914.
Trails and Days by the Lake
There are also different trails on land, and their lengths and designated uses make a concrete comparison possible. The recreational trail in Killbear Provincial Park is six kilometres long and intended for hiking and cycling. At 2.5 kilometres, the North Shore Rugged Hiking Trail is shorter and is described as a natural-surface hiking trail. It is located at Salt Dock Wharf and leads to the boundary of the Municipality of McDougall.
At Oastler Lake Provincial Park, you can spend the day swimming, having a family picnic and barbecuing. Summer is the best time for fishing rainbow trout, pike and perch. Canoes can be rented on a “first come, first served” basis and may only be used on Oastler Lake within the park. In addition to fishing and activities along the shore, the park also offers a specific way to explore the lake by canoe.
Whether you are interested in a canoe route, a museum, a hike or a day by the lake, the experiences described in Parry Sound District lead to different sides of the region. The waterways take one form as a rugged shoreline with islands, and another as a route through lakes, gorges and rapids. Culture and trails add their own themes and perspectives to these discoveries.
Discover more destinations: Parry Sound District, Nipissing, Rosseau, Callander, Magnetawan, Mcdougall, South River, Sundridge, Port Loring, Emsdale
View the broader travel overview: Ontario.
