Ultimate Adventure Guide to Chutes Provincial Park

Chutes Provincial Park offers the only Ontario Parks campground on Highway 17 between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. Located in the town of Massey, the park is named for the stunning cascades of the Aux Sable River, which runs alongside the quiet campground and is the main attraction of an impressive network of family-friendly hiking trails. Chutes is a great destination for family campers, nature enthusiasts and landscape photographers looking for an easy getaway that makes a convenient overnight stop on a road trip.

Despite these charms, most travellers passing through don’t even know it’s there. That was my experience for years—until I took time to stop and stumbled upon a hidden gem with a full campground and easy hiking trails to take in spectacular waterfalls. With its great scenery and services, it’s hard to believe Chutes Provincial Park has slipped under the radar for so long. This article will provide you with information and tips so you can discover Chutes for yourself.

Discover The Beauty of Chutes

A watery highway for Indigenous travellers since time immemorial, the Aux Sable River was later central to early logging activities by settlers in Northern Ontario, whisking hand-cut and horse-hauled white pine logs downriver to local mills. The series of awe-inspiring waterfalls that make Chutes Provincial Park so spectacular were once a mandatory portage for canoeists and a nightmare posing the risk of dangerous logjams for lumberjacks.

Today, you can appreciate the park’s history just by listening to the steady rumble of the cataracts from one of the park’s 128 drive-in campsites, and witnessing them up close on the Twin Bridges hiking trail. Chutes is a great destination for families with 6 km of easy hiking paths, a Discovery Program to learn more about the area’s nature and history from park interpreters, cycling on quiet park roads, good fishing and a sandy swimming area in calm water below the falls. It’s also the perfect stop for motorists to take a break for an overnight on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Planning Your Trip to Chutes

Chutes Provincial Park is open from the Victoria Day weekend in May through Thanksgiving in October, and you can’t go wrong visiting anytime through the operating season. However, certain times of year are better for weather and insects, waterfall-viewing and fall colours.

Like most Ontario Parks, July and August are peak season at Chutes Provincial Park, with warm temperatures, little rain, fewer biting insects, and low water conditions for the best swimming. Unlike busier parks, however, it’s usually possible to get a campsite at Chutes Provincial Park without making a reservation—at least outside of holiday weekends. Plan to visit in late May or early June to witness the power of the Aux Sable River in the high water of the spring freshet. Though the dates are never exact, leaf peepers stand the best chance of catching the best fall colours in the last week of September. Remember that spring and fall in Northern Ontario holds greater potential for wet and cool weather. Though the campground is closed in the winter, you can still park at the gate and hike and snowshoe on the park’s trails to see the waterfalls under a cloak of snow and ice, with no permits required.

Day use permits are required if you wish to visit the park during the operating season and campers require a campsite permit, which you can purchase at the gatehouse or reserve online. The park is located about an hour west of Sudbury and 2.5 hours east of Sault Ste. Marie. Getting there is easy: turn north on Highway 553 off of Highway 17 in the town ofMassey and drive about 1 km to the gatehouse.

Guide to Camping at Chutes

Chutes Provincial Park offers 50 non-electrical and 78 electrical campsites, as well as two group campsites for larger gatherings of 15 to 30 tents. Though there are no pull-through sites, the campsites are spacious and many will accommodate larger trailers and RVs. Each campsite has a firepit and picnic table, with easy access to pit toilets and water taps. The park has a comfort station with flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Two sites are designated barrier-free.

It’s always a good idea to use Ontario Parks’ online reservation system to select and book campsites in advance, however you can often book your campsite at Chutes Provincial Park at the gatehouse on your day of arrival. Sites number 90 through 96 are located close to the waterfalls and a great choice if you want to fall asleep to the sounds of rushing water. The entire campground is shaded by a mixed forest of coniferous and deciduous trees, offering excellent privacy. There is no backcountry camping in Chutes Provincial Park. Check out Spanish River Provincial Park or Mississagi Provincial Park for nearby options for wilderness canoeing, overnight backpacking and backcountry camping.

Chutes is also a great day trip destination for guests staying in nearby accommodations, including Agnew Lake Lodge, Cutler Lake Lodge and Waterfalls Lodge.

Hiking Trails in Chutes

The Twin Bridges trail starts in the campground at Chutes Provincial Park and traces the west shore of the Aux Sables River before crossing to the east shore just above Seven Sisters Rapids. Watching the river slant away from the bridge in torrents of whitewater is a highlight of hiking the trail during periods of high water, in the spring or after heavy rains.

The trail consists of two well-marked loops, with a total distance of 6 km. Besides the unique perspectives provided by the trail’s two bridges, there are several scenic lookouts to admire the rapids and waterfalls along the way. The terrain is generally flat and level and suitable for just about everyone.

Even if you skip walking the entire Twin Bridges trail, you shouldn’t miss making the short trek to the Chutes’ namesake waterfalls, located adjacent to the parking lot near the Big Chute Crescent section of the park campground.

Other must-do hikes in the area include the epic 36.7-km Kitchitwaa Shkwaandem (Heaven’s Gate) trail from Fort La Cloche, just south of Massey, along Lake Huron’s North Channel to Highway 6. Many shorter loops are possible starting from the eastern trailhead, near the town of Whitefish Falls. On the east side of Highway 6, the 1-km climb to Willisville Mountain, once a favourite destination for Group of Seven painter Franklin Carmichael, offers a quicker glimpse of the rugged La Cloche mountains. The Cup and Saucer trail on Manitoulin Island is another popular day hike.

Waterfall Viewing

The Big Chute and Seven Sisters Rapids on the Aux Sable River are the focal points of Chutes Provincial Park. The roar of the cascades is a constant backdrop, and it’s mesmerizing to take in all the patterns of tumbling water when you view the falls from the various perspectives of the park campground and Twin Bridges hiking trail.

Plan a springtime visit for high water. Later in the season, as water levels decrease, photographers can experiment with different shutter speeds to freeze and blur the motion of water coursing around Precambrian bedrock. Autumn photo opportunities are especially exciting, when the river is fringed by the reds, golds and deep greens of maples, aspens and cedars. Regardless of the season, the river’s north-south flow gives photographers unique opportunities to capture the falls in both morning and afternoon light from different viewpoints.   

Other Activities at Chutes

Along with hiking, cycling and birding are other great activities at Chutes Provincial Park. Riding the quiet, smooth-surfaced roads is an excellent way to get around the campground and introduce your kids to biking. More experienced cyclists can bring their road- or gravel bike and make Chutes a base camp for exploring the area’s backroads, including secondary highway 553 and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

Chutes is also a good choice for birders, especially during the spring migration and May, when dozens of species move through the area, and throughout the breeding season, when you can spot colourful warblers flashing in the woods and hear the chorus of the white-throated sparrow, winter wren and hermit thrush. A total of 119 species have been documented in the park.

There’s one designated swim area in Chutes—a fine sand beach located down river from the big waterfall in a pool of calm, tannin-stained water. There are no lifeguards. Anglers can try working the Aux Sable River’s pools for trout, especially in the cool waters of spring. Check out Fish ON-Line to appreciate all the angling opportunities in the area..

Explore Beyond Chutes

Chutes Provincial Park is central to a variety of outdoor attractions in Northern Ontario. A short drive south of Highway 17 in Massey takes you to Sagamok First Nation and the scenic La Cloche Mountains, where you can hike the Kitchitwaa Shkwaandem (Heaven’s Gate) trail. This amazing long-distance trail from Fort La Cloche to Highway 6 at Whitefish Falls attracts day hikers, backpackers and trail runners with its many options. The scenery is incredible, with quartzite hills and views of the azure waters of Lake Huron’s North Channel.

Sea kayakers can launch from McBean Harbour or Fort La Cloche in Sagamok First Nation to access the islands of the North Channel, including the famous Benjamin Islands, which are renowned for their pink granite domes and scraggly pines. Drive about 80 km north of Chutes on highways 553 and 810 to access the Lac Aux Sables-Bark Lake canoe route, a 4- to 5-day wilderness trip that provides access to the historic Mississagi River.

The town of Massey includes a local museum, small grocery store, gas station and a few small-town restaurants. Poirier’s is known for its great pizza and the Little Brew Cafe serves coffee and delicious baked goods.

Making the Most of Your Time at Chutes

Stay safe at Chutes Provincial Park and leave no trace of your visit. Always tell a loved one your route and when you plan to return from a hike, and be aware of the danger of slippery rocks around the banks of the Aux Sable River. It is illegal to cut any vegetation (live or dead) in the park or remove any driftwood or rocks, all of which contribute to Chutes’ diverse habitat. Don’t feed the wildlife, observe rules around campfires, be sure to pack out all garbage whether you’re camping or hiking, and clean up after other visitors whenever possible. Let your experiences at Chutes Provincial Park inspire you to return, visit other Ontario Parks, and become an advocate for nature.

Chutes FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

o   How do I get a Chutes permit?

You can purchase day use permits for Chutes Provincial Park online or at the park gatehouse. Make campsite reservations online, up to 5 months before your arrival date. Reservations are recommended for the best selection and certainty, but you can often book a campsite at the park gatehouse, outside of holiday weekends,

o   What is the best time to visit Chutes?

The weather is best and you’ll encounter fewer biting insects by visiting Chutes Provincial Park in July and August. However, spring visits are best to experience the waterfalls in high water and late September is ideal for fall colours.

o   Are there guided trips in Chutes available?

Guided trips in Chutes are not available, however campers and day visitors can participate in Discovery Program activities with park naturalists.

Plan Your Chutes Adventure Now

You’re missing a hidden treasure if you drive past Chutes Provincial Park on the Trans-Canada Highway, between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. This small park in the quaint Northern Ontario community of Massey boasts surprising charms, including an excellent campground and scenic trails, waterfalls and a sandy swimming hole that appeal to families, nature enthusiasts and photographers. Plan a day visit or an overnight stay to discover all Chutes has to offer. You can often score a campsite without advanced reservations, but booking online will give you the best selection. 

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