Your Adventure Guide to Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Looking for a taste of the north? Grundy Lake Provincial Park is a fantastic camping destination in rugged Canadian Shield country, about an hour’s drive north of Parry Sound. The Park is open for day use, frontcountry camping and backcountry camping from early May through mid-October.

There’s something for everyone at Grundy Lake Provincial Park: canoe routes, hiking trails, great swimming, cycling and fun interpretive programs to learn more about the area’s rich natural heritage. It is a great destination for first-timers or experienced campers looking for somewhere new. This article will help you plan your trip.

Where is Grundy Lake Provincial Park?

Grundy Lake Provincial Park is located just over 300 kilometres north of Toronto, with easy access via highways 400 and 69. Turn east on Highway 522 and drive one kilometre to the park road. Your last stop for groceries and supplies is Parry Sound; to Grundy Lake Provincial Park from here it’s an 85-kilometre drive. The Park is 85 kilometres south of Sudbury.

Car camping at Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Frontcountry camping at Grundy Lake Provincial Park is available for tents, trailers and RVs. The Park offers 476 campsites divided into nine campgrounds. There’s truly something for everyone, with a mix of electrical and non-electric sites—all with easy access to amenities like water taps, toilets, comfort stations and laundry facilities, as well as the Park Visitor Centre and main beach. Swimming beaches and canoe launches are located adjacent to many of the camping areas, on Grundy, Clear and Gurd lakes.

The best campsites at Grundy for peace and quiet are found in the generator- and audio device-free Red Maple and Hemlock camping areas, as well as Group Site 902. Dogs are allowed in all camping areas with the exception of Red Maple and Group Site 902. The latter accommodates 20 to 50 people camping in tents, with a private beach.

Meanwhile, the White Birch Cabin offers a cottage-like experience on Grundy Lake. The cabin features a queen bed and twin-over-double bunk beds, to sleep a total of 5. There’s a basic kitchen with a bar fridge and microwave, as well as a barbecue on the deck. Campers must bring their own pots and pans, cooking utensils, dishes, pillows, linens and towels. There’s a minimum two-night stay (three nights over long weekends), and pets are not permitted.

The campground is open from the second weekend in May through Thanksgiving in October. Campsite reservations (up to five months in advance of your arrival date) can be made online or by phone, and are recommended from the May long weekend through late September.

Backcountry camping at Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Grundy offers 10 backcountry campsites. Six sites are located on Grundy, Clear and Gurd lakes, which are easily accessible from the main campground for self-propelled travellers. These sites have the best of both worlds: they’re quiet and afford a better chance of viewing wildlife, yet also allow you to retreat to the campground to use the comfort stations, go to the Visitor Centre or participate in interpretive programming from Discovery program staff.

The other four backcountry sites are accessible via paddling from Gurd Lake and making up to three portages, all less than a kilometre long. With one exception, all Grundy backcountry campsites are accessible only by canoe (B10 is a paddle- or hike-in site).

Backcountry camping at Grundy allows you to practice your skills without venturing too far into the interior. Campsite-specific reservations can be made online or by phone, up to five months in advance of your stay, during the Park's operational season from early May through mid-October. Permits can be picked up at the Park office, along with a basic map showing campsite locations. Each backcountry site has a fire pit, picnic table, food storage locker and box privy toilet.

Grundy Lake Provincial Park Reservations

Frontcountry and backcountry campsite permits for Grundy Provincial Park can be reserved online or by phone up to five months in advance of your stay. The online reservation portal includes brief descriptions and photos of each campsite to help you choose the best for your needs.

Grundy day use tickets, also known as Daily Vehicle Permits, can be purchased up to five days in advance online (recommended for weekends and in July and August) or at the Park office for $12.25 per vehicle. 

Things to do at Grundy Lake Provincial Park

By land or water, it’s not hard to stay busy at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. There’s enough selection of outdoor activities to satisfy couples, families and solo campers.

Canoeing and kayaking

Grundy Lake Provincial Park is a paddler’s paradise, with pristine lakes linked with maintained portage trails. Motorized boats are not allowed on any Park lake, guaranteeing a peaceful experience. With one exception, paddling is the only way to access Grundy’s 10 backcountry campsites.

Beaches

Beaches are a big attraction at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Along with the main Park beach (accessible to Park day users) at the south end of Grundy Lake, five of the nine campground clusters have their own natural sand beach on Grundy, Clear and Gurd lakes. There are no lifeguards, and pets are not permitted at Park beaches. A pet exercise area is provided adjacent to Clear Lake, just north of the Balsam Campground. Check the park alerts webpage for beach postings indicating elevated levels of bacteria in the water.

Hiking trails

Grundy boasts four day hiking trails, ranging from the easy 1.5-kilometre Swan Lake Trail to the 5.2-kilometre out-and-back Pakeshkag Lake Trail. The 2.5-kilometre Gut Lake Trail is popular for its diverse habitats, including open Canadian Shield rocks, forested areas and wetlands. Meanwhile, the 3.6-kilometre Beaver Dam Trail passes an active great blue heron rookery. All Park trails offer excellent opportunities to observe wildlife like beaver, moose, deer and many species of songbirds.

Cycling

Park roads, as well as the Pakeshkag Lake Trail, are open to cyclists. The latter is a multi-use trail where cyclists are obliged to yield to hikers.

Fishing

Anglers can catch northern pike, walleye and bass at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. A Learn to Fish program offers a free two-hour hands-on workshop for new anglers.

Cliff jumping

Thrill-seekers highlight cliff jumping at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. In particular, a trail leads to a rocky shoreline on Gut Lake between campsites 22 and 24 in the White Spruce campground. Safety is of utmost importance. Be sure to check the water thoroughly for adequate depth and hazards before taking a leap.

Animals at Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Located at the intersection of Central and Northern Ontario, Grundy wildlife is diverse. Visitors may see moose and white-tailed deer, fisher, snowshoe hare, common loon, ruffed grouse and a wide range of songbirds, including colourful warblers. Don’t forget your binoculars and pick up the Park bird list at the Visitor Centre.

There are black bears at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. While most bears prefer to avoid encounters with humans, some can become habituated by receiving human food at camping areas. It’s important to store your food properly (locked in a car in the frontcountry or by using food lockers at backcountry campsites) to avoid negative encounters. Be an ethical wildlife-watcher and do not feed or approach any species of wildlife. It is also forbidden to cut wildflowers, shrubs, trees or any live vegetation.

General information

• Stay tuned to the Park’s alerts webpage or check out the Ontario forest fire info map to see if there is a fire ban at Grundy Lake Provincial Park
• Blackflies, mosquitoes, deerflies and horseflies are the most common biting insects at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Mosquitoes and blackflies are prevalent from late May through early July, depending on precipitation. Deerflies and horseflies can be a nuisance in hot, humid weather in July. Ticks are occasionally observed, so it is important to check yourself daily.
• The Grundy Park Store, located at the Park office, sells Ontario Parks merchandise and souvenirs. You’ll have to drive to a nearby community to purchase groceries, but ice is sold at the nearby Grundy Lake Supply Post.
• Visit the Grundy Lake Provincial Park Fans Facebook page for visitor stories and updates. Note that this group is not affiliated with Ontario Parks.

Grundy Lake Provincial Park map

Several convenient maps of Grundy Lake Provincial Park are available to download online. Backcountry campers receive a printout map showing the location of campsites, hiking trails and portages upon picking up their camping permit at the Park office.

Chrismar produces a Grundy Lake Provincial Park Adventure Map that’s perfect for backcountry travellers. Maps by Jeff’s East French River map also contains Grundy Lake Provincial Park.

Grundy Lake Provincial Park weather

Grundy weather is typical of Central Ontario. Expect ice-out in late April to early May, with temperatures warming rapidly and moderate precipitation through the spring. Summer weather can be hot and humid, with regular thunderstorms. Cooler temperatures return in late August and early September, with occasional bursts of summer-like conditions in early autumn. The leaves change and the risk of frost arrives in late September. Check out Environment and Climate Change Canada for detailed weather forecasts and historical conditions.

Hotels near Grundy Lake Provincial Park

While there aren’t many hotels nearby, Grundy Lake is central to many fishing lodges and cottage rentals around the French, Key and Magnetawan rivers. Some options include Great Escape Cabins, just north of Bigwood; the Key Marine Resort; and St. Amant’s Waterfront Inn. The town of Parry Sound, located about an hour’s drive south, has a wide range of accommodation options.

Shopping near Grundy Lake Provincial Park

The Grundy Lake Supply Post is your best bet for shopping near Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Located adjacent to the park road, this outlet sells basic groceries, ice, camping gear and fishing equipment, as well as offering canoe, kayak and SUP rentals and serving tasty burgers and fries. Other shopping options are limited to roadside stops in small communities like Key River and Bigwood. The closest grocery stores near Grundy Lake are located in Parry Sound and Sudbury, so you’re best to pick up food and supplies along the way. The French River Trading Post is a popular gift shop about 20 kilometres north of Grundy Lake on Highway 69.

Towns near Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Grundy Lake Provincial Park is located in the heart of rural Central Ontario. The nearest midsize and large communities are Parry Sound and Sudbury, each located about 85 kilometres away to the south and north, respectively. Key River, Bigwood and Magnetawan are nearby villages and cottage communities along Highway 69, with limited services.

Things to do near Grundy Lake Provincial Park

Grundy Lake Provincial Park is located less than 20 kilometres south of French River Provincial Park. This protected area includes a hiking trail and interpretive Visitor Centre alongside one of Canada’s most historic waterways. Your Grundy Lake Provincial Park permit affords you access to French River Provincial Park and it’s well worth making a day trip. Meanwhile, the cottage and resort communities of Bigwood and Key River offer additional angling opportunities and classic lodge accommodations, if you want to add variety to your trip.

Grundy Lake Provincial Park in the fall

Consider an autumn trip to Grundy Lake Provincial Park for a more peaceful experience. The leaves start changing colours around mid-September, with peak colours towards the end of the month. Hiking the trails amidst the technicolour forest is a magical autumn experience. Bird-watching at Grundy is excellent as well, with the autumn migration in full swing. Meanwhile, paddlers can find bliss gliding along the shorelines of Park lakes on glassy, calm, misty September mornings. Be sure to reserve your campsite in advance and expect a quieter campground at midweek.

Equipment rentals

Personal flotation devices and a wheeled canoe “caddy” for portaging are available for rent on-site at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Located adjacent to the Park on Highway 522, Grundy Lake Supply Post offers canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals (with convenient delivery to the Park campground) by the day or week. You can also rent canoes, kayaks and paddleboards at White Squall in Nobel, north of Parry Sound, or Swift Georgian Bay in Waubeshene.

Programs and events

Passionate nature interpreters are the lifeblood of Grundy Lake Provincial Park’s Discovery Program. You can sign up for a guided hike or take in a presentation at the Park amphitheatre or Visitor Centre throughout July and August to learn more about Grundy’s rich natural and cultural history, as well as other topics such as the night sky. Staff also deliver an Arts in the Park program for kids and adults alike. 

Visit Grundy this camping season

Grundy Lake Provincial Park is truly a gateway to the North for camping and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s easily accessible with outstanding frontcountry and backcountry camping options and a wide range of outdoor activities to enjoy from spring through fall.

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