Ultimate Adventure Guide to Mississagi Provincial Park

Mississagi Provincial Park is a little known yet easily accessible destination with plenty of attractions for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous families alike. Located on Highway 639, about 20 minutes north of Elliot Lake, Ontario, it’s close to the Trans-Canada Highway, about midway between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. It boasts gem-like lakes and high Canadian Shield hills, affording some of the finest canoeing and hiking in the province, as well as a small campground that makes a perfect base camp. Due to its name, the park is often confused for Mississagi River Provincial Park, which is a more remote destination for river canoe tripping with minimal services, located further north.

I love Mississagi Provincial Park as a destination to combine two of my favourite activities: canoeing and hiking. I’ve launched my canoe from the park campground and paddled across Semiwite Lake as a shortcut to the remote McKenzie Backcountry Trail. The campground also provides easy access to the Helenbar Trail, with a series of high viewpoints overlooking Helenbar Lake and beyond that rank among the best vistas I’ve ever encountered. Nearby Flack Lake, located on the park boundary, offers crystalline blue waters and a canoe-in hike to an abandoned fire tower with similarly spectacular views.

We've rounded up all the information you need to know to plan your own trip to Mississagi Provincial Park. It offers paddling routes and trail tips for all levels of adventurers, and will help you score the best campsite at Mississagi Provincial Park. Read on to get inspired to visit one of Northern Ontario’s hidden gems. 

Planning Your Trip to Mississagi

Mississagi Provincial Park is easy to get to, about 45 minutes north of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17) on Highway 639. It takes about two hours to get there from Sudbury or Sault Ste. Marie. Head north on Highway 108 to Elliot Lake, merge onto Highway 639 and enjoy the quiet drive through stunning hills on a route known as the Deer Trail. The city of Elliot Lake, about 20 minutes from the park boundary, has all you need in the way of groceries and last-minute camping supplies.

The campground is open from May’s Victoria Day weekend through the first weekend of October. In most years, visiting before the end of May avoids mosquitoes and blackflies (which are prevalent for all of June) and catches the bloom of forest wildflowers and the arrival of songbirds. It’s also a great time for fishing for lake and brook trout. Ideal summer conditions occur from early July through late August, with warmer air and water temperatures. Visit in late September to enjoy crisp nights, misty mornings and spectacular fall colours.

You can often get a campsite (frontcountry or backcountry) at Mississagi Provincial Park without a reservation, especially on weeknights. But it’s a good idea to plan ahead. You can check availability and select a frontcountry campsite on the Ontario Parks reservations website up to five months before your arrival date.

Camping and Accommodations

There are two options for camping in Mississagi Provincial Park: frontcountry and backcountry. The park’s 60-site drive-in campground is quaintly reminiscent of previous times, with spacious, well-treed sites for RVs and tent-camping. No electrical sites are available. Each site comes with a picnic table and firepit, with access to vault toilets and water taps. There is no comfort station (shower building) or laundry facilities at Mississagi Provincial Park. You can often get a campsite without booking in advance, though it’s easy to choose a campsite and make a reservation online.

Four walk-in campsites are a unique feature at Mississagi Provincial Park. These private campsites are nestled along the shores of Semiwite Lake, about a 20-m walk from a parking area. Walk-in campsites are a great chance to try out backcountry camping with the convenience of having your vehicle nearby.  A large group campsite with enough space for up to 20 tents or 5 RVs is also available for family or group events.

Backcountry camping is one of the highlights of Mississagi Provincial Park. Remote paddle- and hike-in sites are available on Flack, Semiwite and Helenbar lakes, and there are backpacker campsites on Lower Brush and Upper Brush lakes, along the McKenzie Backcountry Trail. You can pick up a backcountry camping permit at the park gatehouse or make a reservation online.

There are plenty of accommodation options in Elliot Lake for those who want to make day trips to Mississagi Provincial Park. Laurentian Lodge offers waterfront accommodations and great dining on Flack Lake, and Dunlop Lake Lodge is another nearby option that’s popular for anglers.

Hiking Trails in Mississagi

Mississagi Provincial Park is truly a paradise for hikers. The park features numerous hiking trails and classic central Ontario scenery, with Canadian Shield lookouts, endless hardwood forests and azure lakes. Multiple options are available for all skill levels, ranging from short, family-friendly outings to tough day hikes and an overnight backpacking trail

Several hiking trails are accessed from the Mississagi Provincial Park campground: The 7-km Helenbar Trail is rated intermediate in difficulty, with a steady ascent to an impressive viewpoint that soars 130 m above the surrounding forests; the 11-km Jimchrist Trail is a challenging day hike through mature white pine and hemlock forests and along the shores of Chirstman and Helenbar lakes; the 1.2 km Semiwite Creek trail is excellent for families, with good spring wildflowers and the opportunity to take in the century-old remains of the logging days; the difficult 12-km Semiwite Lake trail highlights more of the park’s logging history, and also includes a remote beach swim spot; and McKenzie Lake Backcountry Trail (named after a pilot who survived a crash in 1946 and spent 26 days in the wilderness before being rescued) showcases all of Mississagi’s natural attractions in a remote, 22-km trail with backcountry campsites to support a weekend trip. There’s also an easy 0.8-km Nature Trail at the Flack Lake boat launch, on the west side of Highway 639.

If that’s not enough, there’s also plenty of outstanding hiking all along the Highway 639 corridor, outside of Mississagi Provincial Park. The 11 km Cobre Lake trail begins on the east side of the highway, near the junction with Highway 546, featuring a gruelling climb to panoramic views. Paddlers can also access the 5-km footpath to the abandoned Old Baldy fire lookout tower on a bare rock summit, in the southwest corner of Flack Lake.

Canoeing and Kayaking Mississagi

Mississagi Provincial Park and the Elliot Lake area is also a must-visit destination for paddlers. There are multiple options for day and overnight trips on flatwater in the region. Starting from the campground you can trace the undeveloped shoreline of Semiwite Lake by canoe or kayak and portage to Helenbar Lake on day- or overnight trips. There are also rugged portages to Lolligag and Gashen lakes, both of which offer brook trout fishing. Half- and full-day canoe rentals are available at the park office.

Flack Lake is another good destination for canoeing and kayaking Mississagi Provincial Park. There’s a park boat launch on the west side of Highway 639, just north of the campground. Flack Lake features aquamarine waters and a couple of backcountry campsites within the park boundaries. Beyond the western border of Mississagi Provincial Park experienced canoe trippers can set off on 3- to 7-day wilderness trips, with rugged portages through undeveloped lakes, including parts of Blind River Provincial Park. Permits are currently not required in this non-operational park.

It’s easy to mistake Mississagi Provincial Park for Mississagi River Provincial Park. The latter encompasses the upper portions of the Mississagi River, an important waterway used by fur traders and immortalized by British writer Archie Belaney (AKA Grey Owl) in the early 20th century. The Mississagi River is a great 8- to 10-day canoe trip for intermediate to advanced wilderness paddlers with river tripping skills, starting at the community of Biscotasing (northwest to Sudbury) and ending at Highway 129, south of Chapleau. Contact Northern Skies Resort for canoe rentals and vehicle shuttles.

Fishing In The Park

Lakes in Mississagi Provincial Park support brook trout and lake trout, fish species that are becoming increasingly rare as bodies of water become warmer due to climate change. Fishing is best in the spring, when the water is cold and trout can be caught in shallower water on Semiwite Lake. Diehard anglers follow rugged portages to smaller bodies of water for elusive brook trout. There are special regulations and lake closures in the area to protect the sensitive population. Visit Fish ON-Line to learn more about fishing opportunities and regulations.

Other Activities in Mississagi

Semiwite and Flack lake, with Public boat launches available and motorboats are allowed on Semiwite and Flack lake. There are no dedicated bicycling routes in the park, however cycling is a great way to get around the campground, especially with kids. Highways 639, 546 and 108 are excellent for road- and gravel cyclists looking for a scenic ride with challenging hills and little traffic. There are two swimming beaches at the campground on Semiwite Lake, as well as a remote hike or paddle-in beach at the end of the Helenbar Trail. Birding is excellent in Mississagi Provincial Park, especially during the spring migration in May. A resident pair of Bald Eagles can often be observed all summer at the campground.

Explore Beyond Mississagi

The Mississagi Provincial Park area boasts plenty of tourism attractions. Get off of Highway 17 and drive the scenic Deer Trail Touring Route to get there, which takes in specular canyon scenery along the Little White River on Highway 546, north of the village of Iron Bridge, and the big hills of Highway 639 to Elliot Lake. The town of Elliot Lake itself is an excellent destination with a range of attractions, including a mining museum and waterfront parks that are great for family swimming and picnics. Blossoms is a favourite Elliot Lake bistro with classic fare and homemade hot chocolate and Chillside Grill serves ice cream. Well-established regional fishing lodges, including Dunlop Lake Lodge and Blue Fox Camp, provide some of the best angling in Ontario with knowledgeable guides. Laurentian Lodge is a popular resort for outdoor weddings and nature retreats, with great dining.

Mississagi FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

o   How do I get a Mississagi permit?

You can often pick up a Mississagi permit for car- or backcountry camping without a reservation at the park gatehouse. You can also make a reservation online.

o   What is the best time to visit Mississagi Provincial Park?

The best time to visit Mississagi Provincial Park depends on what you’re looking for. Spring is a season of rebirth with wildflowers, songbirds and fishing; weather is warm and stable in the summer; and late September is prime for leaf peeping.

o   Can you rent canoes at Mississagi?

You can rent canoes for a half-day or day at the Mississagi Provincial Park gatehouse. For multi-day rentals check out Forest the Canoe in Sault Ste. Marie or Spanish River Outfitters, near Sudbury.

Plan Your Mississagi Adventure Now

Located just north of the city of Elliot Lake, Mississagi Provincial Park is a great destination for those who love the outdoors. It’s only a 2-hour drive from Sault Ste. Marie or Sudbury, and features a quaint and quiet campground on the shores of Semiwite Lake with outstanding enough hiking trails and paddling routes to keep you busy for days. What’s more, the park also features backcountry camping for backpackers and canoeists, and the surrounding wilderness outside of the park boundaries provides some of the best multi-day canoe routes in Ontario.

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