The Ultimate Adventure Guide to Windy Lake Provincial Park

If you’re a fan of family-friendly beaches, clean, freshwater, year-round camping, and the pristine beauty of Northeastern Ontario, you’ll absolutely love Windy Lake Provincial Park. I was lucky to visit the area this past fall and was immediately enamoured by the changing colours of the forest—and that was just the beginning. Windy Lake Provincial Park is a fantastic outdoor destination at all times of the year.

Windy Lake offers a more intimate Ontario Parks experience than its larger cousins. It is situated 50 km from Sudbury, and offers nature lovers the chance to swim in crystal-clear waters from 1.5 km of sand beaches, get a taste of the boreal forest hiking on the Transitional Trail, fish for walleye and lake trout, or explore during the winter months. All while, you can stay in a breathtaking campsite or enjoy the luxury of a heated cabin or yurt.

This guide covers the area’s best hikes, fishing spots, camping options, canoeing, and winter activities, as well as outlining the necessary permits to give you everything you need to plan your own unique outdoor adventure in one of the best-kept secrets of Ontario Parks. 

Planning your trip to Windy Lake

Located 50 km northeast of Sudbury, in the community of Levack, Windy Lake Provincial Park sits on the edge of a 1.8 million year old impact site of a crater, known as the Sudbury Basin. To get there from Sudbury, drive 45 minutes north on Highway 144. To reach the park from further south, take Highway 400 north through Barrie and Parry Sound to Sudbury, merge onto Highway 17 and watch for the Highway 144 exit just past Sudbury.

Windy Lake is a great four-season destination, but it is especially wonderful to visit during the warmth and changing colours of August and September. Or, plan a trip in January or February to embrace winter and enjoy the abundant snowfall. The park is operational from May to September, and then again from January to March. 

Windy Lake Provincial Park includes boat launches and fishing, canoeing, massive sand beaches, an impressive range of camping options, with comfort stations and a laundromat, pet-friendly areas. First-timers are welcome with fishing tackle and boating equipment rentals. In the winter you can glide along 15 km of groomed cross-country ski trails, or try ice fishing on the lake.

Permits are required to access the park and its campgrounds. It’s wise to make a reservation prior to your visit to ensure a successful trip. Check-in at the gatehouse upon arrival, and the staff will happily answer any questions you have. Before visiting, refer to the Windy Lake Homepage for park updates. 

Camping

Windy Lake boasts an impressive range of unique options to satisfy any type of camper. Whether you’re looking for the ease of a pull-up car campsite, or ready to brave minus 20 C temperatures in the seclusion of the snowy winter, you can do it all here.

Car-camp in one of Windy Lake’s 93 front country campsites, with options for electrical hookups. You can also book a group campsites and take advantage of amenities like private beach access, a volleyball court, and a covered shelter for picnics during inclement weather. If you’re looking to experience the outdoors with some added comfort, or during the winter, book one of their waterfront cabins or their heated yurts. The park has a comfort station with indoor toilets and showers, laundry facilities, a park store, as well as drinking water available from outdoor taps.

For those interested in an introductory backcountry camping experience, the park’s walk-in campsites are a unique option offering a remote waterfront camping experience, without the added challenges of navigation, portaging, or packing light. The campground and walk-in sites are available from May to September; yurts and cabins are available from May to September and again from January to March. 

Fishing

Windy Lake is a popular fishing destination with abundant walleye, lake trout, brook trout, northern pike and smallmouth bass lurking in its clear shallows and deep waters. The park offers Tackleshare rentals, so if you’re not fully kitted-out just yet, don’t worry—they have you covered. Make sure your Ontario fishing license is up to date and check the rules for lake and river-specific fishing allowances before fishing.

Start your day right and cast right off the shore as you enjoy your morning coffee. Or, make use of one of the boat launches within the park to access offshore areas and remote shoreline features. You’ll have the best chance of catching fish at dawn, plus you’ll get to take in the beautiful sunrise. If you’re like me and love lake trout, try trolling with a downrigger in the lake’s deeper sections during the warmer months. For bass, keep an eye out for shallow weed beds along the shoreline.

For a cold-weather fishing experience, Windy Lake offers an ice fishing package that provides you with everything you need to make some incredible angling memories. The kit includes tackle, rods, stools, buckets, an auger, and a toboggan that transforms into a full shelter to protect you from the elements. Park staff can deliver the equipment to a fishing location for you, or you can hike the sled out yourself. If you’ve been interested in ice fishing but have felt limited by equipment, this experience is for you! 

Hiking

Rugged topography and a wilderness feel keeps hikers coming back to Windy Lake again and again. Easy paths weave through cedars and birch before ascending to cliff lookouts high above the surrounding tapestry of treetops and pewter lakes.

Located within the park’s mixedwood forest, the Transition Trail gently winds up and down as it takes you on a 3 km loop through verdant spruce, paper birches and colourful wildflowers. As you walk the trail, keep an eye out for birds like yellow warblers and pileated woodpeckers.

Other hikes in the vicinity include the Osprey Heights Trail, a 4 km intermediate trail that takes hikers on a steady incline to reach cliff tops overlooking the waters of Halfway Lake. The trail is open year round, so bring your snowshoes during the winter. For those ready for a serious challenge, the Hawk Ridge Trail is a 15 km hike with some great views of rock faces, ending at a beach for a cool down swim. Finally, the A.Y. Jackson Lookout Trail is an absolute must-see for art-lovers and history buffs. The trail takes you to the rushing waters of High Falls in the community of Onaping Falls, which served as the inspiration for A.Y. Jacksons’ painting “Spring on the Onaping River”. 

Boating and Canoeing

Motorboats are permitted on Windy Lake and you can make use of one of the multiple boat launches within the park, including a permanent cement boat ramp, to set off on a cruise or fishing excursion. Or, if you prefer to paddle, keep an eye out for good weather and use the beach to launch your kayak, canoe or standup paddleboard. Windy Lake offers PFD rentals, but you’ll have to bring your own watercraft. Check out Fox Lake Lodge for nearby canoe rentals. They also offer motorboat rentals and even have a fleet of camping gear available for rent.

Make use of one of the 1.5 km of large public beaches in the park and spend your day barbequing, swimming, or playing volleyball at one of the beach courts. The beaches also have a buoyed swimming section for kids and gazebos for lunches. 

Winter

Embracing the cold often means less crowds, new activities, and the unique feeling of having Windy Lake Provincial Park to yourself. With winter accommodations and snowshoe trails, Windy Lake is one of only 10 Ontario Parks operating year-round. This, paired with its northern location, makes it an incredible destination for winter exploration. Book a rustic cabin or yurt to set the stage for a cozy multi-day winter adventure.

During the day, go cross country skiing or snowshoeing at the Onaping Falls Nordics Ski Club. Their 15 km of groomed trails offer a variety of difficulties for beginners, to more experienced skiers. They offer reasonable family-friendly rates for day passes, ski, and snowshoe rentals. You can also go cross-country skiing or fat biking at Walden Cross Country. Renowned as one of Ontario’s best cross-country ski destinations, Walden is located 45 minutes from the park and offers rentals, day, and night passes for their groomed trail systems.

You can also take part in a northern tradition by trying ice fishing at Windy Lake. The park’s convenient ice fishing package makes it easy for everyone.

Finally, reach out to nearby Fox Lake Lodge and make a reservation for a sauna and hot tub to warm up and relax after a day of winter fun.  

Activities Nearby

The City of Greater Sudbury is a hub for outdoors enthusiasts. Check out Kivi Park and rent a kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard to spend the day on Crowley Lake. Rent a mountain bike or go hiking in Kivi Park’s extensive trail network. Kivi also maintains excellent cross-country ski, snowshoe and fatbike trails in the winter months, with rentals available. Meanwhile, the Sudbury Canoe Club offers standup paddleboard rentals, tours and instruction on Ramsey Lake. Located off of Highway 144, Fox Lake Lodge offers a day-use beach area with floating water toys, boat rentals, and outfitting services for Sudbury canoe routes, including the Spanish River. For those interested in an exciting way to extend your stay in the area, look into one of the Spanish River guided canoe trip packages offered by MHO Adventures. 

Other local attractions include Dynamic Earth, where you’ll take a deep dive into Sudbury’s unique geology, and the Copper Cliff museum, which celebrates the area’s mining history. Spend a day floating down the river at Chilling N’ Tubing in Chelmsford. Or hike portions of the Sables-Spanish River Portion of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, set in the glimmering quartzite hills of the La Cloche range. During the winter, experience the freedom of skating at outdoor rinks in Massey township.

Hungry? Nearby favourites include family-friendly Chinese at Blue Bird Restaurant and Tavern in Levack; or coffee, seasonal baked treats and lunches at Café Oui in Chelmsford. This is just the beginning, you’ll find a huge range of dining options to accommodate every taste and occasion in Sudbury.

FAQ

How to reserve a campsite online?

Book online at Ontario Parks up to 5 months before your arrival date to select and secure your perfect Windy Lake campsite.

What are the best fishing spots in Windy Lake?

Windy Lake offers 40 km of shoreline and plenty of open water to fish, with boat launches and fishing gear rentals available. Cast into shallow weed beds along the shore to entice pike and bass. Trout are best targeted by trolling spoons in deep water. During the winter, try their ice fishing package; ask park staff for tips on where to set up your line.

Are pets allowed in Windy Lake Provincial Park?

Windy Lake is pet-friendly and offers pets a chance to swim and roam freely at the private exercise area and beach.  

What amenities are available at the park?

The park offers indoor toilets and showers, drinking water fill stations, a laundromat, a park store, large beaches, a pet-exercise area, boat launches, PFD and fishing gear rentals, and boat launches. Camping options include frontcountry, walk-in, radio-free, rustic cabins and yurts, as well as group campsites.

Plan Your Windy Lake Adventure Now

No matter what kind of outdoor experience you are looking for, Windy Lake has a massive selection of year-round activities and accommodations that will let you experience Northeastern Ontario’s rugged beauty and unique geography. Book your stay now at Windy Lake Provincial Park, and start preparing for your next adventure.

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