The Complete Guide to The Massasauga Provincial Park

The Massasauga Provincial Park spans the islands and inlets of Georgian Bay from Parry Sound to the mouth of the Moon River, in Central Ontario. It is unique among Ontario Parks in that much of its 13,105 hectares is made up of hundreds of windswept islands. The Massasauga is open to backcountry camping only, with 135 water-access campsites, open from late April through the third weekend of October.

With such an abundance of water and stunning pine-and-granite scenery, the Park is a paradise for kayak touring and canoe tripping. It’s no surprise The Massasauga Provincial Park is also the centrepiece of the UNESCO Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve.

Getting to The Massasauga

The Massasauga Provincial Park is administered through Oastler Lake Provincial Park, whose main office is located on Oastler Park Drive, just south of Parry Sound. There are two official entry points for paddling trips in The Massasauga Provincial Park.

Pete’s Place on Blackstone Harbour, an inlet of Georgian Bay, west of the town of Mactier, provides backcountry access to the Park’s southern islands and inlets. This launch is open to day and overnight visitors. To get here, take exit 189 off Highway 400 and drive about 28 kilometres to Massasauga Park Road.

A second backcountry access point is located at Three Legged Lake, an inland body of water with portage access to Georgian Bay. Take Exit 217 on Highway 400 and drive about 10 kilometres to Three Legged Lake Road, past Oastler Lake Provincial Park.

Reservations

Though it is technically possible to purchase walk-in backcountry camping permits for The Massasauga Provincial Park at the Oastler Lake Provincial Park park office, advanced reservations are virtually essential throughout the season. You can select campsites and make reservations online or by calling 1-888-ONT-PARK up to five months before your date of arrival. Permits can be picked up at Oastler Lake Provincial Park or at Pete’s Place backcountry access.

Campsite amenities

Each backcountry campsite in The Massasauga Provincial Park has a picnic table, firepit and box privy toilet. Additionally, about 60 campsites on Georgian Bay are equipped with lockers for safe food storage. Some campsites also have wooden tent platforms.

Popular routes

With so many islands, bays and relatively easy portage connections to inland lakes, The Massasauga Provincial Park offers a myriad of routes for paddlers. Pick up a copy of the Massasauga Paddling Map by Maps by Jeff and let your imagination be your guide in planning your next adventure. Following are a few suggestions.

Spider Bay Loop

This three-day, 30-kilometre circuit starts and ends on Three Legged Lake. It’s a moderately challenging route with six portages at the north end of The Massasauga Provincial Park. The basic route passes through Spider Lake and into Spider Bay, Three Finger Bay and Clear Bay on Georgian Bay, before portaging back into Clear Lake. There are many options to extend your route on Georgian Bay or by portaging into other inland lakes. Spider and Clear lakes are managed for wilderness values, meaning that no motorized vehicles are allowed.

Moon Bay Loop

Start at Pete’s Place on Blackstone Harbour, in the south end of The Massasauga Provincial Park. Paddle west to Woods Bay, at the mouth of the Moon River, and head out onto Georgian Bay’s Moon Bay. From here, paddle north through dozens of islands, looping east around Moon Island and Woods Bay. This portage-free, 25-kilometre loop is a great overnight trip for sea kayakers. It’s easy to add on with day trips to extend your outing. 

Georgian Bay Loop

You can start from either Three Legged Lake or Pete’s Place to complete a full circumnavigation of The Massasauga Provincial Park. The basic 70- to 80-kilometre loop takes in elements of both the Spider Bay Loop and the Moon Bay Loop, with the addition of Georgian Bay’s South Channel and portions of the outer coast. This four- to seven-day trip is suitable for experienced canoeists. Sea kayakers can easily make modifications to eliminate portages through inland lakes.

Day Trips

Pete’s Place offers easy, portage-free access to Georgian Bay for excellent day trips in The Massasauga. If you’re willing to tackle a portage (or two) you can also paddle for the day from the launch at Three Legged Lake, carrying over to the more peaceful, non-motorized waters of Spider Lake.

Rentals and outfitters

The Massasauga Provincial Park canoe rentals are available at the park office at Oastler Lake Provincial Park and at Pete’s Place. Call (705) 378-2401 to make a reservation (recommended). Canoe and kayak rentals and outfitting supplies are also available at White Squall, just north of Parry Sound, and Swift Georgian Bay on Highway 400 in Waubashene.

The Massasauga maps

There’s a basic map of The Massasauga Provincial Park on the Ontario Parks website, showing backcountry campsites. But the area’s complex network of inlets and islands demands greater detail for accurate navigation. Maps by Jeff offers a detailed map that’s ideal for route planning and navigating on the water. Chrismar produces the official park map at a scale of 1:30,000.

The Massasauga rattlesnake and other common wildlife

The Massasauga Provincial Park gets its name from Ontario’s only species of venomous snake. The Massasauga rattlesnake is listed as a threatened species in the Great Lakes. Populations have suffered from habitat destruction and persecution by humans, though they are relatively common on islands in Georgian Bay where open rock areas offer basking habitat.

Massasauga rattlesnakes are dark grey to brown in colour with dark, saddle-shaped blotches down their back. They measure 50 to 70 centimetres long and have blunt tails which can produce a distinct rattle when the snake feels threatened. Generally, Massasauga rattlesnakes are considered to be a low risk to humans; just be sure to walk carefully when on shore and back away quickly if you hear a telltale rattle.

Along with rattlesnakes, an abundance of transitional aquatic and shoreline habitats makes The Massasauga home to many other species of reptiles and amphibians, including milk, fox and water snakes; painted and snapping turtles; and dozens of species of frogs and toads. The area features an abundance of songbirds, shorebirds and ducks, which are especially prominent during spring and fall migration periods and the breeding season of June and July. Black bears are common on Georgian Bay islands as well, so be sure to store your food securely overnight (the Park provides bear-safe lockers at many campsites).

Fishing in The Massasauga

There’s decent fishing for northern pike, bass and walleye in most inland lakes in The Massasauga, with the occasional muskellunge caught around river mouths. Georgian Bay is trickier to fish, though you can target warm-water species, as well as perch, by seeking out shoals, structure, and weedbeds in coves and bays. Check out Fish ON-Line for more information about fishing opportunities and regulations.

Other activities in The Massasauga

The Massasauga area is home to one of Ontario’s oldest cottage communities, with stately century-old summer homes and resorts located on many Georgian Bay islands providing views into the past when wealthy Americans came north by Great Lakes passenger ships to favourite vacation spots. Calhoun Lodge on Blackstone Harbour is one such example of cottage life in the 1930s; you can visit the abandoned lodge buildings by hiking the 5.5-kilometre Baker Trail.

Other self-guided hiking trails include the Moon Island trail, a four-kilometre hike starting at the Woods Bay day use area and ascending to several hilltop lookouts. The Wreck Island trail is a moderate 1.5-kilometre stroll on rugged rock shorelines, with interpretive panels describing the unique geology of Georgian Bay.

Things to know about The Massasauga

Due to close proximity to population centres in Southern Ontario, The Massasauga Provincial Park often serves as a gateway for novice paddlers looking for quick-access wilderness adventures. However, it’s important to paddle cautiously and respect the capricious nature of Georgian Bay. Even some inland lakes in The Massasauga can become rough and challenging to paddle in windy conditions.

Exposure to strong winds and cold water are serious safety concerns on Georgian Bay. Watch your map carefully and keep landing options top of mind when paddling open water, and beware of gusty winds funnelling through the many islands.

Solid navigational skills are required for finding your way in so many islands, bays and inlets: bring a detailed map and compass and don’t rely on your phone’s GPS exclusively. Cell phone service may not be available in all areas of the Park. Finally, there can be a lot of motorboat traffic on Georgian Bay; remember that “might has right” and don’t assume that all boaters will be aware of your presence. 

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