When it comes to great snowmobiling, location is everything. And Poplar Point Camp, located between Elk Lake and Gowganda in Northeastern Ontario, set on a point extending into Long Point Lake, has a terrific location for all-season outdoor activities of all types. With easy waterfront access and impressive lake views to each of its six cabins and proximity to a wide range of backcountry trails as well as OFSC’s thousands of kilometres of groomed trails, it’s a very appealing option for snowmobilers. Check out their snowmobile package here.
“Whenever I post on social media, I always hashtag pictures from here, ‘God’s country,’ because it truly is such a beautiful area,” says Shelly Tulpin, who owns the camp with her husband, Nick. “The terrain here goes from anything from flat to rolling hills, and it’s just beautiful scenery.”
But because it’s a little over half a kilometre from OFSC’s A107C, reached by private trail, Poplar Point Camp remains a hidden gem for many snowmobilers who don’t realize how easy it is to access.
Tulpin is working to make the camp a bit less “hidden,” and wants to get the word out to snowmobilers about what the destination offers.
“We have premium gas on site, we have a sauna,” says Tulpin. “The cabins are basically just like a house. They have a full kitchen, three-piece bathrooms and range from two- to four-bedroom cottages.”
When the Tulpins took over the camp, it had been running strictly for the summer and fall since 1948. Families and friends visited to go ATVing on its wealth of easily accessible trails and fish in Long Point Lake. The camp’s boat-rental packages (they offer 14-foot vessels, complete with 15 and 8 HP outboard motors) continue to be a major draw, as are its bear-hunting packages. But the Tulpins immediately saw the potential for making this a year-round destination.
Surrounded by hundreds of kilometers of logging roads, portages and trails, it’s ideal for backcountry riders eager for pristine powder.
“We’re located on the OFSC District 14 Gold Rush Loop, so between Sudbury and Timmins, you pass us,” says Tulpin. “So now we’re really trying to go after the snowmobiling and ice fishing.”
To that end, they’ve insulated the six cabins on the property, adding water lines and enhancing the level of comfort to ensure a cozy stay even when temperatures drop. They also added Starlink to allow for unlimited internet and phone calls over WiFi.
“It means now we can get the snowmobiling guys who still want to watch the hockey game,” says Tulpin.
The camp has experienced guides who can help visiting snowmobilers navigate the terrain, or maps for those who prefer to set out on their own. Those looking for ice fishing can try their luck catching walleye and pike in one of the camp’s two cozy ice huts located on Long Point Lake (one that’s walking distance, the other a short snowmobile ride away).
While the camp does not have a dedicated kitchen or restaurant, guests can be provided a packed lunch as well as ingredients for preparing a hearty and hot dinner and breakfast in their cabin kitchen.
“We’re just trying to get our name out there and let people know that we have the accommodations, the gas, the amenities,” says Tulpin. “Everything is ready for you in your cabin when you arrive.”
