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Operating Dates:

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Site #5, Compartment #4, 20400 Hwy. 522 RR #1 Britt, ON, P0G 1A0

Latitude: 45.91768 Longitude: -80.55927

(705)-383-2286

http://www.ontarioparks.com/park/grundylake

Camping Dates – May 8, 2015 to October 13, 2015

Opening and Closing (Day Use) – May 8, 2015 to Octover 13, 2015

Early 2000’s

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Grundy Lake Provincial Park was founded in 1959 and covers 2554 hectares north of Parry Sound and 13 km east of Georgian Bay. There are 586 campsites – 139 of which are electrical and 9 back country sites. The park has a picnic shelter, a park store, a boat launch, rentals, and a day-use area. Grundy Lake offers Radio-Free, Dog-Free, Backcountry and Group camping sites. Swimming is available at nine sandy beaches within the park, all man-made, as well as non-specified areas along the smooth rocky shores. There is a pet exercise area and a designated pet swimming area.

What Makes The Park Special?

Grundy Lake features glacial terrain, with numerous lakes, ponds and bogs. The park contains both Middle and Late Precambrian rocks with excellent examples of various glacial striations including crescentic gouges, lunate fractures and potholes. The bedrock outcrops and glacial formations of the Canadian Sheild (also known as the Laurentian Plateau) are a particularly beautiful aspect of the park and make for interesting hikes through the wetland, upland forest, rockland and aquatic habitats found along the trails.

The various vegetative environments and it’s close vicinity to the Georgian Bay have created an area where some rare and unusual species thrive. Some of these Provincially significant species are as follows: Blanding’s Turtle, Least Bittern, Golden-winged Warbler and the Arethusa Orchid (commonly known as Dragon’s Mouth Orchid). Interestingly, there are a few species that are found in the park that are uncommon because they are at their furthest limits: Boreal Chickadee is at its southern limit while the Grass Pink Orchid, Chain Fern, and Wild Leek are all at their northern limit.

Blanding’s Turtle

Arethusa Orchid – Dragon’s Mouth Orchid

A lot of things have changed with Grundy Lake Provincial Park since we visited it over ten years ago. The park is now serviced by Park Bus which provides express bus service to several outdoor destinations in Ontario (buses leave from Toronto). Based on reviews by other campers and visitors, it seems that the facilities and amenities have been upgraded or added to. We hope to visit Grundy Lake again this summer and will update this post and add pictures.

The campground we visited provides excellent privacy on three sides, but is open and exposed on the road side. The site did come with a special, regular visits from a cute sounding grouse. The beach is pretty good and very sandy. The main beach and bathrooms are very busy most of the day due to the high levels of day use, but there are several other beaches you can use instead. The trails are amazing and beautiful. They would be a bit challenging for some but the shorter lengths makes it a bit more approachable. The Canadian Shield and rocky shorelines are a highlight of each hike and definitely worth the visit. The boardwalk through the wetlands allow you to get up-close to its carnivorous plant life.

Grundy Lake would definitely be a fantastic place to bring or rent a canoe or kayak. The lakes are small enough to easily navigate and provide an absolutely breathtaking view of the northern landscape. You might even try out one of their Backcountry campsites to really find solitude in this spectacular park.

Rocky shore of one of the many lakes.

Chatter marks.

Forest trail.

Beautiful landscapes along the trails.

Excellent park for canoeing and kayaking.

Wetland bog.

Park map

Trails in order of length:

Swan Lake Trail • 1.5 km (1 hr) loop • Moderate to difficult • Access from main road, across from Group Camping #1 area • Protected nature reserve within park • Rocky ridges, lookouts, boardwalk through wetland • Look for birds (herons, bitterns, waterfowl, etc), moose and carnivourous plants, to name a few.

Gut Lake Trail • 2.5 km return (1.5 hrs) • Moderate to difficult • Trail head at Gut Lake / Smokey Point • Most popular of the three trails • Canadian Shield, lakes, streams and wetlands. Keep your eyes open to spot wildlife.

Beaver Dam Trail • 3.6 km (2.5 hour) • Moderate to difficult • Trail head at Balsam Campground • Dense upland forest and wetlands • Watch for wildlife!

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Boating

Hiking

Natural Heritage Education

Other

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Boat Launch

Day Use Area

French

Non-Electrical Sites

Pet Swimming Area

Rentals

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Dokis First Nation Annual Traditional Pow Wow • Last Saturday to Sunday of June • Dancers, Drummers, Vendors and Feast • No alcohol • No pets.

French River Visitor Centre • “Voices of the River” exhibit hall.

Natural Heritage Education • Guide hikes to learn about the Voyageurs, the park’s logging history, the Pre-Cambian Shield or the park’s wildlife and plant life • Campfires • ‘Art in the Park’ programs • Check the Park Tabloid, online or the Park Store for details.

Rubber Boots Festival • First Saturday in May • Noelville, ON • More than a dozen performers, indoor and outdoor vendors, psychics and an outdoor kids zone • More information and Tickets.

Conservation Areas • No conservation areas close by.

Local Trails

• French River Multi-Use Trails Trail Map & Brochure

• Barbotte Trail • 15 km trail • Passes through barren rock ridges, marshy lowlands and beaver lakes • Picnic area.

• Boisvenue Trail • 12 km trail • Wander through rugged terrain, lush valleys and active beaver dams • Vistas of Montagne Blanche •  4 side trails.

• Wilderness camping allowed along the trail, free of charge • Please leave no trace that you were there.

• Dokis First Nation Trails  (small fee – permit can be purchased at Band Office, Riverview Cottages, Dokis Marina and Pine Cove Lodge)

• Tikibi Trail • 2.2 km • Trailhead behind Dokis Band Office • Features rock bowls, caves and opportunities to spot wildlife.

• Chaudiere Trail • View the Chaudiere and Cradle Rapids • Medicinal and edible plants are identified along the trail • Picnic tables, benches and walkways.

• Papase Trail • 8.8 km • Moderate to difficult • Leads to Five Finger Rapids.

Provincial Parks • Sturgeon Bay (Latitude: 45.62355 Longitude: -80.41577 ), and French River (Latitude: 46.018035 Longitude: -80.583773 ) • Non-Operating Parks – Noganosh Lake (Latitude: 45.82302229 Longitude: -80.23363013) and Magnetawan River (Latitude: 45.73424384 Longitude: -80.25451927), Mashkinonje (Latitude: 46.25467064 Longitude: -80.32923974).

Small Tourist Towns • Alban (Est. 1907, first established as Rutter), Noëlville (Est. 1900, originally called Cosby), French River Station, Ouellette (Est. 1900), Monetville (Est. 1985, formally called Martland)

White Squall Paddling Centre • 53 East Carling Bay Rd. Nobel • Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Canoeing • Lessons, rentals, tripping and certification • Get details.

Sources:

“Grundy Lake Provincial Park Information.” Welcome to Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Ministry of Natural Resources, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2015. <http://www.ontarioparks.com/park/grundylake>.

Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario. (1988). Grundy Lake Provincial Park Management Plan.[Queen’s Printer for Ontario].