50+ Things To Do in French River and Lake Nipissing Areas

A small gushing waterfall with historical significance in French River Provincial Park

Whether you’ve been coming here for years or whether you’re visiting for the first time, chances are there’s something you didn’t know about. In no particular order, and by no means an exhaustive list, here are some ideas for your next French River and Lake Nipissing vacation. Take your pick from these 50+ ideas for things to do […]

Paddling Dreams: A Beginner’s Bucket List

View of the French River Gorge from the bridge at the Visitors Centre

It’s not like we haven’t paddled before, but we certainly aren’t paddlers. Still, we’d like to incorporate more paddling into our hiking routes. Some trips just can’t be done on foot alone, and others would be more enjoyable with a little less foot mileage. Here are some of the paddling dreams — er, potential trips — which are […]

Hiking Along the French River on Dokis First Nation’s Papase Trail

A silvery piece of deadwood juts out towards a small lake along Dokis First Nation's Papase Trail.

We did things a bit differently this past Canada Day long weekend. We usually take advantage of the extended break to hike a longer trail or go somewhere further away, but we always miss a lot of stuff going on around French River while we’re gone. So this year, with a couple of family gatherings going on that […]

French River Area Outdoor Summer Events

French River area outdoor summer events include the Dokis First Nation Powwow, where this wood-carved eagle was seen.

With all the tempting French River area outdoor summer events going on all the time, it can be tough deciding what to do on a summer weekend, especially if you’re like me and want to do it all. How to choose between the plethora of activities and events happening in the area and our usual backcountry trip? Well, […]

Outdoor Recreation in the French River and Lake Nipissing Area

Rocky shoreline of winding waters at Grundy Lake Provincial Park.

There really is quite a lot to do around here, but it’s not always evident. Sure, there are the usual tourist attractions, like the lodges that offer boat rentals and access to fishing to their guests. But there are also inexpensive adventures for the independent explorer. By no means an exhaustive list, here are a few of my […]

Visiting Mashkinonje Provincial Park: A Guide [with Photos]

A view of the Lapin Beach bay while visiting Mashkinonje Provincial Park.

[Mass-kin-onj] People who spend time within the boundaries of Mashkinonje are very lucky to have beautiful, natural, well-maintained trails to hike. And unlike regular operating parks, visiting Mashkinonje Provincial Park is free. With about 35 kmkilometres of hiking and snowshoeing trails in various loops, a canoe route, barrier-free access, two beaches, and an observation tower, visiting Mashkinonje Provincial […]

Blue Jay

Close-up of a blue jay while hiking in Mattawa, Ontario

A blue jay landed in a tree nearby while we were admiring the view from a lookout point in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park in Mattawa. I handed Marc the camera. He aimed, but before he could press the button, the blue jay moved to another nearby tree. Marc repositioned, and, sensing his hesitation, I whispered, “Click.” I […]

Tips for Identifying Milk Snakes (Rattlesnake Comparison)

Milk snake seen while hiking on the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney

We saw this milk snake during a week-long trek on the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney Provincial Park: And this milk snake was spotted just over a month later in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, near Mattawa: These beauties may look a little like rattlers, but milk snakes are actually harmless. They do rattle their tails against […]

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