— Travel and Trekking Jots & Shots
Wetlands and Rock Outcrops Along Lake Nipissing
Lapin Beach Trail
Enjoying outdoor recreation in Mashkinonje Provincial Park is a highlight of visiting the French River area. Mashkinonje lines the shores of Lake Nipissing in the West Arm, near the mouth of the French River. It’s a significant wetland area in the region, providing habitat to many species of wildlife. Mashkinonje’s existence is truly a blessing for local residents, and a popular attraction for travellers. Since there’s so much to do at Mashkinonje, it’s easy to keep coming back for more.
Browse the selection of articles below about travel and trekking in Mashkinonje Provincial Park.
Hikers and walkers will enjoy the natural, groomed trails which are stacked in loops totalling more than 30 kilometres. Even though this is a wetland area, true to the general topography of the region, the trails cross over many rock outcrops and ridges. With access at two main points, you can walk for an hour, hike half a day, or plan a day trip.
Plus, stop at one of the two beaches for a swim! The beaches are accessed on foot by land, but they can be accessed by motorboat, kayak, or canoe as well. Heading out for a day of paddling, hiking, and swimming couldn’t be simpler!
Paddlers can set in at Sucker Creek to follow the park’s periphery on Lake Nipissing, or head in the opposite direction around to the mouth of the French River. They can also choose to put in at Muskrat Creek and head through wetlands towards the lake’s West Bay.
Wildlife and bird watchers can take a shorter trail to Mashkinonje’s observation tower overlooking the ecologically significant Loudon Peatland. The lookout over Martin Pond is a great spot, too.
Mashkinonje Provincial Park is one of my favourite places to hike, no matter the season. Most appealingly, there are over 30 kilometres of natural trails, accessible for free and usually not crowded. On our last trip snowshoe hiking Mashkinonje Park, we tackled the Samoset loop to Lapin Beach. The Samoset loop to Lapin Beach is approximately five kilometres […]
During our latest Mashkinonje day hike, we came upon a flooded dry meadow which we had to circumvent. Once back on the right track, we looked behind us to take pictures. As we were standing there, I heard a splash but didn’t see anything. I mentioned it to Marc and was surprised when he told me he hadn’t […]
Our first day hike of the season at Mashkinonje Provincial Park surprised us a little. We weren’t expecting so much snow in the forest! We had planned our route knowing the bush would be wet. So, we’d chosen to start our Mashkinonje day hike on higher ground and to return through the lowlands, which would hopefully give the […]
We put a lot of thought into our hiking and paddling bucket list this year. It’s been tough making decisions because we’ve been torn between seeing new trails and returning to parks we really love. So we decided to compromise. The 2014 hiking and paddling bucket list includes a lot of places we’ve been to before, though we’re […]
Mashkinonje Provincial Park’s got some great snowshoeing trails, so we were surprised that the Blandings Access Point wasn’t ploughed the few times we drove passed there this winter, and it looked like it hadn’t been done all season. But on our snowshoeing trip, it wasn’t a big deal — we just drove a little further on for a […]
Winter’s not exactly my favourite season, but as much as I resist it, it always catches up to me. At the first sign of winter, I hole up indoors, and with so much to do before the holidays, I’m content for a short while. But between Christmas and New Year’s, cabin fever starts to set in. That’s when […]
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 […]
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 […]
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