THIS PARK IS CLOSED
Read More On Why It Is Closed Here : Samuel De Champlain Is Destroyed - June 2025
Samuel De Champlain Provincial Park
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Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ Samuel De Champlain
6905 Highway 17 east, PO Box 147, Mattawa, ON, P0H 1V0 (705) 744-2276 No. of Sites (209) 105 non-electrical sites, 104 electrical sites, 1 group site Wheel Chair Accessible Campsites (2) - sites 213 and 53 Operating Dates: May 18, 2018 to October 9, 2018 |
Blog Entries: The Perfect Night At Samuel De Champlain - September 2018
Tubing Down The Rapids At Samuel De Champlain Park - July 2021
They Come, They Go ...They Come Back - August 2022
Hike The Trail And Ride The Waves - August 2022
Samuel De Champlain Is Destroyed - June 2025
Terrain: A mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees. Well treed, good mix of shade and sun, good privacy.
Staff: Friendly and nice. They tend to drive around the park a little too often though.
Bathrooms: Clean, and in good condition throughout the park. Both the comfort stations and small facilities interspersed throughout the
campground contain flush toilets
Shower: There are showers at each of the two comfort stations. One in the Babawasse campground and one in the Jingwakoki campground.
Beach: There are 3 sandy, clean, well maintained beaches. There is one in the Babawasse campground and one in the Jingwakoki campground.
The third one is a Day-Use beach which is the largest large beach. It has two gazebos, picnic tables, fire pits, and children's play area.
Outdoor Water Faucets: Dispersed at good intervals around the park, with clean, potable water.
Hiking Trails:
Etienne System Trails: four loops ranging in length from 2.5 to 9 km; strenuous
Discover scenic views of the Mattawa River while traversing challenging terrain.
Kag Trail: 2.5 km loop; difficult with steep climbs
This trail travels through several ecosystems, including tall majestic Red Pine forests, Gem Lake and oak highlands.
Wabashkiki Trail: 1 km loop; easy
Explore a marsh and its resident wildlife on this trail and boardwalk set on a peninsula in the middle of Moore Lake.
Forestry Research Trail: 1 – 2 km loop; easy
This trails winds its way through active forestry research plots. A trail guide is available at the Visitor Centre.
Staff: Friendly and nice. They tend to drive around the park a little too often though.
Bathrooms: Clean, and in good condition throughout the park. Both the comfort stations and small facilities interspersed throughout the
campground contain flush toilets
Shower: There are showers at each of the two comfort stations. One in the Babawasse campground and one in the Jingwakoki campground.
Beach: There are 3 sandy, clean, well maintained beaches. There is one in the Babawasse campground and one in the Jingwakoki campground.
The third one is a Day-Use beach which is the largest large beach. It has two gazebos, picnic tables, fire pits, and children's play area.
Outdoor Water Faucets: Dispersed at good intervals around the park, with clean, potable water.
Hiking Trails:
Etienne System Trails: four loops ranging in length from 2.5 to 9 km; strenuous
Discover scenic views of the Mattawa River while traversing challenging terrain.
Kag Trail: 2.5 km loop; difficult with steep climbs
This trail travels through several ecosystems, including tall majestic Red Pine forests, Gem Lake and oak highlands.
Wabashkiki Trail: 1 km loop; easy
Explore a marsh and its resident wildlife on this trail and boardwalk set on a peninsula in the middle of Moore Lake.
Forestry Research Trail: 1 – 2 km loop; easy
This trails winds its way through active forestry research plots. A trail guide is available at the Visitor Centre.
Pet Amenities: There are no designated areas but there is a road that is not well-travelled that leads from Jingwakoki Campground out to the group
camping area and back out along the Amable du Fond River to a gate at Highway 17 that can be used as a pet exercise area.
Playground: There are playgrounds at each of the 3 beaches.
Park Store: The Park Store offers souvenir merchandise, books, maps, canoe and kayak rentals, ice, firewood and a small selection of basic
camper supplies. The Park Store is open daily during the months of July and August.
Rentals: Rental canoes and kayaks are conveniently located in each campground on the shores of Moore Lake. Rental arrangements can be
made at the Park Store and include Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) paddles and a boat safety kit.
camping area and back out along the Amable du Fond River to a gate at Highway 17 that can be used as a pet exercise area.
Playground: There are playgrounds at each of the 3 beaches.
Park Store: The Park Store offers souvenir merchandise, books, maps, canoe and kayak rentals, ice, firewood and a small selection of basic
camper supplies. The Park Store is open daily during the months of July and August.
Rentals: Rental canoes and kayaks are conveniently located in each campground on the shores of Moore Lake. Rental arrangements can be
made at the Park Store and include Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) paddles and a boat safety kit.
Things To Do At Samuel De Champlain Provincial Park
- Swimming
- Tubing down the rapids on the Amable Du Fond River
- Birding
- Canadian Ecology Centre
- Hiking
- Canoeing
- Boating (Motorboats are permitted on Moore Lake, however a maximum horsepower rating of 10 HP is in effect.)
- Fishing (A variety of fish species can be found in Moore Lake including Large and Smallmouth Bass, Walleye (Pickerel), Northern Pike and
muskellunge.)
- Natural Heritage Education (The park’s natural heritage education staff provides interactive programming suitable for all ages. Guided hikes,
children’s programs, spirit nights, musical performances and campfire sing-alongs are just a few of the programs
provided during the months of July and August. Visitors can also try their hand at paddling a replica Voyageur canoe.
The Mattawa River Visitor Centre showcases the area’s natural and human history with a variety of exhibits and
houses a large birchbark freighter canoe.)
Attractions And Places To Go Near Samuel De Champlain Provincial Park
Closest City (town) - Mattawa, Ontario
- Mattawa Museum
- Chief Commanda II boat Cruise (North Bay)
- Discovery North Bay Museum
- North Bay Farmer's Market (Saturdays and Wednesdays)
- Heritage Railway & Carousel at the North Bay Waterfront
- Average Joes restaurant overlooking Trout Lake (North Bay)
- Hike the Eau Claire Gorge
- Hike Duchesnay Falls (North Bay)
Directions: 48.3 km east of North Bay on the Trans-Canada highway (Hwy17) . The entrance is directly on the highway.
Signs For Directions To Park - The park is right along the highway so the signs are easy to see and easy to follow.