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Missinaibi

Missinaibi Provincial Park

Birding

The Missinaibi River flows through the boreal forest, known worldwide as the”Songbird Nursery” of North America. In spring and summer, the boreal forest is such a rich habitat in which to raise young, that forest songbirds like warblers and flycatchers can nest more closely than in other forests and still feed their chicks with enough food. This is the place to see and hear all of these birds in their breeding colours, singing their territorial songs.

Boating

Motorboats are allowed on Missinaibi Lake and Brunswick Lake. Motorboats are permitted for anglers flying into Little Missinaibi Lake with one of the registered fly-in outfitters for that lake. Motorboats are permitted seasonally on some sections of the river and all season on others. Check with the park for information on restrictions.

Canoeing

There are five canoe route options within the park, some requiring train travel for access, with over 75 backcountry campsites associated with these routes. These are very remote sites, amenities are rustic (a privy toilet, a fire ring and some tent spots), therefore, self-reliance and backcountry experience is essential.  The Missinaibi River itself is one of the longest and famous of the canoe routes in the Hudson Bay watershed – 500km of whitewater river from the Arctic watershed divide down to James Bay.

Trip options:

Missinaibi Lake to Mattice- advanced, 7 to 12 days

Start from the Barclay Bay Campground on Missinaibi Lake and end up at the town of Mattice, located north on Highway 11 (arrange to have your vehicle shuttled to that location). A classic pool and drop waterway, this section has some of the best whitewater paddling on this Canadian Heritage River.

Peterbell to Mattice- intermediate to advanced, 7 to 10 days

A few days shorter than the previous trip (Missinaibi Lake to Mattice), this adventure begins in the town of Foleyet (on Highway 101) where you board the VIA Rail passenger train and dropping you off at the rail-stop of Peterbell, on the Missinaibi River.

Mattice to Moosonee- advanced, 10- 12 days

Starting in the town of Mattice on Highway 11, this route takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery on the river, including Thunderhouse Falls, Stone Rapids and Hell’s Gate, as you transition from the rocky Precambrian shield to the James Bay Lowlands. This is a very remote section of the river, leaving roads far behind as you paddle north to James Bay.

Shumka to Missanabie- novice to intermediate, 5-7 days, circle route

Start in the town of Missanabie where you board the VIA Rail Budd Car that will take you and your gear to a rail-stop called Shumka, south of Bolkow Lake. There are several variations to this route, a lake-to-lake route, however the beauty of any of the options is that they take you right back to where your vehicle awaits you in Missanabie. This route travels through a remote part of the Chapleau Game Preserve.

Missinaibi Lake to Little Missinaibi Lake back to Missinaibi Lake again-novice to intermediate, 7-8 days, circle route

This trip starts at the main campground on Missinaibi Lake where you have the opportunity to explore many of the lake’s highlights along the way. This route combines whitewater when water levels are high enough, with both river and lake-to-lake paddling.

Train Services:

Contact the railways before you start your trip to arrange for tickets, fares, and schedules. Be sure you make all shuttle services and train connection arrangements before starting your trip.

Railway Contact Numbers:

Ontario Northland Railway - 1-800-461-8558
VIA Rail - 1-888-842-7245
Sudbury Train Station - 1-705-524-1291
Via Rail Website: www.viarail.ca

Permits Required

Interior camping permits are required for all park users when camping within the park boundary.

Canoe Outfitters

Missinaibi Headwaters-
Telephone- 1-855-226-6366
Internet : www.missinaibi.com

Missinaibi Outfitters-
Telephone- 1-705-364-7312
Internet : www.duenorth.net/missinaibi

Smoothwater Outfitters-
Telephone- 1-705-569-3539 or 1-888-569-4539
Internet- http://smoothwater.com

Fishing

Fish for such species as Walleye, Northern Pike, Lake Whitefish and Small-mouth Bass throughout the park, with Missinaibi Lake also home to Lake Trout due to its deep, cold waters. Missinaibi Lake has been a fishing destination for anglers from all over the world, but still remains uncrowded and wild.

Hiking

Borasso Logging Camp Trail: 3 km
Visit the remnants of a logging camp that operated in Baltic Bay, part of Missinaibi Lake, in the 1950s. The men who stayed in this camp cut timber over the winter, hauled the logs onto Missinaibi Lake and during the spring thaw drove the logs down the Missinaibi River to the mill at Peterbell on the railway. This trail is only accessible by water.

Hunting

Hunting is permitted outside of the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve and on certain sections along the Missinaibi River. Contact the Park Superintendent for applicable areas.

Swimming

The Barclay Bay Campground includes an uncrowded sandy beach on the shores of Missinaibi Lake.