Wheeling in Wild Northeastern Ontario

Camping and trail running through a dense backcountry made for a perfect summer 4x4 trip.

by

Words and Photos by Quinton Neufeldt

As always expected, we had a few challenges leading up to a summer 4x4 adventure my father and I planned near Foleyet, ON. First, we had some last-minute scheduling havoc to figure out and since we were going pretty far into the heart of Northeastern Ontario, my Jeep CJ7 needed some light mods for it to be in tip-top shape for the trails. In the end, right before our departure, we resolved the scheduling and my Jeep was ready to rip.  

Our exact destination for this trip was Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park, which is about six hours north of Sudbury and approximately an hour west of Timmons, for a few days of camping and running the trails and logging roads. The area and Ivanhoe Lake (which was once called Lake Pishkanogami) were common passages by early explorers and the Hudson's Bay Company had two locations until the 1880s. It was only in 1960 that Lake Pishkanogami became Ivanhoe Lake.

Today, Foleyet and the region have a few services for outdoor enthusiasts visiting the area. Of special interest, the area inhabits the rare white moose or ‘spirit moose,’ which was first discovered here about 40 years ago. The species is protected by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry due to their cultural and spiritual significance among The First Nations and to also offer unique wildlife viewing for visitors. 

Day 1 

With my Project 99 Superduty truck loaded with gear, the pop-up camper mounted on the bed, and my CJ7 (that was being flat towed) on the hitch, we were ready to go. Our first stop was the French River Trading Post along Hwy 69. 

When travelling in Canada, a common joke is there are two seasons to be aware of – winter and construction. So, sometimes this trip can take a little longer than planned due to congestion. In our case, construction and a train crossing added another hour to our journey. Luckily, the traffic of seasonal cottagers was light and the weather was clear so we enjoyed the scenic drive past Sudbury, up Hwy 144 towards Timmins, and then west to Foleyet and Ivanhoe Provincial Park.

This provincial park has sand beaches with shallow warm water, offering great swimming and excellent fishing. Although there’s a large campsite for RV’s with electrical hookups, we chose a location at the far end without power, right on the water. With our solar power system and 12V battery, we could easily run our water pump, lights, and fridge. Once we settled in, it was time to enjoy the water and warm August evening.

Day 2 

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we got the CJ7 going and went out on our first adventure. The highways in the area at the time were not too busy, but local residents working in the area can be in a hurry so we travelled with a little extra care. Over coffee at the local general store, we studied Google Maps plus our Backroads Mapbook and Garmin BaseCamp to determine the trails we wanted to explore.

To get a feel for the area, we thought it would be best to start with the Foleyet Timber Road. Soon after turning on to this logging route, numerous side roads led to a variety of forests and lakes. While parked at one intersection, I noticed a large sand and gravel hill that looked like it was used by ATVers. 

Without a second thought, we proceeded up the hill slowly in first gear, low range. A few seconds later, we sank right into the ground. After backing up, selecting a higher gear and building up some speed, we were thrilled (and surprised) that we made it straight up. Once at the top we enjoyed the panoramic view.

After this minor challenge, we went down several other trails before taking Gravel Ridge Road westbound to see how far it would take us. This part of the network is primarily a forest and timber management area with some mining operations. As we ventured further away from the trunk road, the growth gradually filled in the trail and we decided it was probably best to turn back and call it a day. Following a relaxing evening at the campground with some water activities, we sat around a campfire and planned the next day. 

Day 3 

This time, we decided to try Oates Lake Road just north of the park to admire some of the lakes that have excellent fishing (next time we’ll bring our fishing gear). Some locals suggested taking an access road that would lead to a scenic lake through some tight wheeling conditions. 

After visiting the area, we turned around and the BackRoad MapBooks indicated a river with rushing rapids. Access was via a fairly tight trail but once through, we drove right to the edge of the river and enjoyed views of the rushing water. By this time, it was getting very warm and we went back to the campsite to enjoy a swim and some well-deserved cold beverages.

Day 4

On our final morning in the park, we loaded up for the long journey home. Northeastern Ontario is great wheeling country, and this was just one of the memorable trips that we have enjoyed in the area. Ivanhoe Provincial Park served as a great home base as it provided easy access to many dense, challenging routes while still allowing the chance to relax peacefully after a long day in the backcountry. See you next time!