A Sweet Retreat in Northeastern Ontario

Stay for a night, week or longer, Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park will add a serene, relaxing experience to any RV trip throughout the season.

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Story by Quinton Neufeldt

I always like checking out new destinations that are suggested to me by other RVers and outdoor enthusiasts. They provide the opportunity to experience areas that I have never visited before and since they are often recommended by like-minded friends and/or relatives, they open up new opportunities to further enhance time on the road and the activities I like to enjoy. What really piques my interest is when I hear about a region that’s never too crowded and encompasses beautiful, secluded waterfront scenery.

My niece and nephew own cottage property on the northeast side of Ivanhoe Lake, ON, approximately four hours north of Sudbury and two hours east of Wawa and the shores of Lake Superior. As they always rave about their excellent summer experiences in Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park, I decided to make the long-distance trip from my home in the Greater Toronto Area and check the region out for myself.

After packing up my truck camper with essential gear and supplies, I made my way up Hwy 400 N to Sudbury, and then took Hwy 144 to near Timmins before driving on Hwy 101 eastbound to the park. This is a scenic drive in the heart of Northeastern Ontario and while the more rural roads can accommodate RVs of all sizes, my truck camper was ideal for me as it allowed me to easily explore some of the more rural natural attractions along the way.

Ivanhoe Provincial Park

Ivanhoe Lake spans 25 km (16 mi) in the Unorganized North Part of the Sudbury District and flows into the Ivanhoe River in the James Bay drainage system, approximately 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Foleyet. RV-friendly, the park encompasses four campgrounds including Red Pine, Le Rivage, White Birch Hill and La Baie.

The former two consist mostly of pull-through, electrical sites that can accommodate a variety of motorhomes, trailers, and fifth wheels and there are also seasonal rates for those who want to stay all season. Being solely dependent on power with a 100 amp/hr Gel cell battery and Jackery 500 Lion Portable Power Station (that’s charged by a 100 Watt portable solar panel),  I chose a non-electrical waterfront site in La Baie with direct access to the beach.

This is the ideal location to enjoy a true Northern Ontario experience and for added convenience, the park has two comfort stations, laundry facilities, potable water, picnic areas, and a designated fish cleaning area. There’s even a choice of two beautiful beaches and one has a playground. Trailer storage, canoes and paddleboat rentals, a park store and visitor centre (in La Baide) are other amenities.

Explore the Lakes

Ivanhoe Lake is known as Pishkanogami in the Anishinaabe language and was once the site of Pishkanogami Post, a Hudson's Bay trading site. Renamed Ivanhoe Lake in 1960, the area preserves a Boreal forest that’s known as ‘Songbird Nursery’ since a variety of bird species can be observed throughout the park.

Getting out on the water is one of the highlights here. The lakes are warm and shallow, making them perfect for swimming, canoeing or paddleboarding, and I often went kayaking for several hours at a time at a relaxed pace, enjoying the calm open waters and shoreside scenery. Ivanhoe Lake is popular among recreational boaters and anglers. While gas engines are permitted, they are prohibited on Boys and Saw lakes but all of them are worth experiencing.

To further explore the area, I took a day trip kayaking up the beautiful Ivanhoe River, which is a birder’s paradise as I observed hawks, ducks, Loons and a variety of other waterfowl. Moose sightings are also common along the shores. Some of the other popular areas that I enjoyed in the park included the day-use area at Red Pine Beach and Saw Lake.

Although it’s always best to visit a remote destination properly prepared, I found myself short on essentials two days into my trip. The rural community of Foleyet was approximately 12.4 km (about 8 mi) north of the park and the Foleyet General Store, fortunately, had everything I needed (as well as fuel). More services - if they are really needed - can be found in Timmins 112 km (70 mi) to the east or Chapleau 96 km (60 mi) to the southwest, both via Hwy 101.

Outdoor Enjoyment and More

Diverse with activities for all ages and skill levels, the park has a variety of trail systems and I decided to take the Saw Lake Trail, which is an easy 2.8 km (1.7 mi) loop. It leads along scenic esker ridges, along Saw Lake and there’s even a small lake stocked with Speckled trout.

Due to my short four-day stay, I didn’t have an opportunity to check out the challenging trails but I did enjoy the last two days enjoying time on the water, the golden melting sunsets and the star-lit night skies.

There’s no doubt that Ivanhoe Provincial Park is perfect for adventurous RVers who want to stay a week or longer. It’s also ideal as a stopover while travelling to and from other destinations, providing further excitement and discovery in Northeastern Ontario.

Take a Hike in Ivanhoe: Trails at a Glance

Quaking Bog Trail

At just 0.8 km, this is literally an ‘easy walk in the park’ that’s perfect for children or seniors.

It leads along a path that was once the bottom of Ivanhoe Lake. Interpretive signs lend some insight to the area and a viewing platform overlooks a quaking bog.

Teck Lake Trail

This moderate route is 1 km (.6 mi) and will take you through a mature Boreal forest to scenic Teck Lake.  Be sure to bring your rod and reel as it’s stocked with Brook trout.

The Esker Trail

If you’re looking for more of a challenge, the 8 km (5 mi) Esker Trail is considered moderate to difficult and winds up above treetops, providing views of the region and a series of kettle lakes. It also has spectacular views of Ivanhoe Lake with a few side trails that lead to remote Axe and Canyon lakes.

Fishing Ivanhoe Lake

Northern Ontario offers some of the best freshwater fishing in North America and Ivanhoe Lake attracts anglers from near and far for its active Northern pike, walleye, smallies, and lake whitefish.

Never fished here before? If walleye is your species of choice, perhaps troll in the middle of the lake (at a depth of about 8 m (25 ft)) with a deep-diving minnow crankbait. Casually drifting and jigging a leech is also known to provide some success. Walleye - as well as Northern pike and whitefish - can be found at the south end of the lake by the Ivanhoe River.