Mississagi Provincial Park lies west of Sudbury, in hills and clear lakes. Ontario Parks lists a rustic 60-site campground on Semiwite Lake, seven hiking trails, five backcountry campsites and a 130 m lookout. This guide uses the park’s own Ontario Parks pages.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Phone | 705-862-1203 (May to September); 705-865-2021 (October to May) |
| Mailing address | c/o Chutes Provincial Park, PO Box 37, 650 Imperial Street North, Massey, ON P0P 1P0 |
| Size | 8,328 ha; established 1973 |
| Class | Natural Environment |
| 2026 operating dates | May 15 to October 13, 2026 |
| Trails | Over 40 km |
Quick answer
Camp at Semiwite Lake, hike the 7 km Helenbar Lookout Trail and rent a canoe by the day or half-day. Ontario Parks says you cannot drive into the park in the off-season, but you can enter on foot to hike or snowshoe.
Camping
The campground has 60 secluded campsites on the north shore of Semiwite Lake, most of them pull-through trailer sites, each with a fire pit and picnic table. Some sites are on the water and many have a footpath to the lake. Four walk-in tent sites sit on the shore near the day-use area, less than 20 metres from the car. One group campsite takes 15 to 20 tents or four or five medium trailers, with toilets and water taps nearby and a roofed picnic shelter.
Some sites are designated for seasonal leasing from park opening to Labour Day weekend. To discuss a lease before the park opens, Ontario Parks says to contact the Park Clerk at Chutes Provincial Park on 705-865-2021.
Backcountry
All five backcountry sites can be reached on the trail network, and three can be reached by canoe: two on Semiwite Lake and one on Helenbar Lake. Every site has a fire pit and box privy. Reservations by lake or zone are available online or by phone up to five months ahead, and interior camping permits are picked up at the main gate during business hours.
Trails
- Flack Lake Nature Trail: 0.8 km, 45 minutes, easy, with geological features and remnants of an old logging camp.
- Helenbar Lookout Trail: 7 km, 2 to 4 hours, moderate, with boulder erratics and a lookout.
- Semiwite Creek Trail: 1.2 km, 1 hour, easy.
- JimChrist Trail: 11 km, 6 hours, moderate.
- MacKenzie Trail: 22 km, 3 to 5 days, strenuous, an overnight route with campsites on the Brush Lakes.
- Cobre Lake Trail: 11 km, 3 to 5 hours, strenuous, 11 km north of the park in the Rawhide Lake Conservation Reserve.
Ontario Parks describes the Helenbar Trail Lookout as 130 m high. A white sand beach on Semiwite Lake sits where the Helenbar and Semiwite Lake trails meet.
Water, fishing and wildlife
Motorboats are allowed on Semiwite and Flack Lakes, with launch ramps and docks near the campground and a launch on Flack Lake in the day-use area. A short portage links Semiwite to Helenbar Lake, where a Gloster Meteor jet fighter crash-landed in 1946, per Ontario Parks; the pilot, Lt. Mackenzie of the RCAF, spent 26 days on the shore before rescue, and the MacKenzie Trail is named for him. A day trip by canoe on Flack Lake reaches the base of Old Baldy, with an old fire ranger’s cabin site and a 5 km hiking trail. Cycling is permitted on park roads, though there are no designated bicycle trails. Three beaches slope into Semiwite Lake, and there are no lifeguards. Ontario Parks says lake trout fishing is strongest in spring and early summer, and rainbow trout, brook trout and lake whitefish are also found. Bald Eagles, merlins and many warblers are seen, and loons raise their young on Semiwite Lake.
Facilities
The Park Store at the gatehouse sells Ontario Parks merchandise, ice, bottled water, ice cream and sundries. Canoes rent by the day or half-day, and PFDs are available with a $25 refundable deposit. Privies serve the campground and picnic areas, and one is barrier-free.
FAQ
Can I stay in the park in winter?
You cannot drive in off-season, but you can enter on foot to hike or snowshoe. Checked November 4 2026.
Can I rent a canoe?
Yes, by the day or half-day. Checked November 4 2026.
Cottages on the water
Browse cottages in Northern Ontario.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check. The municipalities near Mississagi are not in our rules dataset yet, so we state no short-term rental rule here. Confirm with the municipality before you list.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phones 705-862-1203 and 705-865-2021; Massey mailing address; 8,328 ha; established 1973; Natural Environment; May 15 to October 13 2026; west of Sudbury; seven trails; 130 m Helenbar Trail Lookout | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/mississagi | 2026-11-04 |
| 2 | Motorboats on Semiwite and Flack Lakes; canoe rentals; Helenbar Lake Meteor crash 1946, Lt. Mackenzie 26 days, trail named for him; Old Baldy 5 km trail via Flack Lake; cycling on park roads only; trail list with lengths and ratings; swimming beaches and no lifeguards; fish species; birds; winter on foot only | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/mississagi/activities | 2026-11-04 |
| 3 | Over 40 km of trails; five backcountry sites, three by canoe; reservations up to five months ahead; permits at main gate; 60 campsites on Semiwite Lake, pull-through; seasonal leasing and Chutes Park Clerk 705-865-2021; group site 15-20 tents; four walk-in sites under 20 m | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/mississagi/camping | 2026-11-04 |
| 4 | Boat launches on Semiwite and Flack Lakes; Park Store items; canoe rentals and PFDs with $25 deposit; barrier-free privy | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/mississagi/facilities | 2026-11-04 |
Photo: David Fimio, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).