Pukaskwa National Park is a Parks Canada wilderness park on the north shore of Lake Superior near Marathon. Parks Canada describes granite shore, boreal forest and the Anishinaabe cultural connection to the land. This guide covers the park’s season, Hattie Cove campground, the day hikes and beach, and the fees Parks Canada posts.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Highway 627, Heron Bay, ON P0T 1R0 |
| Park kiosk | 807-357-1726; if no answer, 807-229-0238 |
| Emergencies in the park | Parks Canada dispatch, 1-877-852-3100 |
| Drive time | About three and a half hours from Thunder Bay and five hours from Sault Ste. Marie, per Parks Canada |
| Season | Three-season park; facilities closed from November to May |
| Free admission | Youth 17 and under |
Quick answer
Camp at Hattie Cove, walk the accessible boardwalk to Horseshoe Beach and, if you want a long day, hike the 18 km White River Suspension Bridge Trail. Plan for a three-season park: Parks Canada says facilities are closed from November to May.
Hattie Cove campground
Parks Canada lists 67 vehicle-accessible campsites at Hattie Cove, each for one vehicle and up to six people in two tents or one trailer or RV with an additional tent or dining shelter. Check-in and check-out are 11:00 am, and the campground is first-come, first-stay. oTENTik roofed accommodations are also offered and can be reserved. Comfort stations with flush toilets and showers and potable water are open in the spring shoulder season (May 15 to June 14), the peak season (June 15 to September 15) and the fall shoulder season (September 16 to October 14). Parks Canada says season dates depend on the weather.
Horseshoe Beach and day hikes
Horseshoe Beach is on Lake Superior, reached by an accessible boardwalk from Hattie Cove Campground. Parks Canada lists the season as May to mid-October, with July and August the most popular months. The White River Suspension Bridge Trail is an 18 km day hike across a prescribed burn site, a boardwalk over wetland and Canadian Shield terrain, ending at a suspension bridge above a waterfall. Parks Canada’s activities page also lists geocaching, the Bimose Kinoomagewnan Trail, which shares Anishinaabe teachings, and the Club Parka booklet for children.
Backcountry
Parks Canada lists three reservable backcountry options: Mdaabii Miikna, the Coastal Hiking Trail and the Coastal Paddling Route. The White River Suspension Bridge is the first leg of the Coastal Hiking Trail. Reservations for oTENTik and backcountry campsites can be made online or by phone. The backcountry fee is $15.00 per person per night.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Daily admission, adult | $7.25 |
| Daily admission, senior | $6.25 |
| Daily admission, family or group (up to seven people in one vehicle) | $15.00 |
| Seasonal pass, adult | $36.75 |
| Hattie Cove, serviced with electricity, one night, peak season | $36.75 |
| Hattie Cove, unserviced, one night, peak season | $31.75 |
| Hattie Cove, oTENTik, one night, peak season | $147.50 |
| Hattie Cove, shoulder season, serviced with pit privies | $24.50 |
| Hattie Cove, shoulder season, unserviced with pit privies | $19.50 |
| Canoe rental, 2 hours | $21.00 |
| Recreational kayak rental, 2 hours | $16.00 |
| Backcountry, per person per night | $15.00 |
Parks Canada’s fee page also lists off-season daily rates ($4.00 adult) and the Parks Canada Discovery Pass ($83.50 adult). To get there, Parks Canada says to follow Highway 17 to Highway 627, just east of Marathon, then drive Highway 627 south for 13 km to the end; the kiosk, Hattie Cove Campground and day-use areas are about 2 km past the Pic River bridge.
FAQ
Is Pukaskwa open in winter?
Parks Canada says it is a three-season park and facilities are closed from November to May. Checked November 4 2026.
How long is the White River Suspension Bridge hike?
18 km as a day hike. Checked November 4 2026.
Can I reserve a campsite?
oTENTiks and backcountry sites are reservable; Hattie Cove campsites are first-come. Checked November 4 2026.
Cottages on the water
Browse cottages in Northern Ontario. See also Lake Superior Provincial Park and the Algoma road trip.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check. The municipalities near Pukaskwa 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 | Hwy 627, Heron Bay P0T 1R0; kiosk 807-357-1726 or 807-229-0238; emergencies 1-877-852-3100; park near Marathon; granite shore, boreal forest, Anishinaabe culture | https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pukaskwa | 2026-11-04 |
| 2 | Three and a half hours from Thunder Bay, five from Sault Ste. Marie; three-season park, facilities closed November to May; oTENTik and backcountry (Mdaabii Miikna, Coastal Hiking Trail, Coastal Paddling Route) reservable online or by phone; directions via Hwy 17 and Hwy 627 south 13 km, kiosk 2 km past Pic River bridge | https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pukaskwa/visit | 2026-11-04 |
| 3 | Hattie Cove: 67 vehicle-accessible sites, one vehicle and up to six people, check-in and check-out 11 am, first-come first-stay, oTENTiks; season dates May 15 to June 14, June 15 to September 15, September 16 to October 14; flush toilets, showers, potable water; dates weather dependent | https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pukaskwa/activ/camping/avant-front | 2026-11-04 |
| 4 | Horseshoe Beach: accessible boardwalk from Hattie Cove, May to mid-October, July and August most popular | https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pukaskwa/activ/experience/plages-beaches | 2026-11-04 |
| 5 | White River Suspension Bridge Trail: 18 km day hike, prescribed burn site, wetland boardwalk, Canadian Shield, bridge 23 m above Chigamiwinigum Falls, first leg of the Coastal Hiking Trail, May to mid-October | https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pukaskwa/activ/experience/sentiers-trails | 2026-11-04 |
| 6 | Geocaching, Bimose Kinoomagewnan Trail, Club Parka | https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pukaskwa/activ | 2026-11-04 |
| 7 | Fees: daily adult $7.25, senior $6.25, family or group $15.00; seasonal adult $36.75; Hattie Cove $36.75, $31.75, oTENTik $147.50, shoulder $24.50; shoulder unserviced $19.50; backcountry $15.00 per person per night; canoe 2 h $21, kayak 2 h $16; off-season adult $4.00; Discovery Pass adult $83.50; youth free | https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/on/pukaskwa/visit/tarifs-fees | 2026-11-04 |
Photo: Richard Main, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).