Part 2 of 4: Finlayson Point Provincial Park

Most Ontarians think that Temagami is located deep in the great north, but I can tell you honestly that it is only the ‘gateway’ to the north. Although true Northern Ontario contains many great places that I would recommend to anyone, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that most people will never make it further than a half-day’s drive from our province’s capital, Toronto. Therefore, our northernmost recommendation is Temagami.

The first thing to look for when approaching Temagami is the feature that the area is famous for – the incredible white pine trees. If your eyes are open, you can’t miss them, as they are often the tallest trees in the forest and have a sort of asymmetrical appearance due to the fact that they tend to grow in the direction of the prevailing winds. This 100 km stretch of highway is one of my favourites anywhere. Of course, I am referring to the stretch of Highway 11 between North Bay and Temagami, as the 100 km to the north of Temagami is much more…unexciting.

Finlayson Point Provincial Park can be found right on the edge of town. While this park is a great park, with good sites and a nice beach, the real draw is the area around the park and the town itself. This place is a paradise of lakes and trees, and everything related. If you hunt or fish, you are probably already familiar with Temagami. There is also a lot for the nature enthusiast – canoeing, hiking and whatever else you might find yourself doing in such a vast wilderness. The provincial park is a great base for all activities.

I definitely fall into the ‘nature enthusiast’ category, having never really taken to the hunting/fishing culture of my youth growing up in Northern Ontario. My favourite thing to do in Temagami is to climb the Temagami Tower, which is an old fire watch tower that has been opened to the public as a lookout point. The view from the top is amazing, if you can stomach the 100 foot staircase, watching the ground drop farther away with every step upwards.

Municipality of Temagami website

P.S. Temagami is also a great destination in winter, if you’re tough enough to handle the frigid temperatures. Here, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing are at their finest.