Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park

Last updated
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Samuel Champlain PP.jpg
Canada Ontario relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location in Ontario (Canada)
Location Ontario, Canada
Nearest city Mattawa, Ontario
Coordinates 46°17′30″N78°52′30″W / 46.29167°N 78.87500°W / 46.29167; -78.87500
Area25.5 km2 (9.8 sq mi)
Visitors48,529(in 2022) [2]
Governing body Ontario Parks
Website www.ontarioparks.ca/park/samueldechamplain
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park

Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is a provincial park in Ontario, Canada. [3]

The park spans both sides of the Mattawa River. It has an area of 25.5 square kilometres (9.8 sq mi) and is about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) west of Mattawa, Ontario, Canada. It is administered by Ontario Parks, which classifies it as a natural environment park.

This park is popular in the summer with campers, providing many recreational activities such as canoeing, swimming, hiking, wildlife viewing, and other family activities. [4] The visitors centre houses the Voyageur Heritage Centre, which highlights the historic importance of the Mattawa River to the fur trade through interactive exhibits. The park is also home to the Canadian Ecology Centre, an outdoor education centre, which provides educational programs on sustainable forestry.

The park is named after Samuel de Champlain, one of the first French explorers of Canada of the 17th century.

On June 21, 2025, a downburst hit the park, destroying two campgrounds, and causing serious injuries to some campers, [5] and causing "millions (of dollars) in damage". [6]

Jingwakoki Babawasse Bridge.jpg
Looking south over Moore Lake

References

  1. UNEP-WCMC. "Protected Area Profile for Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park". World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  2. "Ontario_Parks-Visitation-Statistics 2022 - Ministries". data.ontario.ca. Ontario Parks. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  3. "Samueld de Champlain Provincial Park". Geographical Names Data Base . Natural Resources Canada.
  4. "Explore Magazine".
  5. "'Like a clear-cut forestry operation': Cleanup begins at downburst-hit Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park". CBC.
  6. "Storm at northern Ont. park likely caused millions in damage". CTV.