Grundy Lake P.P. is located on 20400 Road 522, in Britt, ON. It is located on a series of numerous lakes and is known for its unique rock formations. The park is well known around the province for its paddling and hiking trails. We most recently visited in August 2024.
Grundy Lake was untouched for hundreds of years before the province designated the land as a provincial park in 1959. It was built to protect the numerous lakes and to capitalize on the Georgian Bay tourist boom.
Grundy Lake is the most popular and most central of the main lakes in the park, hence the name's origin.
Grundy Lake offers:
- paddling from lake to lake, including multiple portages and connected creeks.
- biking on two biking trails and park roads
- swimming on 6 beaches
- cliffdiving off of the jumping rocks (see tips)
- sliding down the slippery rocks (see tips)
- birding for many interesting species
- fishing for northern pike, smallmouth bass, crappie, panfish, and pickerel
- discovery programs at the amphitheatre and the discovery centre (near the main beach).
The trails here are: (guide at bottom)
The best wildlife viewing opportunity in the park. Crossing a bridge, 3 boardwalks, passing a beaver dam, and arriving at a scenic wetland lookout. Beware that this trail has lots of bugs and is very overgrown. (no bikes)
One of the two bike trails in the park. A one-way trail that passes by Beaver Lake and the Beaver Lake wetland before arriving at Pakeshkag Lake landing, a picnic area. (bikes recommended)
The best bang-for-your-buck trail here. In 2.5km you'll see: round rock formations, great lake lookouts, perfectly circular natural garden-beds in the rocks, picnic spots, a rapid on Nisbet Creek, coniferous forests, a huge wetland lookout (top left), and a huge rock slab on the left side of the trail.
Great lookouts over a small lake in the centre of the park. Cool boardwalks and bridges over a marsh. Great opportunities to see moose, bear, and smaller critters. Not only this, but there are 2 scenic lookouts to enjoy. (no bikes)
This is a short and flat trail that starts at the Jumping Rocks (making it the best way to access them) and follows Gut Lake before arriving at a 190m portage. It ends at Gurd Lake Dam, a man-made dam. (bikes recommended)
Right click and hit "open image in new tab" to expand and read images.
Drive in. Pass the gatehouse. Dump and garbage on the left. Continue straight. You'll see the main beach and the main activities / amenities. White Spruce and Hemlock Campgrounds on the right, White Pine and Red Maple Campgrounds on the left. Then you'll see Trailer and Poplar Campgrounds on the right, Pakeshkag Lake Trail straight ahead, a comfort station, and group camping on the left. GO WAY BACK. Turn left onto Clear Lake Road. White Birch on the right, then a comfort station. Next is Jack Pine Campground, and then Swan Lake Trail on the left. After a LONG road, you'll arrive at Balsam Campground.
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
White Tailed Deer, Moose, and other game.
Grouse
Painted Turtles
Grasslands and Rock Landscape, and the critters who inhabit it.
Black bears. LOTS. (sideways image is a Google Sites glitch).
Water flowers and lillies.
Wild blueberries.
Go to the Jumping Rocks. At the start of Gurd Lake Dam trail in White Spruce Campground.
Go to the Slippery Rocks. At the right side of the beach in Red Maple Camppground.
Paddle from Grundy Lake, through Nisbet Creek, to Gut Lake, through the 190m portage to Gurd Lake.
Book in White Birch, White Pine, White Spruce, or Hemlock.
Look out for discovery events.
WATCH OUT FOR BLACK BEARS. Keep a bear-safe campsite.
Go to the sunset rocks (in Red Maple Campground) for the sunset. You won't regret it.
Bring a bike - this park is very bike-able. Just leave it at the trailhead for Swan Lake, Gut Lake, and Beaver Dams.
Skip Beaver Dams Trail - the lookout's only half-decent and there are much better lookouts for shorter hikes.
Check out the Grundy Lake Supply Post across the road - gas, ice cream, groceries, lunch, etc.
Grundy Lake has a unique opportunity for cliffdiving and jumping - although it is not marketed. Do not ask "where are the jumping rocks?" to an employee as they will say "there is none". The actual jumping rocks are located in White Spruce Campground, at the Gurd Lake Dam trailhead. They range from 10 to 30 feet tall and are very popular with families and party-goers. And don't forget to try out "King Kong", the highest cliff.
WARNING: Never jump under the influence of drugs or alcohol; beware of rocks in the sections of water nearest the shoreline. Make sure to jump AT LEAST 4 feet out from the rock.
I want to hate this park because of its popularity but I simply cannot. Great activities and some nice trails make for a well-rounded, high-quality park. Our family revisits very often because of the innumerable amenities and we enjoy it thoroughly each time. A 9/10.
Campground Map: www.ontarioparks.ca/pdf/maps/grundylake/GrundyLake_CampgroundMap.pdf
Backcountry Map: www.ontarioparks.ca/pdf/maps/grundylake/GrundyLake_Backcountry.pdf
Scanned Aug 11, 2024 at 10:39:28 AM.pdfTrails guide
