Special thanks to the staff at White Lake for the park information and history!
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White Lake
White Lake
White Lake P.P. is located on Highway 17, about 35 kilometres west of White River. Situated on the lake of the same name, the park has been known as a convenient stopover when travelling north to Thunder Bay or south to Sault Ste. Marie. The lake in and of itself is very scenic, let alone with the four trails offering four distinct tastes of the north. I got to visit in August 2025.
History (next 2 sections)
History (next 2 sections)
The Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg (Pic Mobert) first nations inhabited the land around White Lake, and they always recognized its importance. They knew it as "Netmizaaggamig", meaning "first lake after the big lake". This was in reference to the fact that they had a canoe route from Lake Superior up the White River, with the first major lake being White Lake. Although it wasn't always as major as it is today. In the 1920s, the White River dam was constructed (now known as Gitchi Animki Bezhig power station), flooding large portions of what was then sandy shoreline. This is why White Lake is such a desirable place to swim nowadays, as majority of it is only about 6 feet deep. This desirability is what drew interest in the area.
Pic Mobert First Nation viewed from the park.
Overgrown outhouse in Area 2.
In 1954, the Department of Lands and Forests created a Division of Parks, with a goal of increasing outdoor activities (including camping in the recently invented campervan). The target areas were parks along Great Lakes and major highways. This program was aggressive. In 1954, there was just 7 provincial parks in Ontario. By 1985, there was 220. As a matter of fact, the Ontarian Government ended up being too aggressive in building parks up north, improperly calculating the amount of annual bookings. This part of the reason why parks like Obatanga (nearby to White Lake) couldn't survive budget cuts in 2012. The park (complete with comfort stations, a 150-site campground, beach, trails, and electrical sites) closed and was never reopened because of a lack of demand to use it - even if there was enough funding. Regardless, White Lake fit the bill of desirable parks, so development started in the early 60s, being completed by 1963. Its convenient location on Highway 17 is what prevented the park from closing down entirely in 2012. Despite this, the park still suffered. There was a second campground known as "Area 2", located by the modern day Clearwater Lake Trail, offering around 100 campsites. It was opened, but when construction and T.L.C. was required, it couldn't be completed. It can be blamed on budget cuts, delays, storms, and lack of staffing. It officially closed in 2012. In fact, White Lake still struggles with staffing due to its remote location. Although there is some demand for more campsites/amenities (the park is often fully booked), it is nearly impossible to maintain with the current amount of employees. Even the portages of the White River are overgrown, now that the thrill-seeking white-water paddling craze has died. Let's hope White Lake can return to its former glory and not end up like Obatanga!
White Lake is a dammed-off section of the White River, hence deriving its name.
What the Park Offers
What the Park Offers
White Lake offers:
- swimming on two sandy beaches with warm waters
- a convenient stop on Highway 17
- amazing fishing opportunities, particularly for walleye
- white-water paddling potential on White River
- proximity to the town of White River, home of Winnie the Pooh
- a large playground by the main beach
- an off-leash dog area and pet exercise beach
- a fitness trail, featuring a variety of workout equipment
- multiple lookout platforms on northern lakes
- a fish cleaning hut beside the boat launch
- rentable boat slips and boat trailer parking
There are four trails.
Tiny Bog Trail - 4km, difficult
Tiny Bog Trail - 4km, difficult
White Lake's longest trail is accessed via Area 2 Road. Starting off at a marshy lake, the trail shows off a unique kind of wetland - one starved of nutrients. This is why only grasses grow atop the water, and animals rarely stop by. Regardless, the trail is an interesting insight into this ecosystem. (no bikes)
Deer Lake Trail - 2.5km, moderate
Deer Lake Trail - 2.5km, moderate
The park's most popular trail is a unique one. Starting off near the amphitheatre, the trail winds west beside scenic Deer Lake. The thin trail winds down a hill across a marshy boardwalk right along the shore, before reaching a bridge, often used in promotional photos. Then, you continue on what is basically an island, hiking between Deer Lake, a marsh, and a Beaver Pond. You then climb up a hill to a scenic view of said pond, before returning back to the parking lot. There was formerly a trail guide, but this was removed due to lack of funding.
Right beside the Deer Lake trailhead is the Deer Lake Lookout, offering a dock looking out from the east edge of the lake. It's a scenic spot to have a picnic, or just gaze. (it's possible to bike, just very difficult)
Clearwater Lake Trail - 2km round trip, easy
Clearwater Lake Trail - 2km round trip, easy
This is my personal favourite trail. At the end of Area 2 Road lies a parking lot, and a 1km trail known as the Clearwater Lake Trail. Starting off, you walk on a rooty path that leads you to a bridge over a ditch. Marching on, you reach a scenic wetland, complete with a bench (picture at the very top). And after a little while, you reach a lookout point over Clearwater Lake, and a little access point. And the name isn't lying, the lake is very clear. Even just looking at the lake on Google Earth, you can see the sandy shore under the water. This spot is a perfect place to swim of just enjoy the piece and quiet. (a moderate bike ride)
The Fitness Trail - 500m, easy
The Fitness Trail - 500m, easy
Although it is a simple concept, it's rare among provincial parks - the concept of a fitness trail. Along this 500m walk, there are various areas with workout equipment to do different tasks. The workouts are in order, starting with warm-ups, then real workouts, followed by cool downs. It's a cool concept, but falls short due to the short nature of the trail and how old the workout equipment is (i.e. rust, loose bolts, broken board, etc). (bikes permitted)
Visiting the Park
Visiting the Park
White Lake is an easy park to get around. Before the gatehouse there is a dump/fill station followed by a long, windy, hilly road. Then it's the gatehouse, followed by a second long, windy, and hilly stretch of road. Eventually, you reach the group camping turnoff, followed by the Deer Lake Trailhead parking lot. Next is an intersection.
Continue straight heads to the main campground area. After a little while, you reach Woodlily Campground on your left, and Sundew Campground on your right. A little bit further up the road, there is a turnoff to Moccasin Flower Campground, featuring the only comfort station in the park. Then, you go down a hill and reach the main beach, featuring the playground, fish hut, boat launch, boat trailer parking, car parking, and a picnic area.
The road to your right is known as Area 2 Road, named after the former campground down it. Turning right reveals an off-leash dog area on your left, and a long, windy road straight ahead. If you drive down the long and windy road, you'll eventually reach the trailhead for Tiny Bog Trail, but this is after a few kilometres. A little more down the road, you reach the dog beach - and this is where you'll see remnants of Area 2. But if you were to continue even further, you'd reach Clearwater Lake Trail.
See maps below.
Interesting Species
Interesting Species
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
A uniquely low-nutrient bog
Amazing walleye fishing (I know, brutal picture)
Boreal forests
A lot of birches - makes the park feel less northern and more deciduous than it truly is.
Tips and Advice
Tips and Advice
This park is literally halfway between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay - I do recommend using it as a rest stop.
Book in Moccasin Flower Campground if you want hydro sites. There is no comfort station near the Woodlily hydro sites.
If you don't feel like walking all the way to the dog beach, take the dogs to the boat launch or to the area behind the boat trailer parking.
Visit the Winnie the Pooh statue in nearby White River. (see SPOTLIGHT)
For good sunsets, go to Deer Lake Lookout, not the beach.
There's another boat launch on the opposite side of Highway 17.
Beware that the majority of water taps in the park are non-potable EVEN WHEN there is no boil water advisory (which there was when I visited).
There are three beach accesses from Moccasin Flower Campground. The main one is a staircase on the side of the road opposite site 81. The second one is a trail beside site 80, leading to the boat slips. And the third one is a trail beside site 93, leading to the boat trailer parking.
Because the Sundew beach is south facing, the sunset isn't great. The main beach is even worse, being east-facing.
SPOTLIGHT: Winnie The Pooh
SPOTLIGHT: Winnie The Pooh
About 30km east of White Lake Provincial Park is the town of White River, famed for being the home of Winnie The Pooh - the literal bear. A trapper from White River bought a black bear cub from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and brought her home to northern Ontario. That's right, "she". The original bear was a female, and the name was just a shortening of "Winnipeg", her geographic hometown. The bear lived with the trapper for many years, before he sold her to a zoo in London, England. This is where Christopher Milne became great friends with the bear. And thus, this is where Chris' father, Alan Alexander, wrote about his son's adventures with the teddy bear. And now, the town of White River has a park right in the centre of town, featuring the tourist information centre, a playground, and of course, the famous statue of Winnie the Pooh facing Highway 17. It's the main tourist attraction in White River, and it's very easily accessible - it's a pretty cool thing to see and read about, especially if you've got young'uns.
Opinions
Opinions
Nash
Nash
Sad to see a lot of this park being forced to remain unmaintained. And it's a pretty nice park, as well. It's unfortunate that travelling up north and doing rugged activities is starting to become a thing of the past. Although that is nothing to do with this park, specifically. Look at Obatanga - that one's literally gone. It's unfortunate, and the scenery isn't good enough to make up for it, so it's a 3 or 4/10 for me.
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