Travel 305
kilometers east of Thunder Bay along Highway 17 to Ontario's
only wilderness national park. Pukaskwa protects 1,878 square
kilometers of the Canadian shield and features boreal forest
and the Lake Superior shoreline.
Hattie
Cove, located in the northwest corner of Pukaskwa, is the
centre for most park activities and services. Facilities include
a 67-site, semi-serviced campground, a series of short walking
trails, visitor centre, sandy beaches on Lake Superior, a picnic
area and parking.
The number
and size of parties permitted in the backcountry are limited.
Anyone planning to book a trip should call well in advance.
(Maps and guides for the Coastal Hiking Trail and park
canoe routes can be purchased from The Friends of Pukaskwa.)
The Coastal Hiking Trail winds through boreal forest
and over hummocky rock for 60 km, from Hattie Cove to the North
Swallow River. It is an arduous hike but with proper skills,
planning and equipment, makes a superb excursion.
The White
and Pukaskwa rivers offer wilderness white water adventure.
The White is easily accessible and can be paddled any time during
the open water season. The Pukaskwa is more remote and difficult;
navigable only during spring run-off, from May to early June.
Paddling the coastline of Lake Superior can be a rewarding experience
but extreme caution is required. A one-way trip from Hattie
Cove to Michipicoten Harbour will take 10-14 days. Lake travelers
may be wind/wave bound one day in four.
For 5 months
of the year, Pukaskwa offers a variety of winter activities
for the well-prepared adventurer. Follow animal tracks across
a frozen trail and discover spectacular views of icy Lake Superior.
Snowshoers can explore the headlands near Hattie Cove or venture
overnight into the silence of the backcountry. There is an ungroomed
cross-country ski trail in the Hattie Cove area. (Snowmobiles
are not permitted in the park.)
