Provincial Parks

Provincial Parks (15) in Renfrew County

Alexander Stewart - This 31-ha Nature Reserve Class park protects an early successional hardwood forest of Maple, American Beech, Basswood and some less common species such as Blue-Beech and Bur Oak. The reserve is on a plain of clay silt deposits, left behind when the Champlain Sea retreated from the region.

Barron River – This 539-ha Waterway Class park is located in the geographic Township of Petawawa, in the Town of Petawawa, and in the geographic Township of McKay, in the Town of Laurentian Hills, in the County of Renfrew. It is an extension of the portion of the Barron River found in Algonquin Park. Here's an examplehow an area could be marked and photoed. Lac Deschenes birds

Bell Bay - Located on the shores of Bark Lake, this 558-ha Natural Environment Class park protects important earth and life science features, including representative rock types of the ancient Algonquin Batholith. The park is characterized by mixed conifer-hardwood forests, and includes an example of a Black Ash swamp. In the geographic Township of Jones, now in the Municipal Township of Madawaska Valley, in the County of Renfrew.

Bissett Creek -This 1,676-ha Waterway Class park is located in the geographic Townships of Clara and Maria, in the municipal Township of Head, Clara and Maria, in the County of Renfrew. It is an extension of the portion of Bissett Creek found in Algonquin Park.

Bonnechere - Through what is now a 162-ha, Recreation Class park, the meandering Bonnechere River once carried furs and pine logs. Now canoes move along its leisurely, ever-changing path to Round Lake where there is a sandy beach and marked swimming area. The park includes a winding segment of the river and features naturally formed oxbow loops - U-shaped remnants of the river channel - and a sandy river delta that extends into Round Lake. The park is mostly forested, consisting of White Pine, White Spruce, Large-Toothed Aspen, and other species typical of the Great lakes-St. Lawrence forest. Trails pass an old beaver pond and marshes. An historic depot depicts the life of early forest rangers.

Bonnechere River - This 23 kilometre long, 1198-ha Waterway Class park is non-operating but currently provides easily-accessible fishing, swimming and flatwater paddling opportunities for an increasing number of visitors to the Round Lake area. It connects the portions of the Bonnechere River found in Algonquin Provincial Park and Bonnechere Provincial Park. The historic resources of the waterway are also used for cultural heritage education programs run out of Bonnechere Park. There is a series of short, shallow rapids -- culminating in Jack's Chute -- at the lower end of the waterway park. Canoes cannot run through the low water and cobble in the summer. Instead, paddlers walk, line or follow the shoreline through the rapids area. There is no formal portage. There are several access points and a small number of designated campsites. Visitors are encouraged to contact the Park Superintendent at Bonnechere Provincial Park for information if you wish to visit the park.

Centennial Lake - This 530-ha Nature Reserve Class park is protected for its unusual geological features and many rare plant species, including the Purple Cliffbrake.

Driftwood - The building of the Des Joachims hydroelectric dam in 1950 created a sheltered bay on the Ottawa River. In this 422-ha, Recreation Class park you can camp and swim along the sandy shore, and hike to lookouts for panoramic views of the river. Fishing and canoeing can take you deep into the countryside on both shores.

Foy - Located on Red Rock Road across Round Lake from Bonnechere Park, the 148-ha Foy Park is one of the last undeveloped sections of natural shoreline on the lake. Eight forest communities are protected within the Park including remnants of the Hemlock-White Pine and Hemlock-White Cedar forests which once covered large portions of Renfrew County. In addition to an expansive sand beach, significant earth science features within Foy Park include a water-cut terrace and exposed varved clays: both relic lake features. Although currently limited to minimal public use (hiking, bird watching and some boating traffic), Foy Park presents numerous development opportunities reflecting the ever-increasing tourism and recreation features of the Ottawa Valley.

Grant’s Creek - This 1,444-ha Waterway Class park is located in the geographic Townships of Clara and Maria in the municipal Township of Head, Clara and Maria in the County of Renfrew. It is an extension of the portion of Grant’s Creek found in Algonquin Park.

Lower Madawaska River – In this 1200-ha Waterway Class park, eskers, kames, outwash plains, kettle lakes and sandbars are just some of the topographic features associated with a former major spillway for glacial meltwater. Facilities include parking, earth pit toilets, fire pits and 36 canoe-in campsites. The park offers hiking as well as canoeing, fishing and camping opportunities.

Matawatchan - This 65-ha Nature Reserve Class park features ancient sedimentary rocks that have been changed, or metamorphosed, by pressures from deep within the Earth's crust. These Precambrian rocks include biotite gneiss, quartzite, marble and granite. The reserve lies in a forest region noted for its deciduous-evergreen transition. It is dominated by forests of Sugar Maple, Hemlock, Yellow Birch and Beech. A small valley within the reserve supports large American Elm and Red Maple, and Red Spruce which approaches its western range limit here. Lowland forests include White Cedar and Balsam Fir, meadows, marshes and thickets. The marble outcrops in the reserve are of special botanical interest as they support walking fern as well as several other calcium-loving plants.

Ottawa River Provincial Park- Spectacular white water and an untouched stretch of shoreline are the prime features of this 125-ha Waterway Class park.

Petawawa Terrace – This 200-ha Nature Reserve Class park is located in the geographic Township of Petawawa, in the Town of Petawawa, in the county of Renfrew.

Westmeath - This 610-ha Natural Environment Class park features an active sandspit that encloses Bellows Bay, a former channel of the Ottawa River. A sandy point and beach ridges covered by Bur Oak are found here. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and turtles nest in this habitat which is also an important site for migrating birds. There are no visitor facilities. Users may only access the park by non-mechanized methods such as walking or biking. The use of ATV’s is prohibited. However, hiking, boating, swimming and nature study may still be enjoyed.