Halfway Lake Provincial Park features more than 4,000 hectares of rugged, forested Canadian Shield, dotted with bright blue lakes.
Less than an hour north of Sudbury on Highway 144, the park features an oasis for swimming, paddling and hiking with a full-service campground.
Here are five reasons why we think Halfway Lake will delight family campers and explorers alike:
1. Explore the abundant boreal region forest
Halfway Lake is located just 70 km from downtown Sudbury, but sits at the southern edge of the vast boreal forest, providing a glimpse into one of the largest ecosystems in the world.
The landscape is dominated by Jack Pine, Black Spruce and Trembling Aspen, with the occasional towering white pine.
Jack Pine along the shores of Raven Lake on Hawk Ridge Trail
The park is a great place for bird watching. Many species of forest-loving birds can be seen and heard, including warblers, grouse and woodpeckers. Falcons, ospreys and bald eagles can be seen flying overhead.
Moose are sometimes seen in the park’s wetlands chewing on lily pad roots. Park staff have even spotted the elusive lynx!
2. A unique geological landscape
A huge meteorite fell in the Sudbury region 1.85 billion years ago. Halfway Lake is located within the affected area.
The crater was once 200 km in diameter. Erosion and glaciation over time have reduced the basin to an area of 60 km by 30 km, located 40 km south of the park.
Be sure to come back in the fall! The hills of the Canadian Shield light up with northern colors in late September
The park protects part of the Canadian Shield, an ancient expanse of bedrock, billions of years old.
The hard rock of the Shield resists erosion. It took millennia of water and glacial ice to shape this rock into the hills, valleys, lakes and rivers we see today.
All that dramatic geological history creates a scenic landscape conducive to recreational activities.
3. Trails for days!
The park’s combination of boreal forest and rugged landscape creates a hiker’s paradise.
Halfway Lake has four hiking trails. Three trails are intertwined, with the same starting point at the trailhead.
Moose Crest It is a short 2 km trail with a viewpoint in the middle. Look at the view!
The view from Moose Ridge Trail
the 6 kilometers echo pond Path takes hikers through the boreal forest and some of the rugged highlands.
falcon crest It is the longest trail in the park at 15 km. Offers hiking enthusiasts a challenging day hike or overnight walk through the countryside.
Hawk Ridge’s backcountry campgrounds give a sense of remoteness with just a day’s hike or less!
Falcon Crest Trail
Osprey Heights It’s also a challenging trail, following a mountain ridge to a spectacular viewpoint high above Lake Antrim. At 6km, it’s a great option for a half-day hike!
Osprey Heights Trail
**Note: Osprey Heights Trail is closed at this time due to ongoing trail maintenance**
Remember: These trails are rated moderate to difficult. Be sure to wear good, solid hiking shoes and bring water, a snack (or your lunch for longer hikes), and a map of the park.
Learn more about walking safety here.
4. Enchanting lakes
The rocky hills and boreal forest are home to several bright blue lakes.
All of the park’s trails pass by some of the many lakes or offer a spectacular view over one of them.
You can get up close and personal with them by paddling a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard; the park rents all three.
Follow the Canoe route through the two straits through a chain of lakes, beginning at Halfway Lake and passing south to Bailey Lake. You may see nesting bald eagles, a colony of blue herons, and the origins of a wildfire that burned the southeast corner of the park in 2007.
From there, a series of transports and small lakes will take us into the heart of the park until Two Straits Lake.
Located at the north end of the park, Lake Antrim Accessed on the east side of Highway 144. This day trip offers high cliffs and ample wildlife viewing opportunities.
5. Take a dip
While many Sudbury-area locals flock to Windy Lake Provincial Park, Halfway Lake is a short drive north and has a great beach.
Midway Lake Beach
The fine sand and shallow waters of the marked areas of the park’s two beaches are perfect for families.
The beach facing south is usually warmer. On sunny days, the breeze pushes warmer water to the surface.
Visitors with pets will love the park’s new dog beach! Dogs can be leashed on the shore, but can enjoy a swim off leash.
Children and people who do not know how to swim should wear a PFD when around water.
Bonus: more fun nearby!
Sudbury’s top attractions are just an hour away!
Science lovers should visit Science North and Dynamic Earth. See porcupines and flying squirrels, witness scientific demonstrations, and learn more about that meteorite and the minerals it created.
Visit festivals like the Northern Lights Festival Boréal, a musical celebration of folk, French and indigenous music, and the Sudbury Blueberry Festival, which, of course, revolves around blueberries. Hmm!
This could be you!
Halfway Lake Campground has electric and non-electric sites, comfort stations with restrooms, showers and laundry facilities, rentals (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards), and Discovery programs (in July and August).
The park is open until September 24, 2023.