Mississagi Park is open for camping and day use

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Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the province are looking for an escape and seeking Ontario-based vacations. This year, many are considering roughing it a little by camping.
Mississagi Park, located about 30 kilometres north of Elliot Lake on Highway 639 at the end of Highway 108, is attracting more visitors this season.
In the spring, many feared the provincial parks might not open this summer because of the pandemic.
However, as a result of a decreasing number of COVID-19 cases in the province, the Ontario government has allowed the provincial parks to open slowly.
Sarah Daigle, Mississagi Park’s operations manager, operates the park with nine staff.
Daigle, who has been at Mississagi Park for 21 years, says park usage is up, for both camping and day use.
The park opened first on June 15 for seasonal users. Three days later, day-use was permitted.
As of June 22, the park, the boat launches and overnight camping by the public were allowed. At that time, the public washrooms were also opened and are sanitized regularly. While Mississagi Park is a Ontario Provincial Park, it is administered by the City of Elliot Lake.
However, there are rules to follow. Outside of one’s campsite social distancing of six feet (two metres) is required, entering a building such as the gate house face coverings must be worn, and only one person at a time.
The campsites are far enough apart that social distancing between the sites is not an issue, explains Daigle.
“For most of them (campsites) you can’t see your neighbour,” she adds.
As a result, face coverings are not necessary.
During the first few weeks, only five adults, plus children, were allowed at one campsite. Since the province brought in stage 3, campsites are allowed to have up to six adults, plus children. Sometimes a family arrives with the grandparents and four or five children.
“You don’t want to say you have to get another site because you have kids,” Daigle says with a laugh.
While people from different campsites are allowed to visit each other, they must maintain social distancing, and with a maximum of six adults.
Daigle adds that on the beaches, park users are to stay with their respective group.
There is also a maximum of two vehicles per site. ATVs are not allowed.
Campfires are permitted, depending on the daily fire rating, and only in designated fire pits.

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Busy time
Daigle says Mississagi Park has been busier this season that in the past. She believes that even with the pandemic, many Ontario residents still want a vacation, but in the province. With many people trying to avoid renting hotel rooms, they believe camping is a safer alternative.
She says this season about 60% of their clients are from southern Ontario,with many from the Greater Toronto Area.
In speaking to clients from southern Ontario Daigle says, “It was crazy how Toronto and the GTA you can’t find camping equipment. They have to order through Amazon, and even there it’s limited.”
This trend has also made national news in Canada. National media has reported that recreational vehicle sales are up and dealers across the country are running out of camper trailers and motorhomes in mid season.
Daigle adds that while there is a mix of trailers, motorhomes and tents, this season there are more people in tents.
“Some are even camping in their (enclosed) utility trailers. I’ve seen three or four of them in the past couple of weekends. They put their beds in there.”

Reservations
Daigle says reservations for campsite are strongly recommended to avoid disappointment. Reservations are not needed for day use.
In previous seasons, Mississagi Park operated with 60 regular campsites, and had additional sites for overflow.
This year, the regular campsites are often near or at capacity, and on weekends they are usually full.
Mississagi Park has an overflow of 30 additional campsites, which are opened only when they exceeded the regular capacity. However, this year, it happens that the overflow sites also can reach capacity on weekends.
She says reaching park capacity is usually on long weekends. But this season it’s feels like there are more long weekends.
Sometimes on Fridays, the traffic into the park is lined up from the gate house to Highway 639. But they get the people through quickly.
Reservations can be made 705-862-1203 or at the Ontario Parks website.

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Park activities
In past years, Mississagi Park attracted many people from across the province for the Civic Holiday weekend with its Lumberjack Days, but COVID-19 put a stop to that this season.
However, there are other activities in the park. There is fishing in the several lakes within the park. The popular fish species in the park is lake trout in Semiwite Lake and Flack Lake.
There are hiking trails and canoe routes. Some of the trails and canoe routes are up to 24 kilometres long and can take up to three days to complete, she explains.
They also rent canoes, which range from $20 for a half day and $30 for a full day.
The park’s gate house sells a few items to the public. They sell: pop, chips, postcards, waterproof maps, bug spray, T-shirts “and tons of ice cream. That’s our biggest seller.”
To keep the park clean, they have garbage and recycling bins. They also have an RV dumping station.
Mississagi Park is more of a wilderness experience. There is no electricity or visitors’ centre. There is plenty of wildlife to be seen: including moose, deer, and being Northern Ontario the occasional bear.

Rates
There are various user rates at Mississagi Park.
The regular camping rates are $36.75 a day per vehicle, with a maximum of six adults. There is a seniors rate of $29.38 and for disabled $17.85 per day.
For those looking for a more secluded camping experience, their is back-country camping along the hiking trails and canoe routes.
Those rates vary from $10.17 for adults to $5.09 per day for the disabled.
The day use fee is $12.25 per vehicle to $5.75 for disabled.
This year, Mississagi Park is scheduled to close on Sept. 30.
For more information, visit the Ontario Parks website, www.ontarioparks.com.

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