Canoe and Camp on Your Own Private Lake

Esker Lakes Provincial Park contains 29 pristine lakes, many connected by portages, creating a peaceful canoe route—plus there are local outfitters nearby that offer exceptional services for self-guided adventures. #PaddleON

Esker Lakes Provincial Park is surrounded by Boreal Forest and offers plenty of bird-watching opportunities. Explore the dozens of kettle lakes, formed when glaciers retreated 10,000 years ago.

Find great backcountry paddling experiences at Ontario Parks. 

For information on park fees and reservations, click here.

About Trish Manning

Trish Manning is an adventure travel writer and the content coordinator for Ontario Outdoor Adventures. She is an avid outdoor person who loves to hike, paddle, SUP, snowshoe, cross-country ski and explore Ontario's great outdoors with her golden retriever, Daisy.

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