Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Rainbow Provincial Park adventure.
With two lakes plus tumbling falls, this park offers plenty of opportunities to get in the water.
It’s a beautiful sight: A dark river rolls out of the boreal forest, crashing into a white cascade, with the cold water falling over rock ledges all the way to the greatest of the Great Lakes. Even still, the allure of this Northern Ontario park doesn’t end with its namesake feature, Rainbow Falls. Relatively small (just five square kilometres), Rainbow Falls Provincial Park includes the warm, calm, protected waters and sandy beaches of Whitesand Lake, plus a rugged stretch of Lake Superior’s shoreline. Drop a line for trout, bass, and even salmon, swim in Whitesand, or enjoy a wild ride in a sea kayak on Superior. Then take a hike—the park features several trails, including the Back 40 with its lake views, as well as sections of the 52-kilometre Casque Isles Hiking Trail, which usually takes five days to traverse.
Lake waters in this part of Northern Ontario warm slowly through summer, with July and August being the best time to swim and paddle. Days can remain warm in early autumn, and this season’s changing colours make it a spectacular time to visit, although evenings cool off quickly. Spring can be rainy with ferocious mosquitoes and blackflies, so make sure to pack some spray if you’re overnighting in May.