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Esker Lakes
Overview
Esker Lakes Provincial Park offers a unique landscape carved by retreating glaciers over 10,000 years ago. Located in the heart of Northeastern Ontario, this park is famous for its dozens of kettle lakes and rolling sand ridges known as eskers. It provides a peaceful retreat for travelers who want to immerse themselves in nature without sacrificing essential comforts. The park's diverse ecosystem and clear, spring-fed waters make it a standout destination for those seeking a true northern wilderness experience.
Location & Surroundings
Situated just east of Kirkland Lake, ON, the park is nestled within the lush Boreal Forest. The surrounding geography is defined by the Munro Esker, which is one of the largest landforms of its kind in Ontario. This creates a fascinating terrain of steep ridges and deep, crystal-clear lakes. The isolation of the park ensures dark skies for stargazing and a quiet atmosphere away from highway noise, while remaining accessible for those traveling through the Timiskaming District.
Amenities & Park Features
The park features several well-maintained campgrounds, with many sites specifically designed to accommodate RVs. Travelers can find electrical hookups at the lakeside campsites on Pan Lake, allowing for a comfortable stay. Essential facilities include comfort stations equipped with flush toilets and showers, as well as laundry facilities. For recreation, the park offers a sandy beach, a playground, and a visitor center. Canoe and kayak rentals are also available for guests wishing to explore the interconnected waterways.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Hiking is a primary draw here, with trails like the Larch-Tamarack Trail offering stunning views of the unique kettle lakes. Anglers frequently visit the park to test their luck fishing for brook and rainbow trout in the secluded waters. Just a short drive away, visitors can explore the rich mining history of Kirkland Lake or visit the Museum of Northern History. The park’s portage routes also provide a great opportunity for paddlers to experience multiple lakes in a single day.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for nature enthusiasts and families looking for a quiet, scenic basecamp in the north. While it offers modern conveniences like power, the vibe is more of a wilderness escape than a luxury resort. It is perfect for RVers who enjoy birdwatching, paddling, and hiking in a serene environment. If you appreciate unique geology and the tranquility of the forest, Esker Lakes provides a rugged yet accessible environment for your next outdoor adventure.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Kyden
Such a lovely park! I wasn't sure what to expect coming so far North, but it was absolutely worth it. Super quiet, peaceful, spacious/private campsites, and really beautiful views of the forest and water itself. Lots of options for swimming, and I appreciated the amount of comfort stations as well, considering the seclusion of this park. The park store was really nice as well; just the overall quality of the park really surprised me in the best way possible. If you do want a more quiet/secluded camping trip, this park is without a doubt an underrated one for that. Bri is also the nicest ever, honestly. Really funny, and super accommodating with any questions or whatnot that I had. Made the trip that much more fun! I will definitely return in the future. :]
Melgar Ink Photography
Beautiful park, quite camping sites, great hikes and amazing views both during the day and night. There is no cell service in the park but you can drive out of the park to the main road to get service or drive 25 mins to Kirkland Lake.
Michael Leger
I recently spent a week camping at Esker Lakes Provincial Park, and overall, it was a fantastic experience. This park offers a true Northern Ontario camping adventure, providing an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. One of the highlights of our stay was the serenity and beauty of the backcountry lakes. Having an entire lake to ourselves was a unique and memorable experience. From sunrise to sunset, the sounds of nature, particularly the birds, created a peaceful and immersive environment. While the bugs were present, they were manageable and didn't detract from our enjoyment. The park's staff deserves special mention for their friendliness and willingness to assist with any questions or needs. Their helpfulness added a welcoming touch to our stay. However, there were a few areas where the park could use improvement. The roads through the park were quite narrow, making navigation a bit challenging. Additionally, RV-friendly sites were limited, as many spots seemed reserved for seasonal campers. The bathrooms, while functional, were a bit dated, and we did encounter a minor inconvenience when a shower stopped working mid-soap. One of the unique and fun experiences for our children was the flooded playground. While it might sound inconvenient, the kids loved running and playing in the water, adding an unexpected element of fun to their trip. It's worth noting that there is no cell signal in the park, which could be a drawback for some but added to the sense of being truly away from it all for us. Despite these minor issues, Esker Lakes Provincial Park offers a perfect place to relive the classic camping experiences of your childhood. The park would benefit greatly from additional funding for improvements, but its current state still provides a wonderful escape into nature. If you're looking for a traditional camping trip where you can disconnect and enjoy the natural beauty of Northern Ontario, Esker Lakes is a fantastic choice.
Phoebe Briones
6 hours of drive from vaughan! its worth it! it was an amazing experience. The park staff Bri was so friendly and amazing! people are so nice that they will say hello or hi everytime they run into you. A lot of mosquitoes tho since its mostly lakes everywhere so make sure bring a lot of mosquito repellents. We saw family of moose on the way as well as bear outside the park. Make sure you have full tank gas or extra gas because 1 hour of drive before you arrived is just mostly trees (if you drive from ledger east side) and also its a large park that you have to drive for garbage chutes or washrooms. the nearest gas stations is in king kirkland (west side) and which is 30 minutes drive from the park we went there and the first day is thunderstorms ⛈️ so basically the beaches were flooded but we still had fun. we also went canada day so life jackets and fishing rods were free. We did all the trails and i will say the “lonesome bog” is the most amazing one! the longest one of the which is “trappers trail “ is a killer one 😅 we hiked for 5 hours and nearly died 😅 so id suggest if you love adventures too much and up for something thrilling then do it otherwise if your legs gives up easily then id suggest nope. also bring a lot (tons) of off spray or lotions as bugs, mosquitoes and fly will follow you 😅 we finished 2 big off spray lol
Karl Chaves
Great park , nice and quite. Loved the trails and beaches. We were on site 67 which was fantastic, close to the comfort station and to the beach. Privacy was good too. Park closes September 19th for the season so it was pretty much empty. Park staff , Jade in the office was super friendly and helpful. Loved this place. Worth the long drive from Mississauga.