When I lived in the area, the Nikomos Trail was my favorite, with the Orphan Lake Trail my second favorite. If you’re there at the right time, you can see armies of pink lady slippers. Yellowcanoe is correct about all those trails. If you go, stop at the Canadian Carver. It looks like a tourist trap, and maybe is, but it’s like a 1950’s tourist trap. They have free coffee and tea, and they sell these wonderful little butter tarts... mmm. One store is a camper store, with last chance supplies, another has carvings that range from not-too-good to incredible, and a third store has soft goods, including blankets, sweatshirts/T-shirt’s, jewelry, moccasins, maps... . They have restrooms.
If you go up to Wawa, hit the general store, I think it was called Thompson’s. Again, it’s a pleasant blast from the past.
There are some beautiful inland lakes, too. My favorite was near the north end—can’t think of the name right now, but it was probably the last signed turnoff to the EAST as you drive 17. Fenton-Treeby... . It starts with a 100 yard portage to the lake, paddle the length (it parallels the highway), then there’s another portage to a bitty lake, and another portage to the most splendid place on earth. Well, maybe it isn’t quite that good. It depends on your mood. It is at the end of the Great Lakes Forest, and the start of the Boreal Forest (according to the park literature), and, well, see for yourself. There are many campsites. There are not many people (in my experience). Further south is a turn off to Gamatagama Lake (my spelling may be way off, sorry). That’s maybe 3 miles long. It was beautiful and I enjoyed it, but I preferred Fenton-Treeby. Another lake that you might enjoy is Midjenemungshing (Lake Midj). It’s a few miles off 17, and is a large lake with lots of camp spots and portages to other lakes. I still prefer that two portage Fenton-Treeby Lake, but again, it may be mood. I used to love sitting on a rock at the point of Catherine Cove, and watching the lake throw a hissy fit, and fall was when I‘d take a blanket and sit on the cobbles at Old Woman Bay and eat sandwiches, drink coffee, and read a book. If the lake was calm, you’d hear the little waves come in, and then the water would get sucked out through the cobbles. If you’re in the park overnight, try to get to Old Woman Bay for a sunset.
Thanks for the nice vacation. Happy memories.
