Solace Provincial Park

Solace Provincial Park
Map showing the location of Solace Provincial Park
Map showing the location of Solace Provincial Park
Location of the park in Ontario
LocationSudbury District, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates47°11′20″N 80°41′25″W / 47.18889°N 80.69028°W / 47.18889; -80.69028[2]
Area5,943.00 ha (22.9461 sq mi)[3]
DesignationWaterway
Established1989
Named forSolace Lake
Governing bodyOntario Parks
www.ontarioparks.com/park/solace
Map

Solace Provincial Park is a remote provincial park in Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1985 and protects a series of lakes that provide backcountry canoeing opportunities. It is characterized by boreal forest, mostly jack pine conifer forest with mixed forest including white birch.[3][4] The roadless park, with topography and scenery similar to the adjacent Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, is considered as "one of the most isolated, wild places in Ontario."[5][6]

The park contains a chain of narrow north–south oriented lakes such as Selkirk, Solace, Maggie, Pilgrim, and Bluesucker Lakes, that are separated by steep forest-covered ridges. Canoeists can travel between these lakes with rugged portages over the ridges.[4] Although scenic and for those seeking quietude, the canoe routes through the park are considered by Hap Wilson as "challenging" with "hefty" portages. The routes form part of the 2,400-kilometre long (1,500 mi) network of portages and waterways in the Temagami area.[7][8]

It is an operating park, requiring permits for wilderness camping. Facilities include 10 backcountry campsites. The park can be used for recreational activities such as boating, backcountry camping, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and hunting.[3] It is only accessible via canoe or floatplane.[6]

The park is part of a chain of provincial parks and conservation reserves in the Temagami area. It forms a natural corridor between the Sturgeon River (in the adjacent Sturgeon River Provincial Park) to the west and Florence Lake (in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park) to the east.[4] Furthermore, it borders on North Yorston Conservation Reserve to the north, which protects old-growth white pine stands and part of the headwaters of the Sturgeon, Lady Evelyn, Yorston, and Pilgrim Rivers.[9]

  1. ^ UNEP-WCMC. "Protected Area Profile for Solace Provincial Park". World Database on Protected Areas. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  2. ^ "Solace Provincial Park". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Solace". www.ontarioparks.com. Ontario Parks. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Temagami Area Park Management Plan for Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Makobe-Grays River, Obabika River, Solace and Sturgeon River Provincial Parks". ontario.ca. Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario. 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Policy Report P1917: SOLACE PROVINCIAL PARK (WATERWAY CLASS)". Crown Land Use Policy Atlas. Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Solace Provincial Park". greatlakes.guide. Great Lakes Guide. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  7. ^ Wilson, Hap (1988). Temagami canoe routes (Rev. and updated ed.). Merrickville, Ontario: The Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association. ISBN 0969325819.
  8. ^ "Obabika River". www.ontarioparks.com. Ontario Parks. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Policy Report CR53: NORTH YORSTON CONSERVATION RESERVE". Crown Land Use Policy Atlas. Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2022.