Blue Lake Provincial Park is located along Highway 647 in Vermilion Bay, Ontario, only nine kilometres north of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17).
Popular with locals and long-distance travelers alike, this park is sure to capture your heart!
Here are 5 reasons you’ll love Blue Lake:
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1. Relax on a beautiful beach and watch the sunset
Blue Lake is well known to beach lovers in the region, with a long stretch of soft sand and cool, clear water. The lake is perfect for a refreshing dip on a hot summer day.
The secret behind this beautiful lake and beach? Blue Lake is “spring-fed” — the sand and water were left behind by a glacier thousands of years ago.
Sunsets on Blue Lake’s beach deserve a special mention – the sun always puts on a spectacular show as it dips below the tree line across the lake. There’s a reason this area is nicknamed “Sunset Country”!
For Trans-Canada Highway travelers, explore Northwestern Ontario’s Sunset Country Driving Route featuring Blue Lake Provincial Park.
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2. Your choice of watercraft rentals
What better way to enjoy this beautiful lake than to paddle on it?
While some visitors choose to bring their own watercraft, others can rent canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards. These rentals include paddles, personal flotation devices (PFDs), and boat safety kits – everything you need for a fun and safe day out on the water!
Popular paddling spots include the Beaver Pond, where you may spot the park’s resident otter family, a Painted Turtle, or even a Snapping Turtle!
You can also venture out along Blue Lake’s shoreline, with many picnic and swimming spots hidden along the way.
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3. Leave the tent at home and reserve a trailer-equipped site!
Did you know that Blue Lake is one of the only two parks at Ontario Parks that offers trailer-equipped rental campsites?
Whether you are looking to try camping for the first time or an easier weekend trip, look no further than Blue Lake’s rental trailers.
Each of the five trailer rentals sleeps 6 people, with a queen bed, a set of twin bunks, and a double pull-out couch.
Rental trailers are reservable from the May long weekend until the end of September.
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4. Hiking trails for every skill level
Blue Lake has a great trail system, with four trail options of varying lengths.
Our two beginner-friendly trails are the barrier-free Spruce Fen Boardwalk Trail (0.8 km) and the rockier Boulder Ridge Trail (0.9 km).
The Spruce Fen Trail takes you through an open fen wetland with interpretive panels to read along the way. Keep an eye out for Pitcher Plants or spot a woodpecker finding a snack!
The Boulder Ridge Trail follows a landform called a terminal moraine, left behind by the same glacier that gave the park its beautiful beach. The huge glacial erratic boulders found on this trail make for great photo-ops!
For a longer adventure, check out the Rock Point Trail (3.8 km) or the Goblin Lake Trail (6.2 km).
Rock Point Trail takes you through a variety of ecosystems, from low-lying wetlands to rocky outcrops that offer great views of Blue Lake and Corner Lake.
The Goblin Lake Trail takes you all the way to the western edge of Blue Lake and around the small, quaint Goblin Lake. There are plenty of great picnic and swimming spots to be found along this trail.
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5. Cool Discovery Programs
For summer visitors, Blue Lake offers Discovery programming in July and August. Check out all the different types of programs to participate in, including guided hikes, children’s programs, drop-in interpretive stations, and evening programs.
The Discovery programs help you connect to Blue Lake and build a relationship with the natural world. Bring out your inner nature nerd, and check out the event calendar!
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Make your way to Blue Lake this year!
Book your camping trip today, up to 5 months in advance!
Blue Lake Provincial Park is open from May 16 to September 29, 2025.
Visiting for the day? Don’t forget to book your daily vehicle permit in advance to guarantee entry! Daily vehicle permits become available at 7:00 a.m., five days in advance of your arrival date.
