Permits for Missainabi River

Hi folks,

Well, provided the snow fall is appropriate my brother and I will tackle the Miss in June. We will jump on the train in Sudbury blah, blah, blah.

My issue is getting the permits. I don't want to start on Missainabi Lake because of the terrifying pictographs but it seems I might have to use this as my starting point. However, three phone numbers in to Ontario Parks and nobody can tell me how to do this. They have NO answers except to wait until May, which I find a bit low on the totem of good customer service. I have not posted on CCR yet - I like to go here first.

So how does a guy take a canoe trip?

Thank you!!

Presume you are taking the "Budd Car" from Sudbury to Missinaibi Station. (be aware there are two Via Rail stations in Sudbury).

When booking with Ontario Parks your Starting point would be Missinaibi Lake because that is where the park starts. The portion from the train to the lake is Crown Land (some private land). If you REALLY want to have a permit for that stretch I suppose you could but it's a different process to obtain Crown Land Permits for non-residents.

It's about 20 miles from the train to where you enter the Park. I did this route about 40 years ago, I don't remember if we made it all the way to Missinaibi Lake or camped one night on the way. I wouldn't bother with the crown land permit for that one possible night. I do recall camping on the "big" island near the cliffs where the pictographs are.

You should be able to book 5 months before your start date, although the river isn't overcrowded they do restrict the flow of paddlers and it is a popular route. I would books as soon as possible although the busy season usually doesn't start until July 1st.

Note that the area may be very buggy in June. By July you will have the usual dusk swarms but reasonably bug free during the day and on the water.

Are you planning on doing the full river all the way to Moosonee?

Thank you again recped - your batting 1000 on these trips of mine!