Exploring French River Provincial Park – Canada’s First Heritage River, Home of the Hungry Bear
Along the Highway connection from Toronto to Sudbury, longing the Georgian Bay, one will find a stunning watercourse steeped in history, culture and natural beauty. Hidden within its entrails, thus making it hard to access without a boat, one can chart a landscape that was essential to the commercial development of Canada.
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Geography of a Water Highway
The mighty French River (Rivière des Français, Wemitigoj-Sibi), named after the intrepid fur traders that charted its course, cuts it way through the rock of the Canadian Shield. From its mouth on the Georgian Bay, the watercourse runs up to Lake Nipissing. At the peak of the French Fur trade, this was an important route that linked the west via the great lakes (Huron and Superior) to Montreal via the inland river systems of Ontario. From Lake Huron, one would travel though the Georgian Bay, up the French River to Lake Nipping, then a short portage to the Mattawa river nearby, before merging into the Ottawa River at Mattawa finally reaching Montreal and the St. Lawrence River.
History
First used by the local Algonquin peoples as a transportation, it was explored through the 17th century by the cream of French explorers including Étienne Brûlé, Samuel de Champlain and Pierre-Esprit Radisson. Later, the region was charted by English explorers of equal renown such as Simon Fraser, Alexander Mackenzie and David Thompson. It was a major canoe route until the 1820’s when the Grand Trunk Railway was constructed. This brought on industrialization, primarily in the lumber sector over the course of the later part of the 19th century. This exploration of the regions rich lumber reserves, served to build the great American cities, a process accelerated by the demand created by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Today the French River is no longer a commercial/industrial hot spot, instead hosting many recreational boaters and tourists over the summer months.
Exploring the French River
Noëlville
The Primary city of the French River, on the north-east side of the watercourse, may not seem like much but it is home to a nice church and the kind of amenities you need in a pinch when camping or boating. This town was the home of the grandfather of businessman Paul Desmarais.
Alban
The secondary hub of the French River, to the south, it was once a railway stop. Again a good stop for gas for the boat!
French River Trading Post (Home of the Hungry Bear and Blueberry Hound)
Located directly off the road connecting Toronto to Sudbury, this is a popular stop with kids who may with the get an ice cream cone and meet the mascots, the blue coloured Hungry Bear, and his friend the Blueberry Hound. There a few wood buildings hosting a restaurant and a girt shop!
French River Provincial Park (Main Entrance)
Pulling in across the bridge from the trading post, one cannot help but be impressed at the names of those explorers who came before! This is a wild river full of rugged rocks and endless forests.
The visitors center is rather modern but serves a museum of the regions history and a gathering point before heading for a hike. Use the restroom facilities if you have to!
From the visitors center, you can take an elegant steel suspension bridge across the water, something I highly recommend doing.
From the bridge you will get a magnificent glimpse of the river, its forests and Canadian Shield landscape.
Recollet Falls
From the visitors center, you can hike down though the forest, down towards a low lying plateau along the river. Here you will find a small set of waterfalls and a beautiful view. The hike is a mere 2.7 Kilometers (1.7 miles), and makes for a good stop off before you get back on the road.
Conclusion
Although it is difficult to access its entrails without a boat this park offers stunning natural beauty and a chance to fish to your hearts desire. Come explore the French!
