Fairbank Provincial Park

It’s not a park that gets brought up often in the Ontario camping groups on Facebook. Part of that is probably its size, part of that is probably its location - way out on a county road, about half an hour west of Sudbury.

So, we went in knowing very little about what to expect at the park, other than the fact that our campsite looked fantastic!

One thing I love about RVing is the freedom it gives us to explore areas of the province that we wouldn’t have been able to, as cat owners. Being able to bring the babies with us opens up a world of possibilities.

This time around, we learned that Sudbury is thought to have been the site of a meteor strike ... well over a billion years ago.

The meteor crash site - the Sudbury Basin - is known for its metal ore mining. Sudbury is the “Nickel City”, after all... but Copper and Platinum are also mined in the area.

I had no idea - I’d only known of the nickel, and didn’t know the actual origin of it.

Anyway, Fairbank Provincial park is located on the very edge of the Sudbury Basin.

While you’d never look at the scenery and think “Ah, yes, a meteor hit here!”, it very likely had an impact (HA!!) on the overall geology and landscape of the park.

Anyway, now that we’re back to civilization, let us tell you all about our stay!

As a heads up: Onaping Falls & A.Y. Jackson Lookout is about an hour away from Fairbank, and well worth the drive!

The Basics:

Campground Name: Fairbank Provincial Park
Address: 696 Park Rd. Worthington, ON P0M1J0
Website: https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/fairbank
Price: Ontario Provincial Parks uses a pricing matrix across all their parks. See 2024 Camping Fees for more details.
Reservations: Ontario Parks Reservations
Park Classification: Recreational
Season: May 17, 2024 to September 15, 2024

Logistics

Some basic information to help you plan your visit to Fairbank Provincial Park:

Registration and Check In

As usual, we booked our campsite reservations online, 5 months ahead of our trip.

Because it was for after the Labour Day long weekend - and for a park much further from the Greater Toronto Area - we had no trouble getting an AMAZING site -waterfront and all!

On that note, the park was actually pretty empty during our stay - even the waterfront sites!

Anyway, check-in - inside the park office - went even faster than usual, even though it’s a paper-permit park.

A good thing for RV campers to note: There’s no trailer parking space at the front office, while checking in. You’re kind of forced to park like a jerk.

Maps and Signage

There were some weird discrepancies between the park map, the signage, and/or the park website... but overall, it’s such a small park, you’re not going to get lost.

The park map is a single sheet, 11x17, full colour. The map takes up the bulk of one side, and there is park information on the other side of the paper.

It’s clear, well-laid out, and has a bunch of info on it that isn’t always available on park maps - electrical vs non-electric sites, which are the accessible campsites, etc.

We figured out that it was indicating the hiking trail was down that way. I wonder if it’s new-ish?

Waste Services

As you’re about to enter the park, the trailer sanitation station is a pull off to the right - just on the main road, before the gatehouse. This is also where the garbage and recycling depot is located.

It’s labeled in such a way that it seems to be intended for use if you’re coming FROM the park, even though that would mean crossing the oncoming lane and going against the traffic direction.

If you are using it on exit from the park - so facing out from the park - it’s a fill platform and then a dump platform.

It’s a single-use station for each, but with a lane on either side of the platform, so you can use the fill and dump stations coming or going, and won’t need to feed a hose under your trailer.

Connectivity

We had absolutely no cell service at our campsite, and next to no connection anywhere else in the park.

Sometimes we’d get notifications through when not using our phone, but then when we saw them, we’d be back to not having any connection.

Accessibility

Fairbank Provincial Park is pretty ... dismal ... on the accessibility front.

Accessible Toilets

The first thing we noticed was that the toilets at the north side of the campground are labeled as being wheelchair accessible, both on the map and in person - and, from a distance, they look great, with a nice ramp in good condition.

At the bottom of the ramp, though, is a fairly high wooden “curb” that you’ll have to get over.

The comfort station is also designated as being barrier-free. There’s a short bump to get up onto the main comfort station platform from the path, but nowhere near as bad as at the ramped washroom.

Accessible Campsites

One of the two barrier free campsites is near the toilets with the ramp, but around the corner from it, rather than one of the sites right in front of where the ramp ends.

Can’t have disabled people taking up a waterfront campsite, I guess?

That barrier free campsite has a wheelchair accessible picnic table, and that’s the only thing that stands out about it.

The other barrier-free campsite is across from the comfort station, and is MUCH better - designated parking, a concrete platform, better proximity to a better facility, etc.

It also has a wheelchair accessible picnic table, as well as a pedestal style BBQ in addition to the usual fire pit. (The other accessible campsite only had the regular style one).

So - for many reasons - if you’re a wheelchair user, you’ll want to book site #4, rather than site #57.

Miscellaneous Accessibility

Most of the picnic area is all up a hill, and there are no Mobi-Mats, etc at the beach. I didn’t see anything about there being specialty wheelchairs available for loan, either.

Then, there’s the matter of the sole hiking trail in the campground.

It’s labeled as being 0.5 km and “easy”.

... you can’t call a difficult hike - 45 degree inclines and declines, rocky outcrops, etc - “easy”, just because it’s short.

“Easy” may or may not mean “wheelchair accessible”, but I’d definitely expect to be able to do an “easy” trail with other mobility aids (a walking boot, a cane, etc), or if I’m having a bad tendon day.

I was looking forward to doing a walk, even though I was having a spate of bad tendon days. Instead, the trail was one that - as Porter tells me - I would have had problems with even on a good day.

... and I’ve done some wild things on good days!

Yes, that’s an accessibility issue, IMHO. I also find it kind of ableist to label something that’s clearly challenging - and they said as much in the description on the map - as “Easy”.

Yes, I’m still annoyed about this. I was looking forward to having a nice walking option during our stay - especially with the lack of internet, LOL!

Pets

Pets aren’t allowed on the two regular park beaches at any time, and have to be kept leashed at all times.

As to where they are allowed, there’s a bit of weirdness in the information.

On the park website, the only mention made of pets says that there’s a pet exercise area at the boat launch.

I’m not sure if this means there is ALSO a pet exercise area in the boat launch -in addition to the Dog Beach - or if it’s a mistake.

The actual Dog Beach is over by the day use area, down a separate short road. You can’t access this area from the boat launch... well, unless you got in a boat and went around, I guess.

Parking

There’s lots of extra parking, especially given the size of the campground.

While the lots at the beach, etc are on the small end, it seems to be plenty of parking for the size of the beach, and the size of the campground.

As mentioned, there’s no trailer parking at the gatehouse.

Finally, while there’s no parking marked on the map in the day use area / lookout point, there ARE marked parking space in reality.

Miscellaneous

It’s a LONG drive from the Trans Canada Highway to the actual campground - over 20 km - and some parts of it are super rough.

The last 4 km before the campground is rough, hilly, and twisty. The actual posted speed limit is 60 km / h, we only felt comfortable doing 40 in the RV.

The roads in the park were uncomfortably narrow in places, with steep drop offs in some sections. Some areas of park road were in terrible shape, with entire sections of asphalt broken off and/or just missing.

You’re not going to want to bring an RV down to the dog beach / day use area, that’s for sure!

Beyond that, the 61-81 and the 102-140 campsite loops would not be good to bring an RV or trailer though - narrow, very rough road, hilly, and with tight curves.
Our car actually high-centered on the campground road up on that 102-140 loop!

Campground Amenities & Info

Here’s some basic information about the amenities at Fairbank Provincial Park:

Creature Comforts

There is one comfort station - kind of centrally located - to service the entire campground. It has flush toilets, laundry facilities, showers, sinks, etc.

Visitor Centre

There is no visitor center at Fairbank Provincial park.

Park Store

There’s a small park store located in the gatehouse - some of the usual Ontario Parks branded souvenirs, camping supplies, candy, snack foods (including Great Canadian Meat Company stuff- bonus points for that!), etc.

Day Use Area

There’s a small - but kind of sprawling - day use area between the main beach and the dog beach area.

There is a playground and beach volleyball net on the north side of the beach, and a few picnic tables and benches scattered along the beach, into the south end with the other section of day-use area.

Between the south end of the main beach and the dog beach is a large hill, with a cement platform and more picnic tables, overlooking spring-fed Fairbank Lake.

Rentals

The park offers loans of personal floatation devices (PFDs), and rents out canoes, extension cords, and Discovery Kits from the gatehouse.

The canoe rentals were removed from the rack after our first day there, though.

Campsite Details

As with most of the Ontario Provincial Parks campgrounds, there are no full-service sites in Fairbank Provincial Park.

About half the sites are electric sites, including about half of the waterfront campsites. There’s a little section with 4 pull-through sites right in front of the comfort station - those are the only pull through campsites in the park.

No water hookups in any of the campsites, but pretty much every one is only a short walk from the nearest water tap.

As with most Ontario Parks campsites, each site has a picnic table and fire pit.

We had a great view of the windy lake, a Loon that would swim by and scream, and some friendly ducks that would go up into the next campsite over to visit with that camper.

There was a cute little wooden staircase down to the water’s edge, but it wasn’t really big enough to be a suitable spot for a chair or camera tripod.

The side was mostly pretty level, large, and had decent enough privacy. We could see through to the next campsite, but it was far enough away that it wasn’t really bothersome.

A note on site #61:

We came across this site when doing our drive-through, and it really stuck out.

This campsite is a weird one, and I would personally recommend avoiding it.

It’s not really clear where the campsite begins and ends, and there’s a path that either goes right through it -or right in front of it - from the campground road to the small beach.

It LOOKS like the campsite opens right out onto the road, and people just walk into the site, but that’s... I can’t see that being the case.

There was no one camping there during our trip - and no one on ANY of the beaches - so I have no idea how popular that beach is. It’s small, but it’s also a lot closer to the campsites than the day use beach.

You could very well end up with people traipsing around your campsite. Maybe that’s your thing... but I’m not into it.

Group Camping

The group campsite at Fairbank Provincial Park is interesting in that it straight up tells you it can take four to six small trailers (or five to ten tents).

Almost every group campsite we’ve seen at other parks has specified that trailers and RVs aren’t allowed at all, much less inviting multiples.

Another interesting thing - along with the usual fire pit / picnic tables /water tap / etc, this group campsite has its own washrooms AND a horseshoe pit!

Entertainment and Activity

Some information on the popular activities you can participate in, at Fairbank Provincial Park.

Hiking

The only hiking trail in the park is the Wa-Shai-Ga-Mog Trail - “Wa-Shai-Ga-Mog” being the Ojibway word for “Clear Water”, and the original name of Fairbank Lake.

The trail is marked as being 0.5 km long and “Easy” - even though the description itself calls it “short but challenging”. In actuality, it’s 0.83 km.

0.33 km isn’t much of a difference, on its own... but that’s more than 50% longer than stated.

I have no idea why it’s labeled “easy” at all, it’s difficult. It starts out extremely steep - at least 45 degrees - and then is really steep near the end as well. Roots and bedrock outcrops the whole way.

If you’re good with the steep incline and difficulty level, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the surrounding area, lake, and Fairbank Fault, though!

How about we let Porter tell you about it:

I wish they had actual number markers, the spray painted numbers looked like some sort of temporary mark, which they are not.

It's pretty quick and gives you great views, I do recommend it!

Swimming

There are two swimming beaches at Fairbank Provincial Park, as well as a dog beach.

The main beach is a long, buoyed sandy beach with a gorgeous panoramic view of the lake. The sand is light and clean, and the whole area seems well maintained.

The daily highs didn’t pass 10 degrees during our stay, though - unsurprisingly, no one was swimming!

Very “postage stamp”, I was kicking myself for not having brought a plastic banana with us as a size reference.

Also, interesting note: The crystal clear waters apparently make Fairbank Lake a popular destination for snorkellers.

I think the only other time we’ve seen any mention at all of snorkelling has been at Bruce Peninsula National Park.

Biking

There aren’t any dedicated or mixed-use bike trails in Fairbank Provincial Park, nor is there any mention of cycling on the park’s website.

I’m sure the park roads are OK for cyclists - they’re not in the best condition though, so be careful.

Birding, Wildlife, and Nature

While we had decent - but windy - weather for the first afternoon of our stay, that quickly turned to blustery, rainy, cold weather for the remainder of the trip. It was not great for birding!

We saw a few Blue Jays - including right in our campsite, as well as American Crows, Ravens, a Ruffled Grouse, a Common Loon, and a ton of Black-Capped Chickadees.

At one point, something big - we think a hawk - swooped down out of the trees and flew down the campground road right in front of us... but we were too startled to get a photo or positive ID on it!

Beyond those sightings, we also heard Woodpeckers at work a few times, but couldn’t see them.

Boating

While there wasn’t much in the way of boating happening during our stay, the park says it’s a popular activity there in the summer months.

There’s a boat launch and dock near the day use area.

The boat launch was in better shape than a lot of the ones we tend to see at Provincial Parks, which is kind of wild, considering the state of the roads leading to it!

Fishing

We didn’t see anyone fishing during our stay - and the weather was too miserable to make this the stop where we finally try our hand at fishing - but the lake is known for fishing opportunities.

Lake Trout and Smallmouth Bass are the big draws.

Discovery Program

As with most of the Ontario Provincial Parks - especially northern ones, and small ones - the Discovery Program at Fairbank only runs in July and August, so we missed it during our visit.

There WAS a sign at the comfort station about Discovery Kit Rentals, though.

2 of the 3 were crossed out as being not available - of course, they were the two cooler sounding ones!

They have an "Art in the Park" kit with watercolour supplies, stencils, crayons, and activity suggestions.

The two that aren't available are:

Explorer Kit: Includes binoculars, a dip net, a bucket, fold-out field guides, and animal observation guidelines.

Night Sky Kit: Includes a planisphere, headlamp with red light, and an Ojibwe Star Map book.

Niantic Games

At no time or place in Fairbank Provincial Park did we have enough internet connection to even load Pokemon Go. If there are Ingress Portals, Pokemon Gyms, and/or Pokestops in the park... we’d never know.

Final Thoughts

So it’s hard to really rank Fairbank Provincial Park, or come up with a definitive opinion on it.

The long, rough road from the highway definitely makes it a bit less desirable, as do the actual campground roads, and the lack of trails.

If the roads were in better shape, though? This COULD have ended up one of our favourite destinations, even if just on the quality of our campsite alone.

We love quiet campgrounds without a lot of people, throw in a waterfront site and I’m SOLD. I’d even forgo great hiking trails, for a bit of waterfront peace.

The lack of internet is also a bit of a deal breaker for us, at least for longer stays. It may not be as much of an issue for some, but this is a “work from home, just in a campsite” situation for us.

So, OK enough to be without for a couple days, but we couldn’t go much longer than that.

Also, lack of internet gets frustrating when it comes to just being informed about the weather forecast, the space weather conditions, etc.

Those waterfront campsites, though!

For the right person with the right situation. this park would be amazing. It’s a really cute park!

More Provincial Park Campground Reviews

Want to read some more of what we have to say about the campgrounds we've stayed at? Here are some more reviews!

Arrowhead Provincial Park
Awenda Provincial Park
Balsam Lake Provincial Park
Bass Lake Provincial Park
Bon Echo Provincial Park
Bonnechere Provincial Park
Bronte Creek Provincial Park
Canisbay Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park
Chutes Provincial Park
Darlington Provincial Park
Driftwood Provincial Park
Earl Rowe Provincial Park
Emily Provincial Park
Ferris Provincial Park
Grundy Lake Provincial Park
Inverhuron Provincial Park
Killbear Provincial Park
Lake Superior Provincial Park
Long Point Provincial Park
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
MacLeod Provincial Park
Mara Provincial Park
McRae Point Provincial Park
Neys Provincial Park
Pinery Provincial Park
Point Farms Provincial Park
Port Burwell Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park
Rideau River Provincial Park
Rock Point Provincial Park
Rondeau Provincial Park
Sauble Falls Provincial Park
Selkirk Provincial Park
Sibbald Point Provincial Park
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Turkey Point Provincial Park
Wheatley Provincial Park