Finlayson Point Provincial Park is a tiny campground in the Temagami Region of Ontario. Here's what you need to know about camping there!
We were headed north, and the Temagami area was a convenient place to stop for lunch. So, we stopped in at Finlayson just as a place to safely pull over for a bit, grab some food, and feed the cats.
Camping during the summer months usually isn’t our thing - and we definitely tend to make a point of avoiding long weekends altogether!
... but the park looked so cute on that visit, that we decided to make a point of spending a day there on our way back through the town of Temagami, at the end of our little Northern Ontario excursion.
You know. On Labour Day!
We’d been up at the Temagami Fire Tower, and noticed that the park was conveniently located to THAT attraction.
Anyway, it’s a small campground located on a peninsula of Lake Temagami. While there’s not necessarily a lot to do in terms of land based recreation, it’s a popular home base for those looking to explore the lake.
It’s HUGE - between the islands and the mainland, it’s known to have thousands of kilometers of shoreline!
Anyway, let us tell you everything we learned about the park, over our two visits!
The Basics:
Campground Name: Finlayson Point Provincial Park
Address: 24 Finlayson Park Road, Temagami, ON P0H 2H0
Website: https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/finlaysonpoint
Price Ontario Provincial Parks uses a pricing matrix across all their parks. See 2025 Camping Fees for more details.
Reservations: Ontario Parks Reservations
Park Classification: Recreational
Season: May 16, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Park Warden Phone Number: (705) 493-4714
Logistics
Some basic information to help you get plan your stay at Finlayson Point Provincial Park:
Registration and Check In
Both times we visited Finlayson Point Provincial Park, it was using a valid camping permit from another Provincial Park... so, no reservations were needed.
Gotta love that park reciprocity program!
Anyway, we did check in at the park both times, and service was fast and friendly as usual.
Maps and Signage
Some info to help you get around Finlayson Point Provincial Park:
Park Map
Upon check in, we obtained a copy of the park map. It’s a full colour, glossy, 2-sided 8.5 x 11" page.
A map of the full park takes up one whole side of the sheet, while the other full side is dedicated to canoe routes.
It’s a small park, so this size was plenty to get the job done. Everything was legible, high contrast, and easy to read. My only real complaint is that there was no accessibility information located on the map - and this is a problem at this park. (I’ll get into that in a bit).
Anyway, the two maps are available as PDF downloads on the park’s website: Finlayson Point Provincial Park Map, and Finlayson Point Provincial Park Canoe Routes.
Signage
Overall, the directional signage around the park will get you where you need to go. The campground loops get a bit weird - especially with the one ways - so it’s definitely good to still have the map with you.
That said, there’s some weird signage and layout in the Trailer Sanitation Station. It’s a half loop for the dump and fill platforms, but it’s ALSO the access point for the garbage and recycling area.
That whole thing isn’t really well marked after you enter the loop, so it can be a bit confusing.
Waste & Water Services
The trailer sanitation station is a half loop on the side of the main campground road. It’s one-way, but the entrance can be easily accessed from either direction on the main road.
It’s a single lane, with no bypass. The dump platform is first, followed by 2 threaded fill towers, across the lane from each other.
The lane gets a little wider at the fill platforms, so you could POSSIBLY get by someone filling, as long as they were pulled as far over as possible.
Given the setup with the garbage and recycling area, it’s definitely a weird setup.
Due to the way things are situated, those leaving the garbage and recycling area have to exit that area back onto the poop loop... and will be stuck behind anyone who’s using the fill platform.
The way the garbage and recycling exits back onto the trailer sanitation loop also makes for a VERY tight turn, if you’re driving an RV or towing a trailer.
As for that garbage and recycling area, it’s huge.
The garbage needs to be deposited into a trailer, though - you go up several steps and onto a raised deck, and have to throw your garbage bags over a railing into a trailer below.
Connectivity
We’re on Rogers Wireless, and had good cell reception throughout the park during all 3 of our visits.
Accessibility
All the park’s website has to say about accessibility is that barrier-free access is available at all comfort stations and at the park office.
To expand on that...
1. There are 2 barrier-free sites, across from the main comfort station. These sites - #95 and #96 - are indicated on the map, even if not mentioned on the website.
Each has an elevated fire pit and a sort-of modified picnic table. The overhang is not very significant - certainly not as much as other wheelchair-accessible picnic tables we’ve seen in other parks - but they’re definitely a little different from the other picnic tables at Finlayson Point.
2. The rental cabin has a wheelchair ramp out front, though this isn’t mentioned on the park’s website.
3. The “barrier-free access at all comfort stations” is... well, there’s a bit of a caveat there.
The main comfort station is accessible, just with a small lip to get up onto the path going from the parking area to the apron. The washroom section doesn’t have an accessibility symbol on the door, but it does have an accessible stall. The shower facility was appropriate as a barrier-free shower (some really aren’t!), and in good condition.
The other comfort station - the one in the small section of campsites off on its own - is nowhere near as accessible. There’s no designated parking - and very little parking at all - and no paved path up the hill to the comfort station.
Your best bet is to wheel up over the grass to the right... but really, I’d recommend staying near the other comfort station, if you’re a wheelchair user.
Row 2: Mini Comfort Station, Accessible Vault Toilet
Row 3: Accessible Vault Toilet, Park Office
Row 4: The Cabin and one of the Barrier-Free Campsites
We saw at least two barrier-free outhouses: one across from the lookout on the main road (short but kind of steep path small lip at bottom), and the one across from site #42.
We didn’t look at all the outhouses, there may be more - people shouldn’t have to drive around to figure out which of the outhouses are barrier-free!
5. The park office barrier-free access includes a barrier-free washroom.
6. The garbage facilities are not barrier free. As mentioned, you have to go up several steps and throw your garbage over a railing.
7. The beaches are not barrier-free, and don’t even have parking nearby.
Pets
There’s a dog beach at Finlayson Point Provincial Park, located near the front of the park. On the map, it looks to be a driving road down, but it’s blocked off by boulders. That said, there IS parking near the top of the trail, on the main road.
The beach is small and shallow, mostly sandy with some small rocks throughout. Very clean looking water.
Dogs aren’t allowed on the other beaches, by the way.
Beyond that, all of the standard rules apply. Dogs are to be leashed and attended at all times, picked up after, and prevented from harassing people, other animals, and vegetation at the park.
Parking
There’s a big parking lot at the boat basin, a fair amount of parking at the main comfort station, and some random parking areas in the campgrounds.
Generally speaking, you’re not going to have a hard time finding somewhere to park at Finlayson Point Provincial Park... but there are a couple exceptions:
1. The mini comfort station in the small loop of campsites does not have much in the way of parking.
2. The beaches do not have parking.
Miscellaneous
The only real miscellaneous bit of information that we have to note for Finlayson Point Provincial Park is all sky related.
First off - beautiful sunrises if you’re looking from the south end of the park (dog beach, or the boat docks in the small campground loop).
I’d imagine there would be really nice sunsets at the north side of the park, especially from the area of the Grey Owl Plaque or the cabin.
The park is located fairly far north in an area of relatively low light pollution, BUT Temagami is located directly to the north of it.
Aside from that, there are a lot of cabins across the water from the park - all of which are going to add light and get in the way of night sky viewing, and aurora borealis hunting.
If you’re interested in possibly seeing the northern lights, check out our posts: Aurora Hunting, How to Photograph the Northern Lights, Can I See the Northern Lights Tonight?, and Where to See Northern Lights in Ontario.
Campground Amenities & Info
Some basic information on the amenities at Finlayson Point Provincial Park:
Creature Comforts
There are two comfort stations at Finlayson.
The main comfort station is located on the northwest corner of the park, an easy walk from the boat basin and picnic area.
This is a large comfort station with flush toilets, laundry, and showers. Porter was pleasantly surprised to see that they had privacy partitions at the urinals - “almost like a stall, without a door”.
Anyway, there’s also a field outside, with a volleyball net set up.
Note: The park website says that there are laundry facilities “in its comfort stations” - it’s only at the main comfort station.
This one is more of a mini comfort station - it has two showers, 2 toilets, and that’s it. There’s barely any parking, and it’s not as nice as the main one.
Visitor Centre
There is no Visitor Center at Finlayson Point Provincial Park.
There are plaques and educational signs in a few places, so there’s a bit of educational opportunity at the park.
The signs we saw were talking about post glacial land formation, like glacial erractics. That particular one’s next to a big boulder, in the south campground loop.
Park Store
Finlayson Point Provincial Park has a large, really well appointed boutique of a camp store, located in the Park Office.
In particular, it has a shockingly large selection of clothing - especially considering how small the park is!
Beyond that, expect the usual Ontario Parks souvenirs, some basic camping supplies, firewood, stuffed animals, etc. Porter didn’t see any snacks or ice cream, though - he was feeling munchy at the time!
Day Use Area
There are two day use areas at Finlayson Point Provincial park. One is big and open and suitable for everyone, the other is definitely more set up for those camping right in that area.
The two beaches at the northeast corner of the park are considered one of the day use areas. They’re both tiny, with a picnic table or two each - and no parking.
I’ll talk about the beaches in a bit, though!
The main day use area - IMHO - is a little alcove in the north west section of the park - a boat basin. This is where the boat launch, some docks, and a bit of a picnic area are found.
Anyway, there’s a tiny little picnic shelter that’s available for rent - it’s only got 4 picnic tables, plus a little grill.
Rentals
Aside from the picnic shelter, you can rent bicycles, canoes, and kayaks out of the park office.
Campsite Details
There are two ways to camp at Finlayson Point Provincial Park: Car camping, or renting the single cabin in the park.
Car Camping
There are just over 100 campsites at Finlayson Point Provincial Park, spread across two main campground areas. As usual, all of the campsites come with a picnic table and fire pit.
There’s a range of campsite sizes and styles, from tent-only campsites, to those big enough to accommodate large trailers.
A little over ⅓ of the campsites come with electrical hook-up.
Beyond that, there’s not much to say - they’re fairly standard campsites.
Some have a little more privacy than others, there are some pull-through campsites in that little campground loop to the south, they’re pretty much all only a short walk from some kind of washroom, etc.
Roofed Accommodation
Temagami Cabin is located right on the shore of Lake Temagami, and it’s super cute!
It sleeps 6 people across 2 bedrooms, with twin-over-double bunk beds. There’s a fairly well-appointed kitchenette, with a coffee maker, fridge/freezer, kettle, and microwave, as well as an electric fireplace, and cute log furniture.
Outside, it has a BBQ grill, fire pit, picnic table, and a couple of Muskoka chairs overlooking the lake. It even has its own dock space, with a cabin canoe, complete with paddles and PFDs! Really sounds like a fantastic experience.
As usual, pets and smoking aren’t permitted in the cabin, and minimum stay requirements are in place - varying by season.
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Entertainment and Activity
Finlayson Point Provincial Park is a tiny park - without a ton of options in the way of activities.
Here’s what you need to know about your options:
Hiking
There are no hiking trails at Finlayson Point Provincial Park.
Your best bet for hiking is to drive about 8 minutes away, to the Caribou Mountain Lookout. The main attraction up there is the Temagami Fire Tower.
Located right in the heart of the forest, the tower up there gives you a panoramic view over the town, and of Temagami’s vast wilderness surrounding the town.
If you’re looking to do more than the ~200m trail from the parking lot to the tower, there are several hiking trails winding their way through the dense forests of the area.
Some are available right at the top, while other trailheads are accessed along the road up to the tower parking lot up top. A map in that parking lot lists all of the trails, and shows where and how they’re laid out.
The trails are:
Beaver Trail, Caribou Trail, Cross & Link Trail, Fox Run Trail, John’s Trail, Old Ranger Trail, Pad Lake Trail, Peregrine Trail, Red Fox Trail, Tower Trail, and White Bear Trail.
They’re colour coded on the map, but no information is given about distances, difficulty, or the types of things you might see along the trail.
We haven’t gotten around to hiking any of those trails yet, I’ll update when we do!
Biking
There aren’t any cycling trails in Finlayson Point Provincial Park, but visitors are welcome to bike on the park roads.
Swimming
The beach area at Finlayson Point Provincial Park is set up as two sandy beaches, right on the shores of Lake Temagami.
Both had a small sandy beach, a bouyed swimming area, and shallow water with a gradual drop off into the clear waters of the lake.
Maybe it’s just that I’m not a fan of beaches on small lakes, but I definitely see the Finlayson Point beaches as a “scenic beach”, rather than a swimming beach, for me.
It would be a great place to lay around and watch the boats go by. More importantly, it looks like they give you a DIRECT view of the float plane runway.
We didn’t get to see any take offs or landings, but that would have been an amazing way to spend the afternoon!
Birding, Wildlife, and Nature
We didn’t spend a TON of time birding during our stays at Finlayson Point Provincial Park, and didn’t see much of the types of birds mentioned on the park’s website (Ducks, Flycatchers, Hawks, Owls, Warblers).
What we DID see and/or here were American Crow, Black-Capped Chickadee, Common Loon, Common Raven, Northern Flicker, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Spruce Grouse, and Turkey Vulture.
Boating
Boating is a hugely popular activity at Finlayson Point Provincial Park - unsurprising, given the size of the lake!
If you’re looking for an epic canoe trip, there are more than 2000 lakes in the region - most of these ere interconnected with portages. All told, there’s a 2400 km network of routes to explore!
Anyway, there are several different access points to the lake, throughout the park.
The main access is via the boat basin - this is where the motor boats are launched from, and there’s a series of docks you can moor to (permits needed!).
Even if you don’t have your own boat, it’s a nice place to hang out in general. The exceptionally clear water of Lake Temagami is mesmerizing, and it’s a great place to watch the water planes fly by!
Anyway, in terms of that boat launch, it’s pretty short and steep, but with a paved approach and ramp. It opens into an area that must be pretty deep, as we saw some pretty big boats going by.
Next to the beach, there’s a small inlet of the lake, with a couple of docks.
Then, down at the smaller campground, there’s a series of 3 floating wooden docks. These ones don’t have any parking nearby, though, so they’re definitely best suited for people who are camping in that little loop.
Bottom Row: Docks Near the Beaches
Fishing
By almost all accounts, Lake Temagami is a hugely popular angling spot.
“Huge” being the key word. The lake - with its many different environments and aquatic habitats - means there’s a wide variety of fish up for grabs.
There’s deep water, sheltered little bays... you can even fish right from the shore in Finlayson Point Provincial Park. We saw several people doing just that, all along the north shore of the park.
Anyway, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch are some of the species you can expect to find nearby.
Discovery Program
Finlayson Point Provincial Park runs a Discovery Program in July and August... and apparently it ended right before we visited!
We didn’t see any schedules posted anywhere in the park, so I couldn’t tell you what kinds of programming had been offered.
They did have the Discovery Activity Book available, though. So, even if you’re camping in the off-season, you’ve got a little something to get the kids engaged with their surroundings!
Niantic Games
We ended up playing a bit of Pokemon Go during a couple of our visits to Finlayson Point Provincial Park.
There are a few Ingress Portals / Pokestops / Pokegyms located randomly in the park, the highest concentration is in the corner with the boat launch and day use area. Not a ton of spots, but enough for you to get the basics done.
We had great cellular reception throughout the park, and there seemed to be plenty of spawn points throughout.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is a really quaint, cute little park.
Will it end up as one of our favourite destinations? Probably not, just on account of the lack of hiking right at the park.
That said, it’s great as a stop-over point, and a nice little base of operations for adventuring on Lake Temagami, and the Temagami region in general.
Oh, and if we didn’t have the cats to worry about ... I would be ALL OVER renting that cabin, though - lack of trails be damned!
More Near-North Ontario Provincial Parks & Places to See
Want to read some more about the parks we've camped and at places we've seen in Near-Northern Ontario? Here are some more posts!
Near-Northern Ontario Campground Reviews:
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Chutes Provincial Park
Driftwood Provincial Park
Fairbank Provincial Park
Grundy Lake Provincial Park
Kap-Kig-Iwan Provincial Park
Mikisew Provincial Park
Killbear Provincial Park
Oastler Lake Provincial Park
Six Mile Lake Provincial Park
Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park
Near-Northern Ontario Places to See:
Big Chute Marine Railway
Fielding Bird Sanctuary
French River Provincial Park
Hardy Lake Provincial Park
Onaping Falls
Oxtongue River-Ragged Falls Provincial Park
Screaming Heads
Want to explore beyond Near-Northern Ontario? Check out our full list of Campground Reviews, Ontario Waterfalls, and other Places to See.
We also have a ton of Camping Recipes to cook up, while on your adventures!
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