Pukaskwa River Provincial Park is a 1,465 hectare waterway park that begins at Gibson Lake, approximately 25 kilometres south of White River and 55 kilometres northwest of Wawa. Ontario Parks lists the park as established in 2002.
The provincial park protects about 22 kilometres of the Pukaskwa River, including lakes in the headwaters. Directly adjacent Pukaskwa National Park protects the remaining 55 kilometres of the river as it flows into Lake Superior.
Pukaskwa River is a serious long-tail page for advanced paddlers researching remote whitewater canoeing and camping. Ontario Parks says the river includes lake, small river, and small wetland sections linked along bedrock-controlled channels over strongly broken shallow sandy till rock uplands and lacustrine sand and gravel outwash deposits.
The official page describes spectacular scenery and a remote white-water river experience for people with advanced canoeing and camping skills. There are no visitor facilities available.
That combination makes planning non-negotiable. Visitors should understand the difference between the provincial park headwater section and the adjacent national park section, and should check current route, access, and permit information before departure.
The mix of lakes, river channels, wetlands, till uplands, and outwash deposits gives paddlers varied terrain to research.
Plan around advanced whitewater canoeing, remote camping, headwater lake travel, bedrock channel scenery, wetland section awareness, map review, and route coordination with adjacent Pukaskwa National Park.
Confirm access, maps, permits, no-facility expectations, whitewater conditions, camping rules, weather, alerts, emergency planning, and park rules through Ontario Parks.
Non-operating park in Ontario Parks locator.
