Parc Opemican: This Nature and Adventure Getaway in Western Quebec May Be The Province’s Best Kept Secret

Located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Québec, Opémican National Park is the perfect place for nature, history and adventure lovers. Visitors come for a peaceful getaway, but stay for the its sweeping scenic vistas, lakeside camp sites, rocky cliffs and storied past.

I love any opportunity to travel throughout the incredible province of Quebec. From its stunning Atlantic coasts in the east to its rugged interior forests in the far west, it’s impossible to feel bored when it comes to thinking about all of the ways to take a trip to this special province.

When I’m given the chance to visit a new-to-me region in the province, I jump at the opportunity. Abitibi-Témiscamingue is one of those regions for me, and on my recent trip there I instantly fell in love with its endless forests, nature trails and quiet towns. If you’re travelling to the region for the first time, a trip to Opemican National Park (Parc Opemican) cannot be missed!

This park is a hub for nature, adventure and history-lovers alike. Scenic Lake Timiskaming (Lac Témiscamingue) begins at its southernmost point, and was a major stop on Quebec’s historic fur trade and logging routes. It’s also home to countless hiking trails, water activities and campsites, making it the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a dynamic nature escape.

The History of Opemican National Park

Although its English name categorizes it as a national park, Parc Opemican is a provincial park within Quebec. It’s actually the newest park to become a recognized SEPAQ park (Société des établissements de plein air du Québec), and is most definitely a treasured place to visit in the province.

The lands where Parc Opemican sits today have been Indigenous lands for at least 6500 years. It has been the home to primarily the Algonquin Anishinabeg peoples, and later became part of the fur trade route via Lake Timiskaming to Hudson’s Bay in the 1700s.

In the late 1800s, Pointe-Opemican was a stop on the logging route up the Ottawa River to Lake Timiskaming, which was an active route up until more or less the 1970s. Several historic structures from the logging history are still intact in the Pointe-Opemican area of the park, which is also where the Visitor Centre is located.

Visiting the park today offers a great way to learn about the generations of people who have called this important site home, and travelled through one of the central waterways in this part of Canada. On top of enjoying the park’s nature, visiting the Auberge Jodoin (a former inn for loggers) and other historic structures at Pointe-Opemican is a great way to learn a little more about the site’s more recent history.

Opemican’s Location & How to Get Here

Opemican is right on the border between Ontario and Quebec. It’s actually easiest to get to from Ontario, since there aren’t many thoroughfares running through southwestern Quebec. It’s a short, one hour drive from North Bay along Highway 63 (ON) and Highway 101 (QC).

If you’re coming from Toronto or Ottawa, it’s about a 5 hour drive from each city. From Toronto you’ll pass places like Huntsville and North Bay, and from Ottawa you’ll take quieter roads along the scenic Ottawa River.

To visit the park, you will absolutely need a car. On top of it being in a relatively remote part of Quebec, the park itself is widespread with several different areas to camp in and visit. On top of this, you’ll likely want to extend your time in the area by taking a road trip further through the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

As with any travel in Canada, always make sure you check the weather and road conditions ahead of your journey, especially if you’re travelling in winter, or in early spring or late fall. It’s recommended to take these roads during the day time, since there is a lot of active wildlife in the region, and many larger species like moose and deer are active in the early morning and near sundown.

So Many Ways to Stay in the Park

Your best bet for accommodation when visiting the park is to stay in the park. It’s in a relatively remote area, and there isn’t much in the way of guest houses or hotels that are particularly close. If camping or ready-to-camp is not for you, there are some accommodation options in the town of Temiscaming.

We stayed in Pointe-Opémican during our visit to the park, and really appreciated its proximity to the visitor centre, hiking trails, historic site and waterfront for swimming and water activities.

As I mentioned, there are a few different options for accommodation in the park, but SEPAQ’s ready-to-camp sites were a highlight on our trip.

Ready-to-Camp

You can book a ready-to-camp in two areas of the park: Pointe-Opémican or Kipawa River. Pointe-Opémican is the more central of the two, as it’s close to the visitor centre and the historic Pointe-Opémican. Even though this area is one of the smaller parts of the park, Chris and I really enjoyed staying here.

All ready-to-camps include everything you’ll need for cooking and dining at your cabin, a propane stove and a large blue barrel to fill with drinking water. They also have mattresses, but you’ll need to bring your own bedding, towels, food and things like aluminum foil and cooking oil, etc. We picked up groceries in the town of Temiscaming before we headed into the park.

Communal showers and bathrooms are available nearby and in the Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre also has a small shop with some items you may want to pick up (like s’mores ingredients, roasting sticks and fire wood) to help make your stay more comfortable. Remember that at any protected park, it is prohibited to bring outside firewood, since it poses a threat to local plants and wildlife.

My favourite part about staying here was waking up and having coffee on the deck outside the cabin overlooking the forest. These ready-to-camps truly make a camping experience so easy and comfortable, and would be great for a couple, a group of friends or a family looking to get away.

Regular Camp Sites

There are several different types of camp sites available in the park: rustic camping, semi-serviced sites, and campsites with electrical hookups if you need them. Several of these sites are available in the central Pointe-Opémican, but there are sites in other parts of the park, too.

Canoe Camping Sites

If you’re a fan of longer camping trips, this park has some beautiful canoeing and portage routes that will take you deep into its forests and backcountry. As someone who is a big fan of canoe trips, I have no doubt that the views of ragged cliffs and scenic lakes and rivers would make for a memorable visit here.

The park also offers canoe-camping packages, which you can learn more about on the SEPAQ website.

Things to Do in Opemican National Park

Seeing as this park is a nature-lover’s dream, there is no shortage of fun activities centred around the great outdoors in the park. Activities include:

Water Activities

Kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing are popular activities in the park. If you’re bringing your own, there are a few different areas in the park that are great to launch to access Lake Timiskaming, the Kipawa River and more. The beach near the visitor’s centre in Pointe-Opemican is a good place to get onto Lake Timiskaming, and you can rent small watercrafts from the Visitor Centre and pick them up here.

Hiking and Trails

There are several different hikes of varying lengths and skill levels throughout the park. Two great hikes with beautiful views in Pointe-Opemican are Sentier des Piers and La Prucheraie. Another wonderful and easy hike is La Grande Chute, which takes you to these famous waterfalls in the park.

You can get all of the trail information from the Visitor Centre, and make sure you wear proper footwear, bring water and know what wildlife is active on the trails before you head out on your own.

Fishing

Day fishing is a popular activity in the park. Walleye, pike, bass, brook trout, and lake trout can be found in the park’s waters, but make sure you check with the visitor centre for information in English about the regulations and permits required. French information can be found here.

Seasonal Activities

I visited the park at the end of August, which was the perfect time of year. I love late summer travel in this part of Canada, since the days are still long and warm, but the nights can get cool enough to light a fire and for you to want to get cozy.

If you’re planning on visiting during other times of year, you can expect to watch and be alert for active wildlife and bird watching in the spring, incredible foliage in the fall, and opportunities for snowshoeing or winter camping in the winter.

Special Events

Depending on the time of your visit, there’s special programming within the park throughout the year. During our visit, there was a free local music performance taking place outside of Auberge Jodoin by the beach. It was a beautiful venue for a late summer concert on the water, and we watched the sun set over Lake Timiskaming as we took in the show.

It’s definitely worth checking in with the Visitor Centre at your time of arrival to see if there is any programming or event taking place when you visit the park.

The Importance of Visiting Parks Like Opemican

We are so lucky to have so many incredible parks like Opemican available to us here in Canada. Whether you visit for a day or a week, taking the opportunity to connect with the natural surroundings here is good for the soul.

This park would be the perfect destination for a camping trip in any season, and will sure to make lasting memories for everyone who plans to visit.

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Bri would like to thank Abitibi-Témiscamingue Tourism for hosting her as media on this trip to the park. All opinions expressed are entirely her own.