Township of Chapleau
Wakami Lake
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Wakami Lake Provincial Park Anglers favour the "still and clear waters" of Wakami Lake. The park features a challenging, four-day, shoreline hiking trail 76 kilometres long, and canoeing to remote campsites. Take in the spirit hikes, nature walks and an outdoor museum documenting the history of white pine logging in the area. Situated along the southern fringe of the Canadian Shield, Wakami is dotted with areas of southern tree species within the encompassing boreal forest. The highlands in the region act as a watershed between Hudson Bay to the north and the Great Lakes to the south. The Ojibwa and Cree Indians inhabited the area for several centuries. The park gets its name from a word meaning "still and clear waters," referring to elongated Lake Wakami, which lies in its centre. Because the park is at the southern edge of the boreal forest, it has some trees more common in the Great Lake-St. Lawrence forest region as well as more typically northern varieties. Yellow birch, sugar maple and white pine stands are "biological islands" of southern species in an area of unsuitable northern habitat. More common are jack pines and other northern firs, whose habitat stretches northward. Today, the white pines are making a modest comeback. Since the loggers left the area, they have been quietly growing back among the jack pine and spruce of what is now Wakami Lake Provincial Park. The historic logging exhibit is a good place to see this young white pine and relive some of the excitement of the heyday of the white pine loggers. Along this 1km walking trail, you will see how the men worked with both horse and machine, clearing roads, cutting trees, skidding and hauling logs, and finally log-driving by water to the sawmill at Sultan. The last of the white pine loggers played an important part in the ecological and economic history of this area. But this bit of Wakami history is only a small part of the area's rich legacy. Throughout the season, self-guided walks, Theatre talks, and other events are planned with one thing in mind to give the individual an appreciation of the parks natural and cultural heritage. Wakami Lake Provincial Park is also rich in animal life. Timber wolf, red fox, marten, short-tailed weasel, fisher, beaver, muskrat, otter, moose and black bear may all be spotted in the outlying regions of the park. Closer to the campgrounds, common species are red squirrel, varying hare, chipmunk, deer mouse, brown bat and striped skunk. Reptile life includes common garter snakes, several varieties of frog, spring peeper and blue-spotted salamander. Among the birds in the park are bald eagle, osprey, pileated woodpecker and various species of owl and hawk. |
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