Rainbow Falls Provincial Park is a beautiful lakeside facility situated along the shores of Lake Superior and Whitesand Lake in Terrace Bay, Ontario, Canada. The park is a seasonally-operating facility with amenities that offer both day use guests and overnight camping guests scenic views and a quiet place to stay. The park, named after the waterfalls that tumble over rocks down several 10 to 20-foot drops, is one of the park’s most visited attractions. There are several viewing platforms along the falls where guests can watch the water power downstream on its way from Whitesand Lake into Lake Superior.
RV campers won’t be disappointed with the amenities at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park. Both campgrounds have the comforts many RVers desire such as showers, dump stations, filling stations, and trash and recycle bins, and both campgrounds have views of the lake. Both campgrounds also have laundry facilities and picnic areas overlooking the lakes. For campers who want adventure, there is a boat and bicycle rental facility, and for campers who forgot something at home, the park store, located in the Rossport Campground area sells firewood, ice, and souvenirs. At Rainbow Falls, once you get to the park, you won’t have to leave until your trip is over. Camping with everything close is many camper’s desire.
Rainbow Falls Provincial Park is located in south-central Ontario, Canada in a lake-heavy part of the province. From Thunder Bay, Ontario the park is 120 miles (194 km) northeast, the route taking RVers over many different bodies of water. The closest town, Rossport, is six miles (9.9 km) west of the park located along the Trans-Canada Highway.
The Whitesand Lake Campground entrance is located on the north side of Highway 17, and the Rossport Campground entrance is located on the south side of highway 17.
Parking, camping, day use, and other facility fees are in effect for Rainbow Falls Provincial Park. Fees vary depending on residency, time of year, and activity.
The Rossport Campground, the smaller of the park’s two campgrounds, is a pet-friendly camping area located along the shoreline of Lake Superior. The campground offers both non-electric and 15 and 30-amp electrical sites. All of the sites have a firepit and a picnic table, and a few of the natural surfaced driveway sites accommodate RVs and trailers over 32 feet in length. The Rossport Campground has less shade, but more expansive views than the Whitesand Lake Campground. Campers staying at Rossport have access to drinking water, and a comfort station with flush toilets and hot showers, as well as a dump and fill station on the premises. Generators are permitted as long as you adhere to the park’s rule of keeping excessive noise to a minimum.
The Whitesand Lake Campground is a pet-friendly, multi-looped camping area located along the shores of Whitesand Lake. Each loop offers different levels of services from non-electric to 15 and 30-amp electrical sites with some sites having larger pull-through driveways. The natural surface driveways accommodate RVs and trailers over 32 feet in length, and each site has a firepit and a picnic table. Some of the sites are shaded, and some have views of the lake. The campground has drinking water, a comfort station with flush toilets and hot showers, and the dump and fill station is located outside of the campground’s gatehouse. Generators are permitted as long as you adhere to the park’s rule of keeping excessive noise to a minimum.
If you are staying at the park during camping season, or you decide to visit once camping season is over, why not explore the park on wheels? People who have bikes are encouraged to peddle because it is a fun way to see more of the park in a shorter amount of time. If you don’t have a bike, rent one at Rainbow Falls and spend your visit taking the whole family out for two-wheeled fun. Bike riders must stay on the park roads and wear a helmet at all times. Unless you are on foot, you will have to avoid the park’s trail system. The trails only allow hikers and foot traffic.
Hikers who want to spend time on moderate to challenging trails have five hikes to choose from when visiting Rainbow Falls. Some of the hikes are moderate to strenuous day hikes ranging from 1.36 miles (2.2 km) to 8 miles (13 km) while the longest and most challenging hike is a rugged 32-mile (52 km) hike on the Casque Isles Hiking Trail and the Voyageur Hiking Trail. All of the hiking trails offer scenic views and exciting destinations along the way. If you are planning on hiking during your stay, pick up a trail map and see if any of the routes look like something you’d want to try.
Cross country skiers who are looking for a quiet place to ski may traverse the roads within the park’s boundaries. Although there are not any designated trails, the park permits skiers on the snow-covered streets during the offseason. Cross country skiers should bring everything they will need to be safe and warm since there aren’t any buildings open if the weather turns cold. The park closes and locks its gates during the winter, so skiers will have to park outside of the gates and walk in. For questions or other cross country skiing information, contact a member of the park staff.
Part of the mission of some provincial parks is to get children involved in programming that helps develop a love for nature and the outdoors at a young age. During the summer, the park staff hosts Discovery Drop-in programs that teach kids about plants, animals, and the environment. Many of the activities are hands-on, and they allow kids to try out equipment and explore the park. After completing some of the activities, participants can take the Discovery Ranger Pledge and be an honorary Ranger. The park posts the events calendar throughout the park during the summer, but if you need more information about dates and the activities taking place during your stay, contact a member of the park staff.
People who live and recreate on lakes love the part of the year where the lake’s waters are warm enough to swim. Rainbow Falls Provincial Park’s two lakes beckon people to dive in and cool down when the summer days become longer and hotter. The Whitesand Lake Campgrounds are close to two sandy beaches, both of which have designated swimming areas. The Whitesand Lake is the best lake to swim in because Lake Superior’s water is still frigid during the summer, and the beaches at the Rossport Campground are rocky and not ideal for playing.
If you are looking to try something new, why not participate in one of the area’s most popular activities? People come from all over the province to canoe at Whitesand Lake because the water is calm and it has plenty of surface area to paddle. Each summer, the park hosts a canoe regatta, so even if you don’t want to paddle, if you are a guest during the event, you will have an opportunity to see people doing what they love: paddling. If you don’t have a boat and you want to try canoeing, the outfitter in Rossport rents canoes and kayaks. If you are already a paddler and want to amp up your adventure during your stay, rent a sea kayak and paddle the rougher waters of Lake Superior.
