Neys Provincial Park Camping

Beautiful views of Lake Superior! Amazing waves the day we were there

Yes would recommend campnab they find your campground no problem

When you travel over the top of Lake Superior, you have to stop at Neys Provincial Park. Nestled along the shore a bit further west from Pukaskwa National Park and the town of Marathon, this jewel of a park will take your breath away, and leave you humbled as you learn the history of this special stretch of sandy beach and rock.

Neys was once the site of a World War 2 German prisoner camp. the visitor's centre at Neys has all the history you could want to read about the camp, including prisoner stories, pictures of what the camp looked like, and history of the area beyond that. Some remnants of the camp can be seen in the new forest that was planted after the camp was gone. They host Neys Nostalgia Days in August to learn more, and celebrate the people that have called Neys home at one point or another in history.

Some highlights and tips if you book into Neys:

• Cell coverage is terrible if you need access to the Internet. This is truly a park to disconnect in!

• Neys is difficult to get into, so book well in advance (5 months as per Ontario Park rules) or use Campnab!

• The waterfront spots are gorgeous, adjacent to the beach, and provide clear views of the water and stunning 2 km beach. Swimming is cold, but really lovely! Most of the sites in all three areas of the campground are not a far walk to the water.

• There are six trails to hike, most reccomended is the Under the Volcano trail which is a 5 km return, considered difficult, but has some incredible views (wear good shoes it can be slippery). Along the way, you'll see some wrecked boats that were once used by prisoners to shunt up the Little Pic river to logging work camps! History you can (carefully) touch!

• Sunsets at Neys are one of a kind. Walk a bit east towards the dog beach and you'll be perfectly aligned on a clear night to relax on some of the rocks and watch the sun sink!

• Lawren Harris (Group of Seven painter) frequented Neys, and his famous painting is of Pic Island just off the shore.

• Many campers reccomend the paddling along the shore and up the Pic river, or fishing.

• Supplies can be obtained in Marathon, and if you go a bit further west, Nipigon. There are many small villages along the way as well.

• Nearby Pukaskwa National Park is definitely worth a visit. Camping there is first-come-first-serve, but their interpretive centre and trails are worth going for the day!

In summary, we stayed at Neys for one night, and I was so reluctant to leave, I wanted to stay more, but we needed Internet to work.

I fell in love with the vibe and quiet peace of the place. I think about that peace I felt sitting on the beach often. The air is clear, the waves soothing, and as I looked out over the water, a sense of connection to my history as a Canadian and our natural world was palpable.

I think Neys is a unique park along the north of Superior, and worth a visit even if you aren't camping, for the history lesson and perhaps some soothing beach relaxation!