The girls are out to Bingo and the boys are gettin’ stinko,
And we think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.
I would have to think that some of the boys and girls would be camping at one of the several provincial parks, including Fairbank, on any given Sudbury Saturday night during the summer (I’m sure still getting ‘stinko’ and possibly playing bingo around the picnic table).
Fairbank Provincial Park is located just 55 kilometers west of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Actually, the park is still within Greater Sudbury and is part of the largest city by land mass in Ontario. In fact, Sudbury is the seventh largest by area in Canada.
Fairbank Lake was created millions of years ago when a meteor crashed to Earth. The springfed lake is in the heart of mining and logging country and both will not go unnoticed on your journey to the park.
159 campsites make up the provincial park. The sites that are located along the shore of the Fairbank Lake are the most sought after. The park does have serviced sites and does have flush toilets and showers.
This provincial park is all about the water. Outside of activities that evolve around the lake,
there is not much else to do. There is one walking trail that totals just 1.5km. However, Fairbank Lake has plenty to offer.
The water is clear enough for snorkeling. Several types of fish can be seen including: Walleye, Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and many more. Of course, the fish can also be caught but can be a bit finicky later in the season.
The campsites are fairly private. As mentioned, the sites along the lake are at a premium for their immediate water access for swimmers and boats. The sites away from the water are not a lost cause if one is looking for seclusion.
How to get there:
Take highway 17 west from Sudbury (or east from Sault Ste. Marie). Turn north on regional road 4 and follow the signs. The park is approximately 22 kilometers from highway 17.
Our personal take:
If you don’t like swimming, canoeing or fishing – don’t bother. As mentioned, this park is all about the water.
This is by no means a secluded wilderness park. Fairbank Lake is ringed with cottages making it look more like a Muskoka Lake than the Northern Ontario wilderness. If seclusion is what you’re looking for, you’re better off travelling the extra couple of hours and going to Wakami Lake.
Worthington is a forgotten mining town halfway between highway 17 and the park. There is one store in the town, the Company Store. There’s not much more than the bare essentials and some not so quick fast food. If you have the time and want to know a little about the history of the area, spark up a conversation with the owners, a lovely couple who have been in the area for decades (sorry – can’t remember their names).
If you have the means, travel by canoe to one of the rock cliffs on the opposite side of the lake to the campground. There are some great jumping / diving points on the rocks and the water is plenty deep enough.
You might need reservations for weekend camping but this place is empty during the week.
