12 FUN TRIPS AND POINTS OF INTEREST

1. Bike or Hike at the Hersey Lake Conservation Area (5 km)

From the Tourist Information Centre follow Highway 101 west for about one km and turn right on Highway 655. This highway takes you to the Kidd Creek Mine- site and then on to Kapuskasing if you follow it far enough. Travel about four km down Highway 655 and turn right at the Hersey Lake sign. Hersey Lake is a conservation area with a beach for swimming in the summer and many walking/biking trails which are described in more detail in this database under "walking trails".

2. Visit Kettle Lakes Provincial Park (37 km)

This is a provincial park located about 37 km east of Schumacher. Follow Highway 101 east for about 34 km., and then turn left on Highway 67 which goes towards Iroquois Falls. The park is located about 2 km. along this road on the right hand side. Camping, swimming and picnic areas are found here in a beautiful natural setting.

3. Visit Sandy Falls (14 km)

This is the location of one of the two power stations located within city boundaries on the Mattagami River. Follow Highway 101 west crossing the Mattagami River bridge and traveling along Riverside Drive a distance of about 2 km and turning right on Shirley Street. Follow this north about 2 km and turn left on Transmission Line Road. Follow this for about 4 km to the dam site on the south side of the river.

Sandy Falls is also accessible from the north side by following Airport Road to Kraft Creek Road and then turning left on Lefrebvre Road as described elsewhere in this database under "bike rides".

4. Picnic at Opishing River (50 km)

The Opishing River crosses Highway 101 about 50 km west of Timmins. A scenic path follows the rapids from the bridge down to Opishing Lake on the north side of the highway. There is a boat launching on the east side of the river and although there are cottages on the west side, there is a trail down to the river beside several scenic rapids where the river enters the lake. On the south side of Highway 101, just over the bridge, there is a picnic area with tables and washrooms.

5. Drive, Hike or Bike to High Falls on the Grassy River (35 km)

This is a spectacular series of waterfalls, one of which has a drop of about 10 metres. Previously it was accessible over a 12 km trail which begins at Dalton Road and follows the east side of the river. A relatively new forest access road on the west side makes it easy to drive within 200 metres of the river on the west side. See the map included as part of the Grassy River Canoe trip.

6. Visit the Quarry (5 km)

This is a short walk around a colourful old quarry, the history of which varies depending on whom you talk to. It is located about 5 km east of Schumacher on the north side of Highway 101. It can be found by locating the old fireplace and chimney just before the turn-off to South Porcupine. There is a place to park the car and then walk down the path to the quarry. Look for the square holes that were hand drilled in the rocks on the north side. They were drilled using a technique in which one man held the moil that contained a hard-steel chisel and the other hit the moil with a sledge hammer. See picture of hand-steeled hole.

7. Bike the Goose Lake Road (12 km)

There is a road that runs south from South Porcupine that used to be called the Springs Road. It has other names like the Sand Claims Road but more commonly now is called Stringer's Road named after the Stringer family which owns Nighthawk Timber located on the road. A little less than 6 km measured from the Porcupine River Bridge on Evans Street in South Porcupine, the Goose Lake Road exits east off Stringer's Road. This is a 3.5 km bike ride from the road to Goose Lake. There has been some lumbering activities over the years but there are some nice sections of the trip. Various side roads can be explored.

The trail is a favourite for blueberry pickers in the fall and skidoo or cross-country skiers in the winter.

8. Canoe or Picnic at the new Dana-Jowsey Provincial Park (60 km)

Although there are no developed facilities in the park yet, this trip makes for a pleasant afternoon drive to explore the area being set aside for a park. Follow Highway 101 west. About 9 km past the turn off for Sudbury on Highway 144, there is a bridge over Cripple Creek. Turn right at the next road (look for a boat-launching sign). About 4.5 km down the road there is a place for a picnic at Jowsey Lake which is fairly large. Four km further on, there is access to Dana Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in our area. If you have a boat or canoe, you can explore the islands with their covering of ancient trees.

9. Circle Timmins Bike Tour ( 17 km)

An excellent way to spend a morning in Timmins is to take a bike tour. Begin on Pine Street just south of Ogden Avenue. Bike down the Terry Fox Trail which will bring you to the Timmins Waterfront at the Mattagami River. Bike two blocks north to the bridge and ride across to the west side where you can circle down and under the bridge bringing you out at the Mattagami Park. Find the new Bridge-to-Bridge trail and follow it north to the Lafleur Bridge about three km north. Cross the bridge and go across Airport Road at the traffic lights. Bike south about half a kilometre to turn left on Lonergan Avenue. Two blocks later, turn right on Denise and two blocks south, enter Denise Park on the left side. This leads to the Scout Rock Trail which can be followed for about 3 km and comes out at the Timmins District Hospital. Continue south across Ross Avenue and get on the Gillies Lake Trail. Exit on the south side and follow Park Road. South. It will cross Highway 101 at the lights. Continue south on Park Road which will become Railroad Street. Follow this for two blocks turning right on Tisdale Avenue. Two blocks later you are back on Pine Street. You started two blocks further south on this street.

10. Canoe or Picnic at Meadow (Wealthy Lakes) (15 km)

A quick canoe outing close to town can be done in a few hours. Travel south on Pine Street about 7 km from the south end of town. There is a chain of four lakes which can be leisurely explored in a canoe. There is a place to park as people often camp by the roadside or try fishing from shore. In the winter, there are often people ice fishing on the lake.

11. Climb Kamiskotia Mountain (23 km)

Kamiskotia is a ski resort about 17 km northwest of downtown Timmins. In the summer it is possible to climb the mountain (elevation 400 ft) for a view of the surrounding area. Travel about 7 km west of the bridge over the Mattagami River on Highway 101. Turn right on the Kamiskotia Road which is well marked. Look for the ski club on the right side of the road about 10 km down the road.

12. Canoe the Mattagami (about 16 km)

A most enjoyable trip can be done on the Mattagami complete with a stop for lunch at the Spruce Needles Golf Club. Begin at the lumber bridge over the river located behind the Grant Forest Products mill which is located about 10 km west of the main Mattagami River Bridge on Algonquin Boulevard. Leave a second vehicle at the latter location. Canoe downstream to the Spruce Needles Golf Club where you can stop for lunch in their dining room. Carry on after lunch down river until you arrive at the Waterfront area in Timmins.