Solace Provincial Park | |
Iucn Category: | ii |
Map: | Ontario |
Relief: | yes |
Location: | Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada |
Coords Ref: | [1] |
Area Ha: | 5943.00 |
Area Ref: | [2] |
Designation: | Waterway |
Established: | 1989 |
Named For: | Solace Lake |
Governing Body: | Ontario Parks |
Url: | https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/solace |
Solace Provincial Park is a remote provincial park in Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1985 and protects a series of lakes that provide backcountry canoeing opportunities. It is characterized by boreal forest, mostly jack pine conifer forest with mixed forest including white birch.[2] [3] The roadless park, with topography and scenery similar to the adjacent Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, is considered as "one of the most isolated, wild places in Ontario."[4] [5]
The park contains a chain of narrow north–south oriented lakes such as Selkirk, Solace, Maggie, Pilgrim, and Bluesucker Lakes, that are separated by steep forest-covered ridges. Canoeists can travel between these lakes with rugged portages over the ridges.[3] Although scenic and for those seeking quietude, the canoe routes through the park are considered by Hap Wilson as "challenging" with "hefty" portages. The routes form part of the 2400adj=midNaNadj=mid network of portages and waterways in the Temagami area.[6] [7]
It is an operating park, requiring permits for wilderness camping. Facilities include 10 backcountry campsites. The park can be used for recreational activities such as boating, backcountry camping, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and hunting.[2] It is only accessible via canoe or floatplane.[5]
The park is part of a chain of provincial parks and conservation reserves in the Temagami area. It forms a natural corridor between the Sturgeon River (in the adjacent Sturgeon River Provincial Park) to the west and Florence Lake (in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park) to the east.[3] Furthermore, it borders on North Yorston Conservation Reserve to the north, which protects old-growth white pine stands and part of the headwaters of the Sturgeon, Lady Evelyn, Yorston, and Pilgrim Rivers.[8]