The Turtle River–White Otter Lake Provincial Park is a large provincial parkinKenora and Rainy River Districts, roughly located between Ignace and Atikokan, Ontario, Canada.[2] It has been recognized as a "natural area with unique biophysical, recreational, and cultural attributes."[4]
The park, originally called Turtle River Provincial Park, was established in 1989 and had an area of 40,052 hectares (98,970 acres) at that time. It was created to protect the Turtle River canoe route. In 2003, the park was enlarged to 49,294 hectares (121,810 acres) and renamed to its current name.[4]
The Turtle River–White Otter Lake Provincial Park is a non-operating park. Facilities available include 3 boat launches, 15 docks, and 150 backcountry campsites. Permitted activities include boating, canoeing, fishing, and hunting. In the winter, dogsledding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing are allowed.[3]
The park protects a series of lakes, the largest of which are White Otter, Eltrut, McNamara, Dibble, Smirch, and Jones Lakes. It also includes the shores and waters of the Turtle River and Big Turtle River from White Otter Lake to Little Turtle Lake, as well as all the lakes along its course.[4]
Turtle River canoe route, that starts at McNamara Lake and proceeds with a portage over the height-of-land to the Balmoral River, a tributary of the Turtle River at Dibble Lake. The Turtle River, with some 22 sets of rapids and 30 portages, has been a significant travel and trade route for centuries.
White Otter Castle, an elaborate 3-storey log house built single-handedly by a hermit in the 1910s. Although not accessible by road, it draws between 5,000 and 7,000 people each year, making it the park's most popular attraction.
Remains of Prisoner of War Camp, a former logging camp from the 1930s adapted during the Second World War to house German sailors, located just north of White Otter Castle.
Along the north shore of White Otter Lake, the park abuts the White Otter Enhanced Management Area (an undeveloped area set aside for potential future tourism opportunities and where logging operations are kept to a minimal)[5] and the Campus Lake Conservation Reserve (a 19,452 ha (48,070 acres) reserve with "spectacular scenic and recreational areas" that harmonize with the park).[6]
Common trees in the park include balsam fir, black spruce, jack pine, trembling aspen, white birch, and white spruce, with some stands of red and white pine. Hardwood trees, such as black ash, elm, and red maple, are found in valleys, while eastern white cedar is widespread along lake shores. Provincially rare vegetation found in the park are dwarf birch, fir-clubmoss, water dock, and winter bentgrass.[4]
^"Policy Report E2414a: White Otter". Crown Land Use Policy Atlas. Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario. 31 March 2006. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
