105 km river of interconnected lakes, gorges and rapids from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay. Visit the award-winning Visitor Centre on Settlers Road off Hwy 69.
⚠️PARK ALERT⚠️
Due to ongoing flooding of the river, opening of Zones 4-9 within French River Provincial Park backcountry has been delayed until May 29, 2026. Zones 1, 2 and 3 are open as of May 22, 2026 with the exception of the sites in the Otter Bay area.
🔍🌊 Welcome back to #DiscoverFrenchRiver!🌊🔎
This week we’re at the park’s eastern edge, where #LakeNipissing meets the #FrenchRiver-Site 100 🛶
Open rock shores, easy landing, peaceful vibes. Perfect for slowing down and soaking it all in. ☀️🌊
ALT A scenic view of a calm lake with a rocky shoreline in the foreground. Lush green trees line the shore, and a partially cloudy sky is visible above, creating a peaceful natural setting.
ALT A serene natural scene with a small pond surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation. A fallen tree lies across the rocky foreground under a partly cloudy sky.
ALT A serene lakeside scene features a calm body of water surrounded by dense green forests and some rocky terrain. A cloudy sky looms above, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Heading into the #Backcountry🛶 ?
Before you go, pause & prepare:
🧠Know your comfort & skill levels
🗺️Plan your route
🌡️Factor in the temperature, weather, & season
🧳Pack the essentials
📍Tell someone your plan
🤝Get support if needed
Learn more here: bit.ly/41dUHl0
ALT A canoe and gear are placed on a rocky shore, overlooking a calm lake surrounded by trees with autumn foliage under a partly cloudy sky.
Be #BearWise when out in the backcountry.
🫙 Store food and toiletries in a bear resistant container or location
🌲 Hang food and garbage 4m above the ground and away from tree limbs
🧽 Clean food prep areas and dishes promptly after use
🔥 Burn food scraps and fat drippings
ALT A park ranger is standing outdoors beside a table, opening a small bag containing pans. They are wearing a uniform with a patch that says "Ontario Parks." The setting is a wooded area with several parked cars in the background.
ALT A person in a uniform is standing outdoors near a tree, holding a rope. The setting includes picnic tables, a wooden structure, and lush greenery.
ALT A person with a park ranger patch and badge is in a wooded area holding a pink rope attached to a backpack hanging from a tree. There's a picnic table and a gazebo in the background.
ALT A person in a uniform is tying a pink rope around the trunk of a large tree in a park. A black bag is secured next to the trunk, and there are picnic tables in the background under a canopy of green leaves.
⚠️PARK ALERT⚠️
Due to ongoing flooding of the river, opening of Zones 4-9 within French River Provincial Park backcountry has been delayed until May 29, 2026. Zones 1, 2 and 3 are open as of May 22, 2026 with the exception of the sites in the Otter Bay area.
🔎Discover what's happening this week at #FrenchRiverProvincialPark!🔍
🏛Voices of the River Guided Gallery Tours
🐍Secret Lives of Snakes
🧭Artefacts from the Deep
Swipe to view our weekly program schedule.
ALT Green cover page that says "DISCOVERY weekly program schedule" with a frog on the bottom of the page holding a red megaphone.
🔍🌊#DiscoverFrenchRiver🌊🔎
Along the #FrenchRiver, you might spot the weathered remains of an alligator boat 🐊 - once used to haul timber down the river and over land at the turn of the 20th century. 🛶⚙️
Have you seen them on your travels? 👇
ALT Weathered remains of an old alligator boat partially submerged along a rocky French River shoreline.
ALT Historic black‑and‑white photo of an alligator boat hauling logs through shallow water on the French River.
🏛️It’s #InternationalMuseumDay!🏛️
Explore the Voices of the River exhibit at the #FrenchRiverVisitorCentre. Dive into the stories of First Peoples & explorers, fur traders & missionaries. 📖🛶
⏰Open Thu–Mon, 9:30am-5:00pm.
Stop by and discover this historic waterway! 🌊
ALT A museum exhibit showcasing a historical display of a fur trading voyageur canoe, large barrels, and colorful trade items. The background features scenic photographs of a river and forest. Signage reads "River of Commerce / La rivière du commerce.
🔎Discover what's happening this week at #FrenchRiverProvincialPark!🔍
🐍Secret Lives of Snakes
🏛Voices of the River Guided Gallery Tours
🌷Friends of Mashkinonje Spring Wildflower Hike
Swipe to view our weekly program schedule.
Preparing is an important part of any #backcountry trip🛶, and that includes providing a thorough equipment description before you head out.
Please add this critical step to your pre-trek checklist✅ !
Learn more here 👉 bit.ly/4nau773
ALT A yellow plastic barrel and several colorful backpacks and bags are placed on the ground in a forested area. Trees and a slightly overcast sky are visible in the background.
ALT A person holding onto a railing walking down a set of stairs in a museum setting.
ALT A person examines a mounted deer skeleton in a well-lit, modern museum exhibit. The deer has prominent antlers.
ALT A person is standing in front of an exhibit, looking at historical information about the French River. The display includes text and images related to the river's history. The setting has wooden wall elements.
🔍🌊Welcome to #DiscoverFrenchRiver!🌊🔎
This week, we’re heading🧭to Site 838 - the western‑most campsite in #FrenchRiverPP.
With easy shoreline access🛶, endless #GeorgianBay views🌅, and a sun‑facing rock shoreline ☀, it's a rewarding stop for westbound paddlers.
ALT Person standing on a rocky shoreline with a sunset behind them.
ALT Linear rock formations on the shoreline of a body of water. There are trees in the background.
ALT Silhouette of two wind-swept pine trees against a starry night sky.
ALT View of a firepit on a rock face looking out towards many rocky islands on a lake.
Preparing for a #Paddling adventure 🛶 ?
Tying your canoe to your vehicle is an important step in safely making it to the #Canoe launch 🚗➡️🌊.
Here are our top tips for tying 🪢 your canoe to your vehicle: bit.ly/4udt1tt
ALT A person wearing a cap and glasses secures a weathered canoe onto the roof of a vehicle using straps.
Are you looking for trip-planning inspiration? Look no further!
#CanoeTrippingTuesday is back for the 2026 season! - exploring scenic and historic paddling routes on the French River.🛶
ALT Two beige canoes sat on a grassy shore near a body of water.
We see 👀 biodiversity every day, but it’s more than bugs 🐛 and animals 🦇 and trees 🌳. It’s about how everything is connected 🔗 . If we lose one piece of biodiversity, the rest is affected.
This #EarthDay 🌎 , learn why #Biodiversity is important: bit.ly/4u0Dusmbit.ly/4u0Dusm
We can definitely recommend “losing yourself” in our parks by delighting in the sights👀and sounds👂of nature, and living in the moment🧘♀️.
We do not, however, recommend getting actually lost 🧭.
Here's how to avoid getting lost👉 blog.ontarioparks.ca/dont-ge…
ALT Two Ontario Parks staff members holding open and reading a map on a campsite.