Parks and Beaches in Kenora, Ontario

Kenora has many parks within the city. Many of these parks have beaches for swimming, playgrounds, picnic tables, and some have group areas for special outtings. Rushing River Provincial Park is only 20 minutes from Kenora. If you're interested in other places to camp besides the Provincial Park, visit the other tourist operators that offer camping in the Kenora area. With all the beautiful green space and flowers in the city, its no wonder kenora does very well each year in the Communities in Bloom Competition. Communities In Bloom is a Canadian beautification program that provides information and education, and awards Bloom Ratings for achievement in floral displays, landscapes, turf, urban forestry, community involvement, heritage conservation, environmental awareness and tidiness.

Kenora Parks With Beaches

Ancinabe Park
Take Miikana Way off Highway 17E to get to this campground. It is very close to downtown. There is a beach, washrooms, change rooms, showers, playground, BBQ pit, shelter, small concession and campsites. There are canoe and kayak rentals. You can drive to or boat-in as there are docking spaces. There is also a public boat launch with parking for you vehicle.

Coney Island Beach
Coney Island, only accessible by boat in the summer, is just a short boat ride from downtown Kenora. This beach on Lake of the Woods has a playground, concession stand, public docks, a large grassy area for many outdoor sports, and a shelter for picnics.

Garrow Park
Garrow Park is found on Rabbit Lake at end of Birchwood Crescent, just minutes from downtown. There is a beautiful beach with docks, a playground, washrooms, change rooms, picnic area, and tennis courts. There are nature trails leading to St. Thomas Aquinas School and along the south shore of the lake. The Kenora Rowing Club is also based here. Rabbit Lake is perfect for rowing regattas. Each year the club holds rowing regattas and a Dragon Boat festival in August.

Keewatin Beach
Keewatin Beach, off of Keewatin Beach Road is a nice public beach on Lake of the Woods. There are restrooms, change rooms, a picnic area, docks and a playground. The change rooms are wheelchair and stroller friendly but the beach isn't.

Norman Park
Norman Park is located on Lake of the Woods just off Lakeview Drive (Highway 17W). It's just behind the Dairy Queen and Railroad Museum. There is a nice sandy beach, children's playground, restrooms and a picnic shelter.

Kenora Parks Without Beaches

Beatty Park
Beatty Park is located on 10th Street in Keewatin. There is a picnic area, bandstand and showpiece floral gardens. Boat Launch nearby.

The Harbourfront
The Harbourfront is parallel to Main Street. Visit the Thistle Pavilion which houses a Tourist Information Centre. For a great view, take the stairs up to the top of the Pavilion which overlooks Lake of the Woods. You can grab some homemade fries, a burger or your lunch and eat in on the benches. There are park benches all along the greenbelt. The M.S. Kenora leaves for its cruises on Lake of the Woods from the Harbourfront. There is also public docking if you come by boat. Many major events are held "under the Tent" each summer which includes Harbourfest, Canada Day Festivities, the Kenora Bass International fishing tournament, Bard on the Harbour and the Summer Concert series. Visit the Kenora Events page for more information on these special events.

Jaffray Melick Lookout Point
Located on Rabbit Lake Road, you'll find a gazebo with shrub and floral gardens.

Jack Robinson Park
At the junction of Melick Avenue, Rabbit Lake Road and Veterans Drive. There is a picnic area and floral garden.

Keewatin Central Park
Located at 10th Street and Superior Street in Keewatin. There is a sand box and open green space.

Keewatin Rock Holes
Located on 6th Street in Keewatin. View glacier rock holes. There is also a picnic shelter and lookout area.

McLeod Park
McLeod Park is part of Kenora's Harbourfront greenbelt off Lakeview Dr. If you walk west from the Harbourfront, you'll reach the huge "Husky the Muskie". This large replica of a muskie fish stands 40 feet tall. It stands proudly at the most northern extremity of Lake of the Woods. The park is beautifully designed with many flower beds in the rock gardens. Take a walk out to the lookout area to view the Kenora Rotary Goodwill Geyser. The geyser shoots out water 200 feet into the air every hour on the hour for 15 minutes between 8am and 11pm in the summer months. You can park across the street and take the walkway beneath the bridge. Near the parking area you'll also find restrooms. On this side of the road you'll also find the Tug Boat, James McMillan, which was used for years to haul logs to the local paper mill.

Rushing River Provincial Park

Rushing River Provincial Park is located just 20 minutes from Kenora. There are 217 campsites if you are spending the night, but there are plenty of activities to do if you go for just the day. You can find out more about the park on the Ontario Parks website. There is also an events calendar on the Ontario parks website where you can find out all the special events in Rushing River. You can make reservations at 1-888-668-7275 or make a reservation online. To call the park directly (not for reservations) please call 807-548-4351 from May to September and 807-468-2669 from October to April.

Water Activities in the Park: You can rent canoes, waterbikes and kayaks. From Rushing River Park you can access six canoe routes ranging in length from 32 to 103 kms. If its a hot day, there are four beaches for you to go swimming at. They are excellent swimming areas, all of which have a shallow roped-off section which is ideal for children. You can cruise Dogtooth Lake in your own boat or rent one from nearby facilities. There are two boat launch ramps in the park. If you like fishing, there are walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass and lake trout. You can also view the beautiful waterfalls.

Educational Opportunities: Park staff offer guided walks on park trails, outdoor amphitheatre programs, special activities and events about Rushing River's natural heritage. Check the weekly program schedules posted around the park.

Wildlife Viewing: There are opportunities to see black bears, moose and deer and the smaller red foxes, weasels, mink and otters. Sixty species of birds also inhabit the area including great blue herons, loons, night hawks, belted kingfishers, Canada jays and various waterfowl.

Hiking in Rushing River Provincial Park

Beaver Pond Trail - 1.5 km loop (45 minutes) - easy
Follow this trail to a quiet beaver pond full of fragrant water lilies. Listen for songbirds in the forest and watch for mallard ducks. If you look carefully, you might see orchids or other unusual plants.

Granite Knoll Trail - 5 km (1.5 hours) - moderate
This trail meanders along the shoreline of Dogtooth Lake and then swings back through open jack pine forest and over gnarly granite hummocks.

Lower Rapids Trail - 2 km (1 hour) - easy
This trail follows what may be a native portage around the rapids and waterfalls on Rushing River.

Winter Activities in the Park: There are 16 kms of groomed cross-country ski trails ranging in difficulty from easy to challenging.