Chutes Provincial Park is a nice, quiet provincial park along the TransCanada Highway between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury.
Located on the Aux Sables River, the Provincial Park is named for the logging chute that was used in the late 1800’s to get the logs over the falls. The chute is no longer there, but the falls are an impressive site to see!

Where is Chutes Provincial Park?
Chutes Provincial Park is located in Massey, Ontario, about an hour west of Sudbury. It’s just 1km north of the TransCanada Highway, making it easy to access.

What is there to do at Chutes Provincial Park?
Chutes is a great place to spend the day or to camp overnight.
For those that want to visit for the day, there is a sandy beach, a trail and of course, the waterfall!
Swimming is permitted at the beach, however there are no lifeguards. Swimming is not permitted anywhere else within the park, due to the fast moving water of the river.
Take a short hike on the trail to the Twin Bridges for some great lookouts over the Aux Sables River, Seven Sister Rapids and of course, the falls.
You can turn around after the Twin Bridges and return along the same route, which makes for an easy 2km hike.
For the more adventurous, you can continue along the trail on the other side of the river for a more challenging hike totalling between 5 and 6km.
Camping at Chutes Provincial Park
There are 130 campsites, with a mix of electrical and non-electrical, including two barrier free sites and a radio-free area.
All of the sites are well-treed and fairly large. Seven Sisters Circle and Red Pine Road campgrounds have electrical sites, while Log Drive Lane is a mix of electrical and non-electric and Big Chute Crescent has non-electrical sites.
The sites in the Big Chute Crescent campground are set back from the road and fairly private, making it a great spot to camp with families. It’s also a radio-free area and close to the trail and lookout over the falls.
Each campground has several vault toilets, while showers and flush toilets are centrally located, close to the gatehouse.
Unlike some other provincial parks where the entrance is located far from campsites, Chutes is a fairly compact park and sites are just a short walk or drive from the main gate.
In the summer, Discovery Drop-in programs are offered on the weekends. Look for signs in the park listing the events and times. You can also pick up Discovery Activity books, scavenger hunts and other activities for kids at the Gatehouse.
If you’re camping with small children, there is a playground just across the street from the main gate.
The town of Massey is just a short drive or walk from Chutes Provincial Park, where there are a few stores to stock up on groceries and necessities, a small cultural museum and even a public library.
Whether you spend the day or camp overnight, Chutes Provincial Park is a great spot to spend time with your family! It was one of our favourite provincial parks in Northern Ontario!
Important Tips for Camping at Ontario Provincial Parks
- Provincial parks are becoming busier in the summer. Reservations can be made online up to six months in advance. You can take your chances and book at the gate, but especially on weekends in the summer, availability may be limited. You can make reservations and check availability here.
- Check at the gatehouse for current fire restrictions. If there is no fire ban, campfires are permitted however it is not advised to bring wood in from outside the park.
- There are water taps throughout the campsites and the water is potable.
- Be safe – keep any food away from the tent and store it in a vehicle when not using.
- Dish water and any food should be disposed of AWAY from the campsite, usually there is a grey water or dish washing station close the shower facilities.
- Laundry is available beside the showers. Be sure to have change! A load of wash is $2 and the dryer is $2.
- There is a phone at the gatehouse, if needed.
Important Numbers:
Hospital (705) 869-1420
Park Phone (705) 865-2021
Police/Fire/Ambulance 911
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