🛶 Exploring the Backcountry of Ontario, Canada 🛶 Killarney 🛶

Killarney

Canoe Routes

Killarney Canoe Routes

Killarney Provincial Park is located on the north side of Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada. Manitoulin Island (Little Current) is to its west while Sudbury, Ontario, is approximately 110 km to it’s northeast. I have explored the backcountry of Killarney since a child and still continue to do so. It’s geographic location makes it more accessible than the remote parks like Quetico and Wabakimi. The landscape offers some of the best anywhere in the world.

The Ontario Parks website describes Killarney Provincial Park as the following:

This iconic 645 square kilometre wilderness landscape showcases the wild Georgian Bay Coast of pink granite; the La Cloche Mountains’ white quartzite ridges and over 50 exceptionally clear, sapphire lakes set among Jack Pine hills.

The area has long captivated artists including The Group of Seven’s A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael and A.J. Casson, so much so, that they persuaded the Ontario government to make it a park.
Extensive backcountry canoeing and sea kayaking experiences.
Outstanding hiking including the 80 km, looped, La Cloche-Silhouette Trail, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter.
George Lake campground, with access to beaches, trails, and canoeing.

View from ‘The Crack’ Hike top

Locating Carmichael’s Rock

Group of Seven Significance

Group of Seven in Killarney

The "Group of Seven" refers to a prominent group of Canadian landscape painters who flourished between 1920 and 1933. Their work, particularly their depictions of the Canadian wilderness, notably Algonquin and Killarney Parks, helped define a distinct Canadian artistic identity and national pride. Killarney Provincial Park, in particular, became a favorite destination for some of these artists, including Franklin Carmichael, A.Y. Jackson, and Arthur Lismer.

Key Aspects of the Group of Seven:

Members:
The Group of Seven initially consisted of Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley.
Focus:
Their work centered on capturing the raw, natural beauty of the Canadian landscape, especially the rugged wilderness of Ontario's north.
Impact:
The Group of Seven played a crucial role in establishing a distinct Canadian art movement and fostering a sense of national identity through their art.
Killarney’s Significance:
Killarney's unique landscapes, including the iconic white quartzite hills and pristine lakes, became a source of inspiration for many Group of Seven artists.
Legacy:
Their influence can still be seen in the area through various landmarks, such as lakes and trails named after them, and through guided tours that explore the landscapes that inspired their art