Thunder Bay Camping Spots You Need to Book Right Now Before Someone Else Steals Your Site
Amanda Bay
May 26, 2026
Thunder Bay sits on some genuinely jaw dropping wilderness, and you don’t need to drive six hours to experience it. But booking season is open and those prime sites go FAST and “I’ll do it later” is how you end up sleeping on your couch all summer. So let’s get into it. Here are some camping spots near TBay that absolutely deserve a line on your summer bucket list.
This is the OG lakeside classic. If Thunder Bay camping had a hall of fame, Chippewa would be in it. This park has been a crowd favourite since 1921. Perched right on the shoreline of Lake Superior, you wake up every morning to a view of the legendary Sleeping Giant chilling on the horizon. Whether you want to rent a cabin, pitch a tent, or roll up in your RV, Chippewa has options.
Let’s not forget you have access to Sunday concerts and the amusement park with carnival type rides that have existed since you were a baby. They’re fun, classic and makes for the perfect afternoon (the Tilt-A-Whirl hits a little different when you’re over 30 however… so take caution).
Nestled in the woods beside the rushing rapids of the Current River, Trowbridge Falls reminds me of an enchanted forest right out of a movie. The area includes hiking and biking trails, dreamy wading spots, and it’s close enough to the city that you can grab a coffee if you desperately need one or you forget that one thing.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Trowbridge Falls is widely considered one of the most haunted spots in Thunder Bay. Since it opened in the 1960s, people have reported ghostly apparitions along the trails and near the campground. Do with that information what you will.
Also, the wildlife situation here is pretty, well, WILD. At any given time you might see raccoons, deer, porcupines, rabbits, skunks (hopefully not), and people have even spotted moose, so keep your eyes open. But I mean whether you have an encounter with a ghost or a moose, you’re getting a good story either way.
This place is for the ones who really want to get away from it all and you can even become a lighthouse keeper!
If you want to feel like you’ve discovered something secret, Porphyry Island is your answer. Accessible by boat from Silver Islet, this island sits on the eastern entrance to Black Bay and has history layered into every corner, including a lighthouse built in 1873, that second to be constructed on all of Lake Superior.
Camp on the shores of the big lake, use the sauna, explore volcanic black-sand beaches (yes, really), wander the hiking trails, and pop into the little art gallery and mini-museum that lives in the old fog alarm building. You can also rent one of their spacious bell tents that sleeps five and comes with cots and a wood stove (all you bring is your sleeping bag and pillow).
This is definitely the kind of place that makes you go “wait, this exists here?”
Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
What if we could tell you that you can camp literally next to Ontario’s second tallest waterfall. Nicknamed the “Niagara of the North,” Kakabeka Falls is a 40-metre thundering waterfall and it’s only 30-minutes outside of Thunder Bay. This means you can literally leave after work on a Friday and be setting up your tent next to one of the most spectacular natural wonders before dark (and it’s one of the best ways to fall asleep. You thought that nature noise app on your phone was good….wait until you hear this.)
There are three campgrounds to choose from: Whispering Hills (electrical hookups, bigger sites, laundry facilities so ideal if you like comfort with your nature), and Riverside and Fern’s Edge for the more rustic crowd who likes things a little more back to basics!
In July and August, catch one of the park’s Discovery programs for some extra magic. You’ll also find one of the best beaches here that is great for swimming and cooling off, and sandy for the best sandcastles.
You know how some campgrounds have one fun thing? KOA Thunder Bay said forget that. This place sits on 90 acres of gorgeous spruce, birch, and poplar trees and basically functions as a basecamp for every cool thing the region has to offer. But at the campground itself, you’ve got mini golf, a driving range, shuffleboard, two heated saltwater pools, a splash pad, and a catch-and-release trout pond. There are even hayrides and ice cream socials. This place is SOOO much fun for families. Pets are welcome, so that the whole crew can come. It’s also a 5-minute drive away.
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
One word. Iconic. You’ve spent the winter staring at the Sleeping Giant lying across the horizon, now this summer, it’s time to actually go there.
Marie Louise Lake Campground has 200 sites, nearly half with electrical hookups, all with fire pits and picnic tables. But the real draw here is the hiking. The crown jewel is the Top of the Giant Trail, a 22.4 km round trip that is genuinely challenging but rewards you with what’s considered the best lookout over Lake Superior in all of Ontario. You’re hovering nearly 1,000 feet above the lake with Thunder Bay glowing across the water. It’s one of those views that makes you forget every single thing that was stressing you out.
Bonus stop: Bike around Silver Islet that’s nearby, a tiny, charming historic mining community at the tip of the Sibley Peninsula. The General Store (operating since 1871) has homemade pies and cinnamon buns that people genuinely travel from all over to eat. Find the hidden cemetery in the bush if you’re feeling adventurous — ask a local, because it’s not on any map.
There’s also a solid chance if you look up in the middle of the night at many of these locations you’ll see the Northern lights! All of these spots fill up fast — especially on weekends — so open a new tab right now and get booking. Your future self, sitting around a fire with a perfectly constructed s’more, will say thanks for the memories!
