Murphy's Point Provincial Park

About Murphy's Point Provincial Park

Murphy's Point Provincial Park sits on the shores of Big Rideau Lake, the largest lake along the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal waterway. The 1,239-hectare park is located near Perth, about 90 minutes southwest of Ottawa.

What sets it apart is the Silver Queen Mine — a mica mine that operated from 1903 to 1920, and the only publicly accessible mine tour in the Ontario Parks system. The ground literally glitters with mica.

The park straddles the Frontenac Arch, a geological bridge between the Canadian Shield and the Adirondacks, creating a rich mix of habitats — mature forests, wetlands, and open fields that support an impressive diversity of birds and wildlife.

Camping

The park has roughly 160 campsites across several areas:

Hogg Bay Campground

Electrical pull-through sites, well suited for larger trailers. Comfort station with showers and laundry nearby.

Ash Hill Loop

A mix of electrical and non-electrical sites in a more wooded setting.

Group Camping

3 group sites accommodating 12 to 50 people each.

Roofed Accommodations

• Camp cabin — rustic one-room cabin with wood interior
• Deluxe tent — on a wooden platform with rustic log furniture and two queen beds

Things to Do

Silver Queen Mine Tour

Guided tours of the 1903 mica mine run up to three times a week in summer (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday at 10 AM) from June to Labour Day, with weekend tours in fall. Tours last about 1.5 hours and start from the Lally Homestead parking lot. Hardhats provided. Pre-registration recommended at the gatehouse or by phone.

Ghost walks — lantern-lit evening tours to the mine — are also offered.

Swimming

Three beaches with gradual drop-offs and buoy-marked swimming areas — the main beach on Hogg Bay and a second at Noble Bay in the day-use area.

Hiking

• Point Trail (5.5 km loop) — Moderate. Beach access and views of Big Rideau Lake
• Sylvan Trail (2.5 km loop) — Moderate. Frontenac Arch geology and ecology
• Silver Queen Mine Trail (2 km) — Easy. Leads to the historic mine site
• Lally Homestead Trail (800 m loop) — Easy. Pioneer buildings and sawmill ruins

Paddling & Fishing

Boat launch onto Big Rideau Lake. Canoes and kayaks available for rent at the park store.

Heritage

The Lally Homestead preserves pioneer buildings and sawmill ruins, offering a glimpse into the area's settlement history alongside the mining heritage.

Birding

The Frontenac Arch location makes this a strong birding park — look for Golden-winged, Yellow, and Chestnut-sided Warblers, Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Orioles, and Scarlet Tanagers.

Winter

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed and ungroomed trails, with warming huts. No winter camping.

Visitor Information

• Season: Mid-May to mid-October (camping), December to March (winter trails)
• Fees: Non-electrical sites from ~$39/night, electrical from ~$44/night
• Reservations: Book online at Ontario Parks
• Facilities: Comfort stations with showers, laundry, park store (firewood, ice, canoe/kayak rentals, ice cream, groceries)
• Nearby: The town of Perth is a short drive away for supplies and dining

Getting There

• From Ottawa: Highway 417 west, then Highway 7 toward Perth. About 103 km / 75–90 minutes
• Address: 2243 Elm Grove Road, R.R. 5, Perth, ON K7H 3C7