Fairbank Provincial Park
Fairbank Provincial Park
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
45 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
15
Average
6
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Sabrina N
1 contribution
Jun 2021 • Family
We try to get a seasonal lot every year at Fairbank. We love the park. I honestly like that there is very little to no service. I go to camp to escape not to be staring at my phone. I wish the province would sink some money into the park. It really could use a new comfort station and road ways in the park. Either repave or pull up all the pavement. Would make those roads smoother. Wardens could be a bit more strict with the rules. Make sure people aren't being loud and obnoxious and a big thing enforce the rule for dogs to be tied. All in all I really do love this park. It's quite ( mostly), close enough to town that if you really need something you can go but far enough to make you really consider if you really need it, small enough to walk the whole park, the beach is far enough away that you can't hear all the noise from kids playing in the water but close enough to walk too, a beautiful hiking trail and the staff has always been friendly. It would be nice if they would reopen that back loop and add another comfort station there. With how full the park has been and how many people can't get a spot I'm sure it would be more revenue.
Written May 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nik
Ajax, Canada29 contributions
Jul 2022
Great place to camp out north of Ontario. Great staff and clean place. The toilets needs some work but better than others out there. Plenty of birds around .Be prepared with bug spray coz it can get crazy during evening time. Quiet lake around and can swim. Network coverage is bad hence perfect for camping.
Canoe rentals are available at the park office.
Not so great hiking place. We went to Chutes Park for hikes.
Canoe rentals are available at the park office.
Not so great hiking place. We went to Chutes Park for hikes.
Written July 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine B
Sudbury, Canada39 contributions
Aug 2022
Enjoyed camping in this small quaint provincial park. 45 minutes from home, shared good quality time with hubby, son, daughter-in-law and grandsons for a couple of nights. Great beach, clean comfort stations. Fun time.
Written January 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill S
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Jul 2013 • Family
Very disappointed - We camped three down from a group of twenty-something kids that partied until morning. In the morning we had the pleasure of listening to a shouting match from other adjacent campers yelling back and forth at these kids that my five year old son listened to. Thanks to our weekend at Fairbanks my son now knows many new curse words ready for the upcoming school year. I did see the park "rangers" (also twenty-something year old kids themselves) drive by several times in a brand new white pickup truck and I believe they stopped to warn these kids not to make further disturbances. It seems this provincial park is managed by kids that get to drive around all day pretending they have authority, with three young girls in the front office trying their best to look beautify. Suffice to say, save your money and take your family to Marine Land...
Written July 2, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Felicia W
Ontario, Canada47 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
First of all, the road isn't as bad as people say. Maybe if you are from the city and not used to bush roads. But you are camping, what do you expect?
Loved everything about my experience. The campsite was great, the lake was beautiful. There are 2 beaches to enjoy and there are lake front campsites to enjoy as well.
The Park was great for bike riding with my kids.
I also felt safe at night with the staff patrolling regularly through the evening.
The only problem was the wood. It was too wet and was hard to get a nice fire.
Also the showers were infested with earwigs. Better to go in the lake.
Loved everything about my experience. The campsite was great, the lake was beautiful. There are 2 beaches to enjoy and there are lake front campsites to enjoy as well.
The Park was great for bike riding with my kids.
I also felt safe at night with the staff patrolling regularly through the evening.
The only problem was the wood. It was too wet and was hard to get a nice fire.
Also the showers were infested with earwigs. Better to go in the lake.
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kinneylynn
Belleville, Canada247 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We toured this area of the province and stayed at 7 different parks, and this was one of our favourites. We were lucky enough to have one of the waterfront sites and very much enjoyed easy access to the water for kayaking and SUP. It was also so pleasant to sit and watch the water right at our site. We found the rangers friendly and helpful and the facilities adequate (although the electrical hook-ups are never close enough to reach without an extension).
Written August 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sydscrew
Sudbury, Canada27 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
About 20 miles north of hwy 17 in the boreal forest. Good campsites, was able to get my 30' 5th wheel in no problem, but some of the roads are not great with a large trailer. Stay with what the ranger suggests when going to your site. A lot of sites on the waterfront. Fishing was so so, and the lake was really clear. Very good beach for young children, sand bottom.
Written March 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn2008
Ontario14 contributions
Jun 2013 • Family
Fairbank is an Oontario Provincial Park located about an hour outside of Sudbury.
First of all, the roads to the park and inside the park need to be repaired! I can't imagine hauling our trailer and having to by-pass another one, with the condition of the roads there! Each side of the roads are washed out...an easy place to get stuck if you had to pass anyone! The lots don't provide the privacy that, for instance, Grundy provincial park does, so neighbours are a little more obvious. Our lot, #38 was as good as it gets: we think it's the perfect lot there. Easy to back into, and right on the lake. Now...there's no beach, but there are a few stairs that take you to the water's edge. My husband was able to get in and out of his kayak there. The lots to the right are also good for access to the lake.
There are two beaches which are very nice, not sifted sand nice, but good for swimming and building sand-castles. Motor boats are allowed at this campground, but that never bothered us. The lake is surrounded by private camps, also, which is no bother, either. It's also well patrolled, and the staff when we were there, were very friendly.
The public washrooms facility was what you'd encounter at any store or mall, only cleaner. They're cleaned early every morning and there is a handi-capped accessible one, also. Showers are also well maintained, so no worries there, either.
Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table, and firewood is purchased at the entrance to the campground, just a short drive if you forgot to pick some up on the way in.
There is a dump station where you exit.
In all....a nice park, but the roads to and throughout the park need upgrading. I prefer Grundy for the privacy between lots and the fact that there the lots are much closer to the beach.
First of all, the roads to the park and inside the park need to be repaired! I can't imagine hauling our trailer and having to by-pass another one, with the condition of the roads there! Each side of the roads are washed out...an easy place to get stuck if you had to pass anyone! The lots don't provide the privacy that, for instance, Grundy provincial park does, so neighbours are a little more obvious. Our lot, #38 was as good as it gets: we think it's the perfect lot there. Easy to back into, and right on the lake. Now...there's no beach, but there are a few stairs that take you to the water's edge. My husband was able to get in and out of his kayak there. The lots to the right are also good for access to the lake.
There are two beaches which are very nice, not sifted sand nice, but good for swimming and building sand-castles. Motor boats are allowed at this campground, but that never bothered us. The lake is surrounded by private camps, also, which is no bother, either. It's also well patrolled, and the staff when we were there, were very friendly.
The public washrooms facility was what you'd encounter at any store or mall, only cleaner. They're cleaned early every morning and there is a handi-capped accessible one, also. Showers are also well maintained, so no worries there, either.
Each campsite has a fire pit and a picnic table, and firewood is purchased at the entrance to the campground, just a short drive if you forgot to pick some up on the way in.
There is a dump station where you exit.
In all....a nice park, but the roads to and throughout the park need upgrading. I prefer Grundy for the privacy between lots and the fact that there the lots are much closer to the beach.
Written June 26, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carole B
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada1 contribution
Jul 2014 • Couples
Fairbanks lake is very beautiful....unfortunately the provincial government has forgotten northerners once again. Although the park and comfort stations were clean; they are all in desperate need of a face lift. Maintenance staff worked as hard as they could to keep everything tidy but this park needs more than a few hard working summer students. Lets rally together and get a new comfort station for our beautiful park.
Written August 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Delphine v
Chennai (Madras), India51 contributions
Jul 2013 • Family
a calm and serene place to camp and picnic, The approaching road is not so good with gravel and potholes. But otherwise clean and neat. Enjoyed.
Written July 30, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, I'm hoping you can give us some information about Fairbank Provincial Park. We day visited there a few years ago when we were in the area and it looks like a lovely park BUT - there were some issues that we felt needed to be addressed. We heard that our issues were scheduled to be fixed, but would like to get a first hand account from someone who was actually there this year (2023).
1) The park road (the road in the park) was in dire need of upkeep. There were huge potholes and washouts that made some roads difficult, if not impossible, to drive on. Has this been fixed?
2) The main Comfort station was, to say the least - SAD! The shower stalls were disgusting and only 2 worked, only 1 toilet worked in the men's bathroom and the same in the women's, nothing worked in the laundry room. Has there been any updates to the Comfort Station? We were told that campers could "go" to the vault toilets, but most of them were full and in need of pumping (in need of cleaning out) so that wasn't an option.
It was shame because we'd like to camp there, but basic issues would have to be fixed before we would go.
We'd really appreciate any updates that you could provide.
Thanking you in advance, and happy camping.
Written October 21, 2023
Wondering what the wildlife is like in this campground and near by
Nothing worse then going that far up north and not seeing any moose or bears
Written March 3, 2018
are there any woodlots to buy a few face cords from that will deliver to Fairbanks? We have always found this is the case at many other Notthern Provincial parks. This will be our first visit to Fairbanks!
Written July 17, 2016
Check out the Ontario Parks website and look for Fairbank Park. Each park has its own link under the umbrella website.
I know that there is a boat launch there but I have never used it myself.
Written May 28, 2016
How much does it cost to visit friends at a campsite for half the day?
Written August 27, 2015
The day use fee at Fairbank is $14.50 per vehicle. Visitors are welcome to explore the park and visit campsites until 10:00pm. Enjoy your trip!
Written August 31, 2015
Of the electrical water sites from #41 to #30, which one would you rate the best suited for fishing, swimming and a 26 foot trailer?
Written March 18, 2015
For information on campsites, the Ontario Parks reservation website is a great tool. You are able to choose Fairbank Provincial Park and look at the campground map. Choose the sites you are interested in, you are able to select the site and get all the information about that specific site.
Of the sites you are interested in, you will see site #40, will not fit your trailor. However, take a look at each of the other site pictures, and it will give you a better idea of what site to book. For further specific questions about Fairbank Provincial Park, you are able to contact the park at: 705-866-0530.
You can reserve a campsite up to five months in advance of the day of your arrival and you can book a site for up to 23 days. Therefore, some customers may have reserved earlier than you for extended stays so when you go in to book, the sites are already reserved. You may want to check again closer to your date of arrival to see if any sites are available due to cancellations.
Written March 18, 2015
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