Aaron Provincial Park is located just 15 kilometres east of Dryden in beautiful Northwestern Ontario. A quick turn off the Trans-Canada Highway will bring you to this quiet lakeside park where you’ll discover family-friendly camping, beaches and trails along the shores of Thunder Lake.
Whether you live in the area or are passing through, it is worth the stop. This well-maintained park is the perfect place to create memories and relax while travelling in Ontario or across Canada. We pulled in for the night while passing through and ended up staying for two. This helpful guide shares why.
About Aaron Provincial Park
As mentioned, Aaron Provincial Park is conveniently located off the Trans-Canada Highway, making it the perfect stopping point for road trippers passing through. Since its establishment in 1958, the park has offered locals and travellers camping, swimming, beaches, fishing, boating, paddling, hiking, and picnicking in a well-maintained park and natural setting.
It’s not a huge park by Ontario Park standards, about 116 hectares, but it offers a quiet retreat into the boreal forest next to Thunder Lake. The lake is a remnant of ancient glaciers that once covered the area tens of thousands of years ago.
Aaron Provincial Park is located in Treaty 3 territory and is the traditional lands of six First Nations: Lac Seul, Wabigoon Lake, Grassy Narrows (English River), Wabauskang, Ojibway Nation of Sageen and Eagle Lake First Nations. It’s also near two Métis Nations: Lake of the Woods and Rainy Lake. The area has been used for gathering, hunting, trapping, fishing and travel by Indigenous people in present day and since time immemorial.
Camping at Aaron Provincial Park
Aaron Provincial Park features 98 campsites, with 39 of them equipped with electrical hookups. The campground offers a few lakeside sites, as well as pull-through sites and a group camping area that can accommodate up to 100 people. Most of the sites are shady and wooded, and privacy varies depending on the site. The powered sites in Campground B are wide, treed on three sides, and well-spaced, while those in Campground A are less private.
There are upgraded pit toilets in the campground that have been beautifully renovated and feature a sheltered area with sinks and running water. This campground has the nicest outhouse setup we’ve seen in Ontario!
Additionally, a centralized Comfort Station is available, offering washrooms, showers, and laundry facilities.
Best Campsite: In our opinion, the best campsite is #33. It is a private, lakefront campsite separated from the other camping loops and across the road from the main swimming beach.
Due to its distant proximity to major cities, Aaron Provincial Park nearly always has campsites available. It is perfect for cross-country explorers looking to stop in for a night or two, as well as for families seeking a peaceful summer holiday.
The Beaches & Swimming
There are two unsupervised swimming areas at Aaron Provincial Park, located on the west and east sides of the park. The park is small, so you can easily walk or bike to either from your campsite. Parking, picnic tables and pit toilets are available at both beaches, and there are changerooms at the west beach.
Both beaches are good for swimming, but the west beach has a stretch of soft sand, making it better for families with children who enjoy digging and playing in the sand. Thunder Lake is clean and clear, and the swimming areas have a shallow entry that stays relatively shallow right to the end of the roped-off swimming area.
The east beach is less accessible, and you have to take a steep trail or a series of steps to get to it. It has a rockier shore with a pebbled beach.
Note: Dogs are not permitted on the beaches or in the swimming areas at Aaron Provincial Park.
Hiking & Trails
Aaron Provincial Park offers a couple of short and easy hiking trails that are accessible and easy for families and casual walkers.
Eastern White Cedar Trail – Easy, 1.2 km loop: This quick and easy trail takes you through historic stands of trees, and the shores and wetlands of Thunder Lake. You’ll also go up a slight slope to a clay plain. Keep your eyes out for frogs, birds, squirrels and flowers along the way.
Aspen Trail – Moderate, 2 km: Stroll through a mixed boreal forest beneath old aspen, Jack Pine, Balsam Fir, spruce and birch trees. Wreckage from an intense windstorm in 1973 is still visible, and you’ll catch glimpses of the Canadian Shield. Birdwatchers can try to spot Aaron’s 26 species of warblers and other songbirds.
Fishing and Boating
Thunder Lake is an ideal spot for canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The easiest place to launch your paddle craft would be at the boat launch or at the west beach. High winds can sweep over Thunder Lake, and there aren’t many sheltered areas so that it can get choppy. You can rent a canoe at the Park Office.
Fishing boats can also be launched at the park’s boat launch. Anglers might reel in smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, lake trout, perch, whitefish and cisco. There is a fish cleaning station with running water, lights and cutting tables located near the boat launch.
Please ensure you have a proper Ontario fishing license and follow local fishing regulations in Ontario.
Sunsets
There is a reason this area of Northwestern Ontario is called Sunset Country. The sunsets here over Thunder Lake were some of the best we’ve seen. The skies illuminated with yellows, oranges, reds and pinks, shimmering off the water and sending golden light on the sandy beach.
Day Use at Aaron Provincial Park
Aaron Provincial Park is the perfect destination for a day trip, whether you live in the Dryden area or are just passing through and need a rest. The day-use area features a large grassy play area, swings, picnic shelter, water taps, and pit toilets. You can also access the beaches, boat launch and trails.
Note: Day-use visitors are required to obtain a daily vehicle permit to enter the park. You can purchase yours at the Park Office at the park entrance or through Ontario Parks online.
Plan your trip
How to get there
Aaron Provincial Park is located in Sunset Country, Northwestern Ontario, on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17).
Driving Distances:
- Dryden: 15 KM – 14 min
- Kenora: 152 KM – 1hr 50 min
- Thunder Bay: 337 KM – 3 hr 39 min
Park Season & Hours
Camping and Day Use at Aaron Provincial Park are open between mid-May and mid-September. During that time, the Park Office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Winter day use is available, and users can enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on the park trails. Visitors can contact Ontario Parks for more details.
- (807) 938-6534 (May to September)
- (807) 456-1872 (October to April)
Ontario Park Fees and Reservations
Day use: Day users are required to obtain a vehicle permit. Fees vary depending on the park and season. You can learn more about the 2025 Ontario Park Vehicle Permits.
Campground Reservations: Although you might get lucky and secure a site upon arrival, reservations are highly recommended. Reserve your campsite.
Aaron Provincial Park FAQs
Where is Aaron Provincial Park located?
Aaron Provincial Park is located in Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario, 15 KM east of Dryden and directly off the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17)
Can you swim at Aaron Provincial Park?
Yes! Aaron Provincial Park is located on Thunder Lake and has two swimming beaches. The water is clear, warm and has a shallow entry perfect for kids.
How many campsites are at Aaron Provincial Park?
There are 98 campsites in Aaron Provincial Park. Of those, 39 sites have electrical service, and about a quarter of them are pull-through sites.
Is Aaron Provincial Park suitable for families with kids?
Absolutely! It is a great destination for families with kids. The sandy beach and clear, shallow water of Thunder Lake make it a great spot to have fun in the sun. There are also swings, flush toilets and showers.
Can you fish in Thunder Lake?
Yes, fishing is permitted in Thunder Lake. There is a boat launch and a fish cleaning station in the park. Please ensure you have an Ontario fishing license and follow local fishing regulations.
Is Aaron Provincial Park open year-round?
Yes, you can access the park year-round, though services and amenities are limited in the winter. Between mid-May and mid-September, the Park’s washrooms, office and other services are available.
Aaron Provincial Park is worth the stop.
The park is small and simple, but it offers a scenic and enjoyable stop along the Trans-Canada Highway. If you’re looking for a place to unwind and some of the best sunsets in Northwestern Ontario, don’t miss Aaron Provincial Park.
Discover more things to do in Sunset Country, Ontario!
Find more adventures in Ontario:
- Algonquin Provincial Park: Plan your family’s weekend getaway
- Rainbow Falls Provincial Park: Lake Superior’s North Shore
- Things to Do in Pukaskwa National Park: A Complete Guide
- Kayaking the Rossport Archipelago of Lake Superior
- Sioux Narrows Provincial Park on Lake of the Woods: A Complete Family Guide
