About Paddle to the Sea

In the downtown area of the township of Nipigon, a roadside attraction brings you on an adventure from the middle of town to the waterfront. The Paddle to the Sea park, first erected in July of 2016, has beckoned families of locals and visitors into a park based on the story Paddle to the Sea, a book by Holling C. Holling and written in 1941. The book is special to the people of Nipigon as the story kicks off right in this area before Paddle begins his incredible journey to the sea, and the park mimics just that, the journey to the water.

Starting downtown Nipigon, you can see a statue of Paddle atop a manufactured waterfall to represent the beginning of the storybook. There’s a whole park behind it that was made to look like the natural environment of the Nipigon area. There is also an incredible splash pad that all locals and visitors love and enjoy, especially on hot summer days.

Then, as you move down towards the Nipigon Marina and Waterfront, you will come across another part of the park that was made to replicate a part of the storybook, where Paddle makes his way through the forest and the various states it can take.

Last, you end up at the beautiful Nipigon Marina, where the play structure sits on the edge of the Nipigon River as it flows towards Lake Superior. Much like the story, you finish your journey down by the water. Here, you can marvel at the surrounding mountains of the Canadian Shield as they are reflected in the calm waters of the Nipigon River. At the Marina, there are relatively easy hiking trails available for all to use so you can stroll peacefully through the trees.

If you want to know more about the famous book, you can purchase it at the Nipigon Public Library, beside the main park. If you’re travelling through or near the township of Nipigon, stop and explore the incredibly immersive Paddle to the Sea Park.

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