Lake Life
Join InSwim, Paddle, & Play.
Enjoy the freedom, comfort, and privacy of lake life that has all the wonders and room of a provincial park with resort amenities and the ease of activity-rich and relaxing days.
With the safety and proximity of the grounds and the gradual change in water depth along the beach, parents have a clear line of sight to their children. They can settle in and relax while their kids explore and play.
Remember
From our beach-stocked canoes, kayaks and paddleboards to pickleball and shuffleboard, our renowned fishing, the adventure of the Voyageur and on-site trails, to an afternoon of cannonballing and the quite of campfire-filled evenings, the Melwel experience is truly one that families, couples, and friends will remember.
& Explore.
Walk, hike and explore the paths and trails that make their way through Melwel or venture out onto the Voyageur Trail and explore a forested and riparian landscape that passes through scenic vistas, lakes, creeks and rivers.
The Desbarats-Huron Shores section of The Voyageur Trail is a 77km segment that can be trekked in short out-and-backs or through-hiked. It’s a short stroll from Melwel and makes for a morning, afternoon, or day of adventure.
Learn more about
The Voyageur Trail
& truly dark skies.
Experience sunsets, and truly dark skies that turn evenings into star speckled wonders.
Since our founding in 1946, watching sunsets shimmer into the lake has grown to become a much-loved tradition, and a bit of secret passed from one generation to the next.
Fishing
Big Basswood Lake
The Catch
May is prime Whitefish season. June is when the Trout come up to feed before going deep again. In late summer, the Smallmouth Bass become active with catches ranging from 6-inch kids’ specials to 5 lb keepers. And if you’re up for Salmon fishing, late August and into the fall is when 20lb Kings and iridescent Pinks make their run through Lake Huron and Superior.
On-site Launch
Fishing licenses are required and local, full-service guides are available on a prearranged basis.
Visit the Ministry of Natural Resources for more information: Ontario Fishing
Nature Gallery
Discover,
Explore & Uncover.
Experiencing nature is magic at any age. If you're 75, 15, or 5, don't be shy about bringing or signing out a pair of binoculars or a magnifying glass to observe nature up close or out far. Our kid-friendly microscopes make the simple act of leaf, rock, or flower finding a marvel.
Sign out a telescope from the Nature Station to see stars and planets up close and enjoy the star-speckled wonder of our natural night skies.
Our mixed forests and inland lakes are home to abundant wildlife and a flourishing forest ecology of hemlock, mountain maple, pine, northern starflower, and moss-covered granite dotted with red winterberry and yellow sorrel.
Experience the diversity of songbirds, waterfowl and raptors ranging from merganser and mallard ducks to downy woodpeckers, song sparrows, and ruby-throated hummingbirds.
If you've yet to try birding, pick up one of our birding books in the lodge, sign out a pair of binoculars and head out for a look.
Racquet,
Slide, Ring, & Hoop.
Shoot hoops, grab a racquet and some pickleballs, a cue and discs or a set of horseshoes and enjoy our full-sized pits, shuffleboard deck, pickleball and basketball courts.
In the lodge you’ll find camp classics like Yahtzee, Uno, and cribbage alongside chess, Monopoly, Balderdash, and Scrabble. Feel free to play them in the lodge or take them to your cabin and enjoy a lakeside tradition.
Whether they're accompanied or old enough to explore on their own, we've created a dedicated play area with clear site lines and room to let your young ones run, swing, climb, and slide.