Brightsand River

The Brightsand River is a river in the James Bay drainage basin in Unorganized Thunder Bay District in northwestern Ontario, Canada.^[1]

Brightsand River
Mouth of the Brightsand River in Ontario
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Northwestern Ontario
District	Thunder Bay
Part	Thunder Bay, Unorganized
Physical characteristics
Source	Pakashkan Lake
• coordinates	49°27′41″N 90°21′17″W
• elevation	465 m (1,526 ft)
Mouth	Allan Water
• location	Allanwater Bridge
• coordinates	50°14′26″N 90°09′35″W
• elevation	417 m (1,368 ft)
Basin features
Progression	Brightsand→ Allan Water→ Ogoki→ Albany→ James Bay
River system	James Bay drainage basin

Most of the river is protected in the Brightsand River Provincial Park. The river's headwaters are protected in the Garden Pakashkan Conservation Reserve.

Geography

The river begins at Outlet Bay on Pakashkan Lake about 45 kilometres (28 mi) northeast of the community of Upsala. It flows north through Brightsand Lake and further to Wapakaimaski Lake. The river splits with one channel flowing west into Seseganaga Lake and further into Kawaweogama Lake; the other flows north through Antler Lake and McEwan Lake. The two combine again to form the river Allan Water at the community of Allanwater Bridge, the location of Allanwater Bridge railway station, served by Via Rail transcontinental Canadian trains, on the Canadian National Railway transcontinental main line.^[2]

Tributaries

• Hilltop Creek (left)
• Rude Creek (left)
• Globe Creek (right)
• Sparrow Creek (right)
• Grid Creek (left)
• Bluebird Creek (right)
• Ermine Creek (left)
• Aylsworth Creek (right)
• Wawang River (left)
• Pakashkan Lake (source)

Brightsand River Provincial Park

Brightsand River Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Coordinates	49°48′19″N 90°16′58″W[3]
Length	130 km (81 mi)
Area	41,250 ha (159.3 sq mi)[4]
Designation	Waterway
Established	1989
Governing body	Ontario Parks
www.ontarioparks.com/park/brightsandriver

The Brightsand River Provincial Park is a linear waterway park that includes a 200 metres (660 ft) wide strip of land on both sides of roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) long section of the Brightsand River and its lakes, from Aylsworth Lake (near the Graham Road crossing) to its mouth at the Allan Water River. It was established in May 1989 to protect a recreational waterway that also provides an important link with other provincial parks and conservation areas.^[5]

The park is representative of a glaciated Precambrian landscape, with typical boreal forest. Notable aspects include a variety of interesting glacial features and 10 known rock art sites.^[5] It borders on the Upper English River Conservation Reserve to the west, Kopka River Provincial Park to the east, and Wabakimi Provincial Park to the north.

It is a non-operating park without any services. The only facilities include a total of 200 backcountry campsites. The park is used for recreational activities such as boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking, swimming, and hunting.^[4]

See also

• List of rivers of Ontario