About 30 minutes south of Sudbury rests the former town of Burwash, a secluded village along highway 69 that you probably wouldn’t think twice about as you pass it by. However Burwash still contains a hidden gem from its days as a bustling prison farm, Camp Bison’s building 5. As you enter the former village you are greeted with a sign alerting you that this property belongs to The Canadian Department of National Defense and that trespassing is prohibited, they of course choose to leave the main gate wide open allowing anyone curious enough access to the village, which has completely been demolished.
After a short drive along a dirt road it becomes apparent that they don’t want you driving all the way to the abandoned prison, deep ditches and high piles of dirt block the road followed by an active railroad line which is not level with the road. For ATV’s or a 4x4 vehicle this obstacle can be easily overcome, for any other vehicle it’s best to park your car and continue ahead on foot. It’s only about three miles and if you’re lucky the blackflies and mosquitoes won’t eat you alive, and the road won’t be washed out by beaver dams.
The two videos above were taken during NOPEX 2007, the first part details some difficulty crossing the train tracks in our vehicles... it's hard to make out but when everyone panics at the end to push the car, a train is enroute. Part 2 details the remainder of the drive to the prison.
Choose your own Adventure
The trail to Camp Bison is broken up into 4 distinct areas, a grassy meadow, a forested path, a beaver dam with pools of stagnant water and the final bumpy stretch. If you choose to drive into Camp Bison continue to 2. If you have been forced to walk continue reading... you abandon your vehicle and cross the ditches and railroad crossing. A small creek with an improvised bridge made from a log is ahead. You cross the log and enter the first dungeon, continue to 3.
Your vehicle easily crosses the two ditches and you must now cross the railroad. The nearby signal suggests there is no train traffic along the tracks. The unlevel crossing has a few improvised railroad ties to assist a car in crossing however they are few and far between. You saw a few extras lying in the ditch. If you wish to recover the extra railroad ties and stack them accordingly across the tracks, continue to 4. If you decide to cross the tracks as is, continue to 5.
You have entered the meadow. Tall grass surrounds you with the occasional raspberry bush. The local bugs choose to ignore the intruders and sparingly attack you. You continue to the second dungeon, continue to 6.
The extra railroad ties form a perfect level crossing and while you still have some difficulty crossing the railroad you manage to cross with out a hitch. The signal changes and while you merrily continue down the dirt road you see a large freight train speed down the tracks in your rear view mirror. Luck was on your side. continue to 7.
You hammer down the accelerator and cross the first track before coming to a sudden stop. Your rear tire had gotten pinned between a railroad tie and the track and regardless of how much you reverse or accelerate the car only seems to bounce backwards and forwards ever so slightly. Worse still you notice the signal change and a train is coming shortly. If you continue to fight with the vehicle, continue to 8. If you bail out of the car and watch the oncoming train smash your car to pieces continue to 9.
The tall grass of the meadow suddenly turns to thick bush and trees surround both sides of the road. Besides the occasional muddy spot along the road walking is still easy. You have trespassed without consequence for long enough and the bugs have decided it is time they take a few bites out of you. The mosquitoes and blackflies are relentless but you easily continue to the next dungeon, 11.
A small creek is ahead, the water is barely a foot deep and your vehicle can easily cruise right through. The next part of the road is a bit bumpy but otherwise poses no threat. continue to 12.
The car is stuck; you hear the distant noise of a train blasting its horn. You can either bail out of the vehicle watching as it’s blasted into pieces, 9. Or continue fighting with the vehicle, 10.
You exit the vehicle and say your goodbyes. It isn’t long until the train arrives and crashes into your car like it was paper craft. The train slowly comes to a halt and no one was injured. Your journey is over.
Your persistence has paid off! The car has been freed and you quickly reach the middle ground between the two sets of tracks. The next track gives you considerably less trouble as you cross the final track and watch the freight train haul past in your rear view mirror. continue to 7.
The thick of trees and bush suddenly break apart and on either side of the road is stagnant pools of water, you have reached the insects’ lair and they are pleased you have come to dinner. The road has been completely washed out and you are forced to head into the brush to find a dry path. Luckily it looks like you aren’t the first to do this and a trail has already been broken. Continue past the water into the next and final dungeon, continue to 13.
The tall grass of the meadow suddenly turns to thick bush and trees surround both sides of the road. The once bumpy gravel road has heavily been worn away and you find yourself driving on and off the trail to avoid grinding the bottom of your car. The road is treacherous but still no match for your 4x4. continue to 14.
The bugs are relentlessly attacking you but it’s not far away now. Your long walk will soon pay off as you follow the bend in the road and see a building far down the road! Congratulations you have reached your destination. A day of exploring an abandoned prison awaits you!
You come to a complete stop. The trees and bush have suddenly stopped and on either side of the road lay large stagnant pools of water. The road has been completely washed out. If you continue down the road, “after all this is an all terrain vehicle” continue to 15. If you choose to play it safe and continue on foot continue to 16.
You drive into the murky pond water finding it’s surprisingly quite shallow. But after a few meters the depth of the water suddenly changes. You can play it safe and continue on foot, continue to 16. Or you can hit the accelerator and hope you don’t end up hydro-locking, 17.
It seems you have parked within the insects’ lair and they are pleased you have come to dinner. You are forced to head into the brush to find a dry path. Luckily it looks like you aren’t the first to do this and a trail has already been broken. Continue past the water into the next and final dungeon, continue to 13.
You safely cross the first deep pond blocking the road but are greeted immediately with another far deeper pond ahead. You can abandon the vehicle and continue on foot, 16. Try and drive half in the brush and half in the water, 18. Or just hammer through the water like a crazy person, 19.
Your quick thinking paid off and although you were a bit worried when your car hit that unsettling sixty degree angle you manage to pass the wash out and continue down the road to the camp. It isn’t long now from the prison and as you cruise past the next bend you see it just down the road. Congratulations you have reached your destination. A day of exploring an abandoned prison awaits you!
Screaming “Yee-Haw!” like the proud human being you are, the vehicle sinks dangerously deep into the water. Water quickly fills your intake and your car comes to a loud and violent stop. With no cell-phone reception and not even sure if a tow-truck will even drive out to Camp Bison you are likely faced with a huge expense in your near future. Look on the bright side; in the meantime you can still explore the prison.
Camp Bison, or what's left of it
The government has already torn down most of the town and prison for the exception of a few sheds, garages and building 5, which sits heavily vandalized and worn from years of neglect. The majority of the building is composed of prisoner isolation rooms, small rooms with a single window and a wooden door. These are the sleeping quarters of the former inmates. Also on site are the showers, kitchen, dining hall, administration, an auditorium with an attached projection room, barber shop, storage rooms, and a couple higher security prisoner cells. Just next to the main building sits a small water treatment building, powerhouse and a number of arsoned and collapsed buildings.
Visit if you dare, and watch out for rattle snakes and bears.
The trail to Camp Bison is broken up into 4 distinct areas, a grassy meadow, a forested path, a beaver dam with pools of stagnant water and the final bumpy stretch. If you choose to drive into Camp Bison 
