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Ontario Provincial Parks

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DavidW View Drop Down
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    Posted: 11 Aug 2013 at 7:13pm

Voyageur Provincial Park (Southeastern)

 

This park is located halfway between Ottawa and Montreal and has 416 campsites, of which 110 have electrical service (30 amp).  The sites are set in a variety of landscapes from private, wooded lots to open fields with a view.  Some sections of the camp are designated radio-free or pet-free.

 

We have now stayed at three different sites in the park, all of which were good.  Our first stay was in site 26, a pull-through site with electricity.  Our second stay was in a non-electric site 89 with a stunning view of Champlain Bay.  Our third site was in site 177 which is in a woodland setting with a wide variety of birds.  [We would recommend 89 and 91 as the best non-electric sites, and 79, 81 and 83 as the best electric sites if you want a view of the bay]

 

While in the area, we took a short side trip to Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. in Vankleek Hill, bought some local Oka cheese and deer pate (next time we will get some local cinnamon honey) and sent the girls off to Calypso water park.

[PHOTO: The view from the R-dome at site 89] 

 
David & Liz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kymooses Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 2013 at 8:40am
Oh goodness, that is a beautiful shot from your dome.  Looks peaceful!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DavidW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Aug 2013 at 9:47am

Charleston Lake Provincial Park (Southeastern)

This Park is located just north of Gananoque, about 20 minutes from the 401 and the Hill Island Bridge connecting Ontario with New York State (Interstate 81).    Given its proximity to Southern Ontario, the park is well-used and you should reserve early to get the best sites.

Three campgrounds have 238 campsites, 86 of which have electrical service. The most popular campgrounds are the forested Bayside and Shady Ridge campgrounds which are close to the lake and beach areas.  Shady Ridge campground is less level and some of the sites are a bit of a challenge for the novice.  The prime lake-view sites are all non-electric.  We would recommend non-electric sites 306, 327, 331, 332, 335, 338, 341 352, and electric sites 354 and 355.  Bayside has electric sites by the lake, of which 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250 are good, and more secluded wooded electric sites 225, 229 and 231.    

You can take a side trip to cruise on the Thousand Islands or a longer trip to historic Kingston and Old Fort Henry.

David & Liz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NorthStarPodders Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 12:33am
Those are great photos, and thanks for the recommendations. Back in our tenting days we did the Lake Superior Circle Tour and were wowed by Ontario's provincial parks, especially Pancake Bay. Great memories of camping right on the beachfront and having dinner in the little hut my son built out of driftwood. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DavidW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2013 at 4:51pm

Marten River Provincial Park (Near North)

 

This park is located about 50 minutes north of North Bay and has 190 campsites, of which 62 have electrical service (30 amp).  The park is the southern gateway to the Temagami area and is a base for canoeists, boaters, hikers and anglers.

 

We stayed at site 140 right on the river.  It is described as a “windy” site and, while the wind did pick up during the night, this was not a problem in the R-Pod.  The wind actually had the advantage of keeping any bugs away.

 

Our neighbour was able to moor his fishing boat at the river’s edge.  Some might find the view and low hum from the nearby Highway 11 a distraction and would prefer an interior site.

 

[PHOTO: Our view of Marten River from Site 140]

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DavidW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 9:48am

Windy Lake Provincial Park (Near North)

 

This park is located about 1 hour north of Sudbury and has 93 campsites, of which 56 have electrical service (30 amp).  The official description states that “Windy Lake Provincial Park offers large, quiet and well secluded campsites including a number of large sites set aside for double family occupancy and also walk-in campsites for those preferring greater seclusion or who want to try an easy backcountry experience.  There are also several group campsites, including a lakefront beauty. Yurts are available for year-round use.”

 

What the official description fails to tell you is that the campsite is located immediately beside the main Canadian Pacific railway line and highway crossing.  During our stay, we had SEVEN 100-car freight trains pass by with their horns blaring and their cars shaking the ground.  [For a more relaxing and secluded camping experience try Halfway Provincial Park, about 30 minutes further north]

 

The park is best known for its long beautiful day-use beach which often has 130 cars parked.  There is room to park your R-Pod while you swim.

 

Nearby you can visit High Falls in Onaping that A.Y. Jackson of the Group of Seven captured in his painting "Spring on the Onaping River".

 

[PHOTO: The railway crossing with the campground beyond]

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DavidW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 9:41pm
Electrical Outlets in Ontario Provincial Parks
 

When one books a Provincial Park campsite, the online reservation system will indicate the distance to your electrical outlet.  Distances are given in meters (m).  [1 meter = 3.28 feet]

Some electrical outlets are as little as 3 meters (9.84 feet) away, others are in the 15 meter (49.2 feet) range, while some are in the 25 meter (82 feet) range.  Consequently, you should safely carry a minimum of 75 feet of electrical cord at all times.

We recently stayed at Arrowhead Provincial Park where the outlet distance was given as 25 meters (82 feet), with a site length of 12 meters (38 feet) and width of 13 meters (42.6 feet).  After unhitching our R-Pod in a seemingly perfect spot, we discovered that our 75 foot cord did not quite reach the outlet.  This required us to re-hitch the R-Pod and re-position.  Thankfully we hadn’t already put down the stabilizers.

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DavidW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2013 at 1:41pm

French River Provincial Park (Near North)

 

This park is located about 1 hour and 20 minutes north of Parry Sound and 1 hour south of Sudbury on Highway 69. It has NO campsites accessible for vehicles (R-Pods included) but has a wonderful picnic area and Visitors Centre.  The parking lot features double parking spots for your tv and R-Pod.  [Camping is available at beautiful Grundy Lake Provincial Park – 15 minutes away]

 

French River Provincial Park offers backcountry camping only.  There are many channels, bays and inlets to choose from and the stunning views of classic Canadian Shield scenery with rocks and pines are seemingly endless.  A river of national historic significance the French River is the first designated Canadian Heritage River and was the key travel route to the western Great Lakes and Canada before there were roads.

 

Look for the “French River Rest Area” sign and brown picnic table sign instead of the usual blue and green Ontario Parks sign.

   

 

 

David & Liz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DavidW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Sep 2013 at 2:04pm

Arrowhead Provincial Park (Near North)

 

This park is located just off Highway 11 near Huntsville.  It has 378 campsites, of which 185 are electric. At this year-round park in the heart of Muskoka, you can hike or bicycle on trails that wind through maple forests and past waterfalls, beaver ponds and homesteaders’ farms. Quiet Arrowhead and Mayflower Lakes and the meandering Little and Big East Rivers, are ideal for paddling, fishing and swimming. There is a “testing” mountain bike trail that circles Arrowhead Lake.  Return in the winter to ski on groomed trails, tube down a hill or skate on an outdoor rink.  There is a pet swimming beach.

 
We stayed at site 236 on Road 3 in the East River Campground and found the site to be very large and peaceful.  The level of privacy was very good.  Our electrical outlet was 25 meters (85 feet) away so make sure that you have at least 75 feet of electrical cord with you and position your R-Pod initially so that your cord can reach the outlet.
 
[PHOTO: Big Bend Lookout]
David & Liz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DavidW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Sep 2013 at 1:11pm

Murphys Point (Southeastern)

 

This park is located on the Big Rideau Lake, equal distance from Perth and Smiths Falls.  It is also accessible from both the Rideau Trail and the Rideau Waterway.  It has 123 regular campsites, 44 electric sites, 14 back country or interior sites, 2 soft sided shelters, and 1 camp cabin.

 

The park has a particularly strong interpretive program which includes the Lally Homestead, and the Silver Queen Mica Mine through which guided tours are offered.     

 

We stayed at one of the electric sites in Hogg Bay.  Sites 63-72 are close to the beach, sites 55-62 are somewhat more secluded, while sites 50-54 are near the soft-sided shelters and camp cabin.  There are no motorboats allowed on Hogg Bay or Loon Lake.

 

[PHOTO: Noble Bay from the admin dock]

David & Liz
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2019 Chevy Traverse
And Lily (our 8 yr old Golden)

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