Camping

[eqlso]

I want to take the fiance out camping the July 1st - 4th weekend, but thought it would be too late to book places. Anyone have any recommendations for camp grounds? Basically want to mainly hike, canoeing or kayaking would be great too, live in a tent.

I used to go all the time in scouts, but its been so long now!

[ZeroChalk]

It'll be difficult because all the "close" Ontario Parks are usually booked by now! I know when I booked my August long weekend camping trip at Sandbanks it was gone in a matter of hours of the booking wiindow opening.

I would try a bed and breakfast instead and then drive in to your local park or a private campground.

[taz4432]

Yah...Sandbanks is ridiculously popular. It's a great family 'camping' destination or great for day trips. As far as I'm concerned, it has the nicest beach(es) in Canada - I dare someone to prove me wrong.

Are you looking for a drive-in, park and set up camp right beside the car or do you want to go backpacking? The drive-in campsites generally get booked very quick for all of the provincial parks within 3 hours drive of Toronto. I've heard great things about Bon Echo, Restoule is a very nice place (about 4 hours North - Thunder Bay). Algonquin has tons of backpacking trails if you want to go that route.

Backpacking is a lot more intense but it's spectacular. Mind you, the initial costs are higher due to having to purchase the equipment although if you spend the money now it'll last a lifetime. Alternatively, get a MEC membership and rent the gear.

[mazdaskit]

theres a really nice park in sable falls i dont remember the name but you should try there

[froggy]

I want to take the fiance out camping the July 1st - 4th weekend, but thought it would be too late to book places. Anyone have any recommendations for camp grounds? Basically want to mainly hike, canoeing or kayaking would be great too, live in a tent.

I used to go all the time in scouts, but its been so long now!

yes you are right when it comes to drive in camping you are probably out of luck unless you want to go way north and west to like killarney or Killbear. If you want to do the whole walk in/canoe in thing then it is all on a first come first serve basis. I have to disagree with some of the above comments about the walk in/canoe in camping having a higher initial cost, It does take more planning and you have to make sure that you know what you're doing but 90% of the equipment that you'll need for a "drive-in" camping you will need on your walk in. The thing is when you walk in/canoe in if you forget something you can't drive into town to get it. For myself I can't do anyother type of camping besides the canoe in camping. MEC does have some good equipment, the prices are a bit on the highside compared to an independent shop, and the customer service is hit or miss, there are a lot of people in there that i can guarantee you are strictly urbanites. I work part time for a camping/hunting/fishing store and can help you sort through the hype if you want.

[cereal83]

Killarney is a great place and Bruce National park is also a great place with lots to do. Bruce is about 3 hours from Toronto and killarney is about 5 hours. Check out Ontarioparks.com I think and see what is available. Grundy Lake has great cliff jumping and scenery or you can go to The stay close to the cup and saucer trail which is really amazing but its a 12 hour drive http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/cup-saucer-trail/ Lots of places, just have to look a little.

[FoXy]

The Pinery Provincial Park or Point Farms Provincial Park. Both in Goderich, BOTH have an amazing beach.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/index.html

[towelsnap]

Blah... wouldn't say Picton SandBanks is the best beach by any means (maybe because I'm from the area and I'm there most of the summer). I'd vote Wassaga ... larger , MUCH cleaner and bigger (Largiest beach in North America). But for Camping.... I wouldnt' recommend a beach. If your looking for a TRUE camping experience than go to Algonquin. My vote for sure would be go up to the bruce peninsula... near Tobermory some of the best camping up there as well (caves and lots of beaches "check out sauble beach". My sister lives up in Owen Sound I went to the beach last week I'll fire up some pics when I get a chance

[crystal8484]

theres a really nice park in sable falls i dont remember the name but you should try there

Sauble Falls Provincal Park :P

Sauble Beach in general though is zee best... but that's just me. I've been going there since I was like 1 years old. haha

[mazdaskit]

Sauble Falls Provincal Park :P

thanks lol also the little falls they have you can jump off of it lol

[PearlM3]

Yah...Sandbanks is ridiculously popular. It's a great family 'camping' destination or great for day trips. As far as I'm concerned, it has the nicest beach(es) in Canada - I dare someone to prove me wrong..

Now thats just silly talk. I hail from Nova Scotia, Most beautiful white sand beaches you will see in the North, the water is a little cold, but they are amazinly beautiful.

[S.F.W.]

Now thats just silly talk. I hail from Nova Scotia, Most beautiful white sand beaches you will see in the North, the water is a little cold, but they are amazinly beautiful.

Agreed! I have family in NS, and travel east at least twice a year.

[JaYson]

Oastler Lake Provincial park - is a pretty decent car parking campground, especially if you look into the sites that are along the northern part of the little bay that sticks into the provincial park, its a little penninsula, you park your car at a designated parking spot, then you walk into your site (makes you feel like you're not actually CAR parking) and its right attop a cliff overlooking the lake

Frontenac Provincial park - also great campground, more for back country camping, great if you wanna do canoe camping. throw everything in the canoe and you're off. really quite nice, lots of trails, lots of smaller lakes to choose from.

Bon Echo - Likely all booked up, gorgeous park. worth calling to see if they're all booked up.

[JaYson]

if you dont mind driving a little further:

Bruce Penninsula - Amazing National Park. plenty of hiking trails. lots to see. Def. look into that too

[taz4432]

Blah... wouldn't say Picton SandBanks is the best beach by any means (maybe because I'm from the area and I'm there most of the summer). I'd vote Wassaga ... larger , MUCH cleaner and bigger (Largiest beach in North America). But for Camping.... I wouldnt' recommend a beach. If your looking for a TRUE camping experience than go to Algonquin. My vote for sure would be go up to the bruce peninsula... near Tobermory some of the best camping up there as well (caves and lots of beaches "check out sauble beach". My sister lives up in Owen Sound I went to the beach last week I'll fire up some pics when I get a chance


Now thats just silly talk. I hail from Nova Scotia, Most beautiful white sand beaches you will see in the North, the water is a little cold, but they are amazinly beautiful.


Agreed! I have family in NS, and travel east at least twice a year.


Ahh...but it's not *just* the beach part that I'm talking about. I doubt any of those locations have purely sand going out as far as one can swim (and further) with hardly a trace of seaweed or even so much as a pebble, let alone rocks. Sure, the beach part (out of water) may not be #1 but the rest is. Also, the grade is extremely minimal so you can go out as far as you'd like and find water that's the perfect height for you - there's not much worry about hitting a sudden dropoff.



yes you are right when it comes to drive in camping you are probably out of luck unless you want to go way north and west to like killarney or Killbear. If you want to do the whole walk in/canoe in thing then it is all on a first come first serve basis. I have to disagree with some of the above comments about the walk in/canoe in camping having a higher initial cost, It does take more planning and you have to make sure that you know what you're doing but 90% of the equipment that you'll need for a "drive-in" camping you will need on your walk in. The thing is when you walk in/canoe in if you forget something you can't drive into town to get it. For myself I can't do anyother type of camping besides the canoe in camping. MEC does have some good equipment, the prices are a bit on the highside compared to an independent shop, and the customer service is hit or miss, there are a lot of people in there that i can guarantee you are strictly urbanites. I work part time for a camping/hunting/fishing store and can help you sort through the hype if you want.

I disagree with the 90% of the cost. There are costs associated with drive-in camping that's for sure but you also have to consider the fact that it's a lot easier to find someone/somewhere to borrow the stuff from for a 'drive-in' camping weekend. Most people have friends and/or family who they could pick up a tent and maybe an old camping stove off of.
With backpacking, you need the pack (a decent one costs multiple hundreds of dollars), hiking boots (again - good, proper boots will costs you multiple hundreds of dollars. DO NOT cheap out on boots...you WILL regret it, especially if you get caught in monsoon-like weather for 3 or 4 days straight like I did last Fall), portable backpacking stove + fuel, water filter/purifier, utility knives, dry sacks, portable tent, etc. etc.

Also, drive-in camping permits tend to cost more than backpacking permits. Backpacking is spectacular and if you don't want to spend all day walking you can pick a shorter route and enjoy the weather/scenery/wildlife. Algonquin has TONS of different trails - I would highly recommend checking it out.

Either way, I'm sure you'll have a blast.

[eqlso]

Wow thanks for all the advice everyone. I orginally was thinking of the drive in camping, but I knew it would be very difficult to get a spot this late. I'm going to try calling a few places recommended above, just in case someone cancels. If that doesn't work, I like the bed and breakfast idea, and then driving out to hiking trails. That would require less equipment and possibly more time to go buy stuff if needed.

I actually have a lot of equipment from before, tents, stoves, backpacks,etc. Probably need to invest in a pair of hiking boots though.

Either way, I appreciate all the help and feedback provided here. I'm sure we'll have a great time.

[Hypothrml]

I recommend The French river PP, Killarney PP & The Massassauga PP all of these parks are water access only.