Ontario Provincial Parks

Thanks Keith-N-Dar.

Grundy Lake (Near North)

 

This park is located about half-way between Sudbury and Parry Sound on Highway 69 and has 586 campsites, of which 139 have electrical service (30 amp). There are a range of paddling and hiking options for both the novice and the experienced hiker and numerous day trips to choose from. For the more adventurous who wish to explore the interior of the park there are backcountry sites that are only accessible by canoe.

 

We stayed in Hemlock Campground, which is a “radio free” or “noise free” campground.  We had unusually good weather and the only potential drawback was that the adjacent Comfort Station was closed for the season.  However, the vault toilets are actually Dometic marine toilets, of which we are all familiar.

 

Campers with families would likely prefer the neighbouring Trailer and Poplar Campgrounds which are right by the beach.  These campgrounds also have some pull-through sites.

 

Grundy Lake Prov. Pk. Is best visited in the late summer or fall because of the absence of mosquitoes and black flies.

 

We will definitely be back.      

 

[PHOTO: Admiring the sunset on Grundy Lake]

 

 

 

 

Great pics!  Looks like a fantastic area to camp in.

Algonquin Park - Mew lake (Central)

This campground in Algonquin Park is located along the Highway 60 corridor and offers full-service, four-season camping with access to hiking trails. There are 131 campsites, of which 59 have electrical service (30 amp). In winter, the campsites are available on a first-come basis, with sites plowed based on demand. I was informed that there is usually no difficulty in obtaining an electrical site.

Mew Lake is one of the earliest campground to take online reservations. This year reservations were available beginning April 25th. (Rock Lake was also reservable from April 25th but, due to an abundance of snow this year and the fact that it is located 8 km south of Highway 60, the opening date of that campground was pushed back to May 9th. This meant that our initial reservation for Rock Lake was transferred to Mew Lake.) Given that Mew Lake is open year-round, it is guaranteed that you will be able to camp.   

For our first week-end we stayed at site 41 which is one row back from the lake itself. The site was a good size (17m x 14m), with the electrical outlet 30m away. This means that you should carry 100 ft of electrical cord. For the next week and following week-end, we had a reservation at site #57 (28m x 16m), which has a great view of the still ice-covered lake. This results in very cool breezes and you will be thankful for using a ceramic heater or the built-in heating system in the R-Pod.

One of the reasons why I picked this time of the year to visit Algonquin Park was because of the absence of mosquitoes and black flies. It is also an ideal time to spot moose, who like to frequent the highways to take advantage of the salt remaining from the winter plowing.

Naturally, one should dress for the weather and be prepared for ever-changing conditions as we have had both snow flurries and light showers during our stay, as well as bright sunny days with highs of 11 degrees Celsius.

PARKS OF THE ST. LAWRENCE

When one thinks of Provincial Parks in Ontario, one naturally thinks of those operated by Ontario Parks. However, one must not forget about the Parks of the St. Lawrence, which are operated by The St. Lawrence Parks Commission (an Agency of the Government of Ontario).

Reservations can be made online at https://secure.parks.on.ca/Reservations/Home.aspx using a similar reservation system to that of Ontario Parks.

There are eight campgrounds, most of the recreational variety, each with their own flavor. Some are located on the mainland, while three campgrounds are located on the islands along the Long Sault Parkway. The campground maps include a compass which will help you know which direction the campground faces. Some campgrounds have views of the seaway, others have views of neighbouring islands, while others have partial views of the mainland.   

You should consider what type of services you prefer, as the sites run the range from unserviced to two service (50 amp). In-between you can find one service (15 amp), one service (30 amp), two service (15 amp/water), two service (30 amp/water), and two service (50 amp/water) sites.

The campgrounds are generally busiest from the third weekend in June (St. Jean Baptiste Day) onwards.

Of particular interest, your campground receipt entitles you to 2 free tickets to either Upper Canada Village (Morrisburg, ON) or Fort Henry (Kingston, ON) (approx. $40 dollar value)

Water activities such as boating, canoeing, swimming, scuba diving, and fishing are popular.

LONG SAULT PARKWAY

Halfway between Kingston and Montreal, and just over an hour from Ottawa, a series of eleven islands sweep in an arc through the St. Lawrence River “like a necklace of green jewels”, to quote the 2014 Camping Guide. A series of causeways and bridges connect these former hilltops of the Lost Villages. These villages were flooded to make way for the International Seaway and Power Dam Project of 1958. The Parkway is home to three campgrounds with over 600 campsites: Milles Roches, Woodlands, and McLaren.

MILLES ROCHES CAMPGROUND

This campground boasts that it has the most waterfront sites of any campground, 63 out of 219. And, while many of the waterfront sites are listed as being reservable for R-Pods, the pad slopes are SEVERE (45-60 degrees) and are NOT to be recommended. (Notable exceptions are sites 125 and 126.) The more acceptable RV sites are a good size but are located along the interior rows of sites and consequently have no views of the water.

The campground faces south and west to offer views of the other islands, while sites 72 to 81 have views of the causeway. Milles Roches Beach and Picnic Area is the largest public beach and is directly across the road from the campground. It is the site of Long Sault’s annual Hydroplane Races.

Milles Roches was referred to a “party island” by one of the park staff. Not a campground that I would recommend to fellow R-Podders.

[PHOTO: Milles Roche - typical row of serviced sites (no view)]


WOODLANDS CAMPGROUND

Woodlands is almost two separate campgrounds which face west and north to offer views of the mainland and neighbouring islands. The main campground has a somewhat RV village feel to it but it is actually quite spacious and flat. Thirty new 50 amp RV sites have been added.

I would recommend the second grouping of sites 1-59 which extend out along the western arm of the campground. For sheer beauty and peacefulness I would recommend the unserviced sites 19 to 26. Some care has to be taken in parking your R-Pod due to some overhanging trees and slight pad slope but this is noted on the online reservation system. The serviced sites 8-16 and 50-59 are quite good.

Woodlands Beach and Picnic area is located across the road from the campground and is huge, with views of the St. Lawrence River. It can accommodate groups from 20 to 2000 and has a couple of covered shelters for barbecues.

Overall, this is one of the best campgrounds and is to be recommended.

[PHOTO: Woodlands Site 22 - Spectacular Sunrises]


MCLAREN CAMPGROUND

This is a very popular campground with the RV crowd and it is easy to understand why. The campground was recently upgraded with 113 of its 206 campgrounds now with full RV capability. There are 32 new 50 amp sites.

The campground faces the St. Lawrence River and you can see freighters in the distance from the eastern-most campsites. There are a few public water access points where campers sometimes moor their boats.

There is no real privacy, unless you create your own using your R-dome but the campground does include a number of mature trees through-out. Even sites on the 2nd and 3rd rows have acceptable views of the river.
There are a couple of rows of campsites which are occupied by seasonal campers.

Overall, a good campground.

[PHOTO: McLaren - mature trees add character to the campground]


FARREN PARK

Just west of the Long Sault Parkway and near Ingelside ON, Farren Park and Beach is located on a peninsula that juts out into the St. Lawrence River. There are 198 campsites on gently sloping terrain.

One-third of the campground currently includes seasonal campers.

I did not find the campground particularly appealing and would not recommend it.

[PHOTO: Farren - the waterfront has a few non-seasonal sites]


UPPER CANADA MIGRATORY BIRD SANCTUARY CAMPGROUND

For those who prefer a small campground (69 campsites) with 8 km of self-guided hiking trails and abundant wildlife, this is the campground for you. In spring you can see young families of geese, while in the fall (Sept 14 to Oct 27, 2014) the Sanctuary feeds corn to the geese in an effort to prevent the geese from foraging on neighbouring farmer’s fields. It is a fascinating activity to watch.

We have tent-camped there and cycled along the Waterfront Trail to visit Upper Canada Village and Crysler Farm Battlefield.

This is on my recommended list of campgrounds.

[PHOTO: Migratory Bird Sanctuary - Springtime for geese]


RIVERSIDE-CEDAR CAMPGROUND

This is the Parks Commission’s largest campground with 301 campsites but it doesn’t look all that impressive or picturesque from the highway. It is located just west of Upper Canada Village and Crysler Farm Battlefield.

I would recommend the unserviced waterfront sites 207 and 208. Waterfront sites 180, 186-189 are very big, while sites 63-67 are good. The serviced sites tend to be more in the open with any trees and foliage found around the periphery.

Please note that the Canada geese consider this campground to be their private domain and they leave their mark in abundance, at least when I was there at the end of May. This might change once the campground fills up in the summer.

Overall, however, this is a campground which would merit serious consideration.

[PHOTO: Riverside - prime waterfront sites 207 & 208]


IVY LEA CAMPGROUND

Not visited on this trip, this campground is just west of Brockville on the 1000 Islands Parkway and has 150 campsites. Nearby attractions include Fort Henry and Boldt Castle. (Source: Parks of the St. Lawrence Camping Guide 2014)

GLENGARRY CAMPGROUND

Not visited on this trip, this campground is just east of Cornwall and less than hour west of Montreal. Located on the mainland, it faces south and you can see the majestic spires of Saint-Anicet and in the distance the imposing Adirondack Mountains. The campground has 183 campsites which are situated among a towering stand of old growth pine. The park features a sandy beach that arcs around a sheltered bay, boat launch facilities and a waterfront food concession. (Source: Parks of the St. Lawrence Camping Guide 2014)