Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area is nestled within a 300 acre mature sugar bush forest near the town of Paisley in Ontario. The park is both a regular campground for equipment ranging from tents to large RVs, and an equine campground with facilities to accommodate your horse.

Site Review at Saugeen Bluffs:

There are 2 campground areas at Saugeen Bluffs:

• Maples Campground
• Campbell Campground

Maples Campground

• There are approximately 160 sites for RV and tent camping.
• There are some pull-thru sites but most are back-in.
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• The campground has primarily seasonal sites but there are many transitional sites throughout. However, it should be noted that the prime sites located along the river are all seasonal sites.
• The serviced sites have 30/15 AMP electric service and water hook-up. There are no sites with sewer hook-ups.
• There is a trailer sanitation dump station. 
• Centrally located within the Maples campground area is a comfort station with flush toilets and free hot showers.
• There is a small store.
• There is a playground.

We had site #120. It was ok.

Campbell Campground:

Campbell campground is set up so you can camp with your horse.

• There are 42 sites- several with corrals.
• All sites have picnic tables and fire rings.
• There are water taps- some come with hoses (you’d be wise to bring your own just in case).
• You can rent generators.
• There are manure bunkers. You are expected to clean up after your own horse.
• You can rent bunkies if you don’t have your own camping equipment. I have personally never been to a campground that can accommodate you and your horse, but apparently, to do so you need valid Equine Liability Insurance as well as a completed Liability Waiver Form that you will be required to present at check-in.

Activities:

Trails at Saugeen Bluffs:

There are a number of trails throughout the property that can be hiked on foot or ridden on horses. The trails for the horses can all be accessed from the Campbell campground. Trail maps are posted throughout at the trailheads and indicate the route and level of difficulty.

Bluffs Lookout:

To access the Bluffs Lookout you will have to climb a few sets of stairs. The view from the viewing platform of the Saugeen river is very nice.

Saugeen River:

Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area is Access Point 11 for travel on the Saugeen River. The Travel route for the river starts at the Hanover Town Park (Access 3) and ends 102 km downstream at Denny’s Dam (access 15) which is near the town of Southhampton. This is a one-way route. If you decide to embark on this route you will have to arrange your own shuttle back to your vehicle or make arrangements for someone to meet you at your take-out spot. There are local outfitters in the area that you can commission for a fee.

There are slow-moving sections along the river and there are stretches where there are rapids and eddies.

The area near Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area has both slow and fast-moving sections.

I put my kayak in at the dock at the canoe launch. The water was calm and I could paddle for maybe half an hour against the current before hitting some faster water with a current that I could no longer paddle against. I just let myself float back to the canoe dock.

Just after the canoe dock, the water gets fast again. You might want to be aware of this if you are not necessarily planning to do the route but just want to enjoy the river around the campground area. You could end up floating a considerable distance downstream with no scheduled way to get back.

The distance between Access Point 11 at Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area and Denny’s Dam near Southhampton is 30 km. This would be a nice day trip if you make shuttle arrangements ahead of time.

Swimming:

You can swim in the river at your own risk. It is pretty shallow and very rocky.

Boating:

The river is too shallow and rocky for any kind of motorized boating. It’s strictly suitable for canoes and kayaks.

Biking:

You can bike on the campground roads but not on the trails. If you choose to bike outside of the campground it would be on county highways. There are no suitable biking trails in the immediate area surrounding Saugeen Bluffs Conservation Area.

Campground Amenities:

There are a couple of playgrounds: There is a small splash pad and wading pool. There is an Activity Centre.

And for those with their horses, there is an Equine Event Ring.

Towns to visit in the area:

Port Elgin

SouthhamptonOwen Sound

Things to Know:

1. You can purchase wood and ice at the general store located in the Maples campground.
2. There are laundry facilities available for camper use.
3. Leashed pets are permitted.
4. Horses are not permitted in the Maples campground.
5. Generators are allowed from 9 am to 9 pm only.

IMO:

We usually camp at Provincial or National parks. It is a personal preference. We do occasionally camp at private campgrounds but not very often. Saugeen Bluffs is a Conservation Area- so not quite a provincial park and not quite a private campground. It is sort of like a hybrid combining the two.

I found the sites to be an adequate size though there was minimal visual privacy. The sites were fine, it was the number of SEASONAL sites that set a different tone for the camping experience here. I would have preferred a separate transitional camping area that was located away from the seasonal campers.

Seasonal campers with their kitschy site decorations and the extra amount of visitors they have combined with the noise level (not everyone wants to listen to Aerosmith or Willie Nelson blaring at EVERY hour). It makes you feel like you are intruding on their personal cottage experience. There seem to be no noise rules and if there are there is no one who is enforcing them. So many radios, outdoor screens and lawn mowers and loud campfire gatherings that went well beyond 11 pm- it was all rather off-putting to put it as mildly.

And even though the campground was well maintained, even if somewhat dated, I found the fact that the river was pretty much non-usable if you were just staying at the campground -so that part was underwhelming for me. I wish I had a horse because horse camping looked fun and it was located quite a distance from the seasonal campers. Overall I made the best of the weekend that I spent there but I won’t be back.

Nearby Provincial parks are MacGregor Point Provincial Park, Inverhuron Provincial Park, and Sauble Falls Provincial Park.