Arrowhead Provincial Park

Arrowhead Provincial Park is located outside of Huntsville, Ontario.

It is often overshadowed by nearby Algonquin Provincial Park,  which is located less than 45 minutes away. Arrowhead though should not be overlooked. With its 2 lakes, 3 beaches and multiple hiking and biking trails to enjoy, it is worth checking out.

Site Review:

Arrowhead Provincial Park has 378 campsites in 3 campground areas:

• Roe
• East River
• Lumbly

There are electric sites in East River and Roe campgrounds.

We stayed at site #233 in East River campground.

• There are large electric sites suitable for larger RVs.
• Sites are private and well treed. Visual privacy is good.
• East River campground is close to the Stubbs Falls Trail, however, it is not particularly close to any of the other campground amenities-particularly Arrowhead Lake.
• There are good quality electric sites suitable for RVs in the Roe campground which is closer to the beach.
• The Lumbly campground (both the North and South section) does not offer electric hook-up. 
• There are 3 comfort stations complete with showers and flush toilets.  They are centrally located in each campground area.

Activities:

The main hub area for activities at Arrowhead Provincial Park is around Beach 1 on Arrowhead Lake. This is also the Day Use area. Here you will find a rental hut

where you can rent canoes, kayaks and mountain bikes. This area is not directly adjacent to any of the campgrounds and though you can walk, many choose to drive here particularly if ladened with all the paraphernalia needed for a beach day. There is a large parking lot with short paths so you can access the beach.

Biking:

There are 2 mountain bike trails:

• The 4.5 km Arrowhead Lake Trail
• The 3 km Lookout Trail

The camp roads are also ideal for biking.

Hiking:

Hiking trails vary in length and degree of difficulty. A popular trail is the Stubbs Falls Trail. It is an easy 2 km trail culminating at Stubbs Falls where the Little East River rushes down a rock chute.

Swimming:

There are 3 beaches at Arrowhead Provincial Park. All are sandy with a gentle slope. The lake is generally pretty calm. There are no lifeguards posted at the beaches and pets are not permitted.

Fishing:

You can fish in Arrowhead Lake which is good for Smallmouth Bass.  Mayflower Lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout.

An Ontario Fishing Licence is required for everyone over 18 years of age. They do not issue fishing licenses at the park. The closest place to obtain one is at The Canadian Tire store in Huntsville.

Canoeing/Kayaking:

Canoes and kayaks can be rented from the rental hut at Beach 1 for use on Arrowhead Lake. Since motorized boats are not allowed on the lake it makes this a great place for beginners.

There is another route you can paddle to enjoy some of the scenery of the park starting at The Arrowhead Lake bridge. Once in the water, paddle downstream to Stubb’s Falls. At this point, the falls must be navigated around (in other words, you will have to portage around this) before continuing downstream to the Big East River. After taking a right on the Big East River the route finishes up at the Highway 11 Bridge. You return the way you came, back to the Arrowhead Lake bridge where you started- this means you will be traveling against the current and this requires a more concentrated effort. It is a peaceful route and usually pretty lightly travelled.

Things to Know:

1. Motorized boats are not allowed on Arrowhead’s lakes.
2. There is a camp store that has some camp supplies, souvenirs and some basic groceries.
3. You will find all the amenities you may need in nearby Huntsville.
4. There is a dog beach near the North Lumby campground.
5.  When you use the  Arrowhead parking permit you are allowed Day Use entry at Algonquin Park.

IMO:

Arrowhead Provincial Park is an ideal wilderness-type camping destination. I particularly enjoy the provincial parks that have their own lakes that are not shared with cottagers. For me, it makes for a more exclusive and personal overall camping experience. Arrowhead is perfect in this regard. I also like the seclusion of the sites- they are a good size and private.

If you do feel like venturing out, Arrowhead is conveniently located near the town of Huntsville in the popular Muskoka tourist area.  Huntsville is a picturesque town and has all the amenities.

Arrowhead Provincial Park is a great RV Place to Go to enjoy a weekend. I would certainly visit again.