Ferris Provincial Park is located near Campbellford, Ontario, about 2 hours east of Toronto.

There are 2 campground areas:

• Bedrock campground 
• Valleyview campground.

There are 163 campsites and approximately 39 sites have electrical hook-up. We stayed on site #70 in the Bedrock campground.

Site Review:

Site #70 is a large site and fairly level.

The privacy of the sites at Ferris Provincial Park is generally very good and the distance between most sites is excellent. Some sites are open while others are treed and shady. They are some of the biggest sites that I have ever seen at a provincial park. Consult the Ontario Parks website to get specific details about sites. I have found that the information provided there to be fairly accurate.

There really isn’t any site that is better than any of the others. The sites in the Bedrock campground are closer to the Trent River, but there are no sites that directly access (or even view) the river.

There are multiple comfort stations and vault toilets throughout Ferris Provincial Park, but the only showers in the park are located at the comfort station in the Valleyview campground.

The dump station and potable water are located close to the gatehouse

Activities:

It’s all about the Trent River here when it comes to activities.

Hiking:

1. The Trans Canada Trail travels right through the centre of the park.
2. The Drumlin Trail System allows biking on the outer loop.
3. The River Gorge Trail System meanders along the Trent River and goes all the way to Ranney Falls.

An interesting feature at Ferris Provincial Park is the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge which spans the Trent River.

It connects Ferris Provincial Park with Locks #11 and #12 of the Trent Severn Waterway. 

The Waterway is primarily used for pleasure craft and is one of Ontario’s major tourist attractions. Its passage through cottage country (both Muskoka in the west and the Kawarthas in the east) makes it perfectly positioned as a cruising route. It draws thousands of visitors every year and it is interesting to watch a boat go through the locks from the canal.

Boating:

Boating is definitely a popular activity at Ferris. There is a boat launch in the park.

Kayaking:

You can rent kayaks for $20 for a half day and $40 for a full day.  A refundable deposit of $30 is required. You pick up the paddle, life jackets and the keys to unlock the kayaks, from the main gate. The kayaks are stored at the boat launch (the keys allow you to access them).

Other activities include:

• a playground
• a volleyball net
• horseshoes (equipment is available at the main gate)
• There is a tackle share program where you can borrow fishing gear. Worms are available for sale. An Ontario Fishing Licence is required and cannot be purchased at the park. You must go into Campbellford if you have not pre-purchased one.
• a variety of ranger-led interpretive programs.
• guided hikes- information for these is usually posted on the boards at the comfort stations.

In addition to the Ferris Provincial Park activities, the park is located very close to the town of Campbellford. I rode my bike into town and it was only about 4 km. Campbellford is a picturesque little town on the Trent Canal.

It is also home to the Giant Canadian Two-Dollar Coin (aka the Giant Toonie)

There are no swimming facilities at Ferris. They advise against swimming in the river due to the dangerously strong and unpredictable currents caused when the water is released from an upstream dam (it can increase flow rates in seconds). There is a swimming pool and a wading pool located in Campbellford. It is easily accessed and is a short drive from the park. It is located at the corner of Bridge and Ranney Streets. Visitors are welcome to use it for a small fee.

Things to know:

1. The campground roads are a mix of pavement and dirt- they are not in the best shape, but there are no real problem areas that I saw. They do afford good big rig access.

2. Ferris Provincial Park has some extremely big sites.

3. Wood for purchase is available at the gatehouse.

IMO:

Ferris Provincial Park is not overly busy. We visited on a weekend in August and I would estimate that at least half of the sites were empty. I don’t know why that is, especially given its proximity to Toronto. I really expected it to be busier. Maybe it’s because they don’t have onsite swimming- but that doesn’t really explain it. It is close to Presquile Provincial Park ( about 40 km away) and that park is always busy.

Regardless, it is a lightly used park and that for me is part of its charm. The park ended up being larger than I had anticipated. I had read a review that had touted that Ferris’s proximity to Campbellford meant…”that you didn’t even have to use your car to get groceries…” and while I agree that Campbellford is extremely close and I found it to be an easy bike ride- I wouldn’t want to be trekking on foot into town to get groceries. That would still be at least a 45-minute walk each way.

I would definitely stay at Ferris Provincial Park again. It’s perfect for a weekend stay. It is a quiet, relaxed park with large sites that afford a level of privacy I have rarely seen even in a provincial park setting. Definitely, an RV Place to Go.