Killbear Provincial Park is located on Georgian Bay 35 km from Parry Sound, Ontario.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l9_Nn17U0w[/embedyt]Killbear Provincial Park is known for its stunning Georgian Bay landscapes, its rugged rocky shoreline and windswept pines.
It is a popular camping destination and boasts over 880 campsites in 7 campground areas.
Site Review:
There are 3 campground areas with electrical sites.
- Harold Point Campground
- Beaver Dams Campground
- Kilcoursie Bay Campground
We stayed on site #582 in Harold Point Campground.
Generally, I found the sites to be level. They are mostly dirt and sand which does make things messy. All sites are treed and afford at least partial shade. I didn’t see any open ones, which is great for privacy.
Given how many sites there are, I found it to be quiet. The campground staff are a presence as they routinely drive through the park.
Killbear Provincial Park has a nice Visitor Centre where you can find some interesting facts about the area.
Activities:
Biking:
It is almost necessary to have a bicycle here. There is a recreation trail that runs parallel to the main campground road. The trail starts at the Killbear entrance sign and ends in the parking lot at the Lighthouse Point Trail. The trail is about 6km long and is suitable for hiking and biking.
You are discouraged from biking on the main campground road as it is narrow. It would be unsafe to be cycling on it especially when the bigger rigs are also travelling on it.
You can access all aspects of Killbear Provincial Park via the Recreation Trail. The trail is not paved. It is packed with dirt and crushed gravel. I travelled it from one end to the other and found it to be in good shape for about the first 5.5 km. The last 0.5 km (near the Lighthouse Point Trail) deteriorates quite severely. It is pretty hilly in this section and the rain washes away the trail at this point.
The interior campground roads are good for cycling as well. You would be wise to take the campground map from the Killbear tabloid (you are issued one at check-in) to avoid getting lost. I was biking around the Blind Bay campground (looking for the boat launch to include in this post actually) and got totally disoriented. The campgrounds are not particularly well-marked. (I never did find the boat launch.)
Hiking:
Here it’s all about the Georgian Bay shoreline. There are trails that meander through hardwood forests and wetland areas. They culminate in a rewarding view of the Georgian Bay landscape.
Lookout Point Trail:
Lighthouse Point Trail:
Swimming:
Each campground area has its own beach. The Harold Point campground has 2 beach areas, however, they are not marked off for swimming.
The large shared beach for the Kilcoursie Bay and Beaver Dams campground is particularly nice and is also part of the Day Use area.
Canoeing/kayaking/boating:
Georgian Bay is good for all kinds of boating. Killbear Provincial Park has 12 km of shoreline and is located in the heart of the 30,000 islands. There are a couple of boat launches within the park at Blind Bay and Lighthouse Point campgrounds.
You can not rent canoes or kayaks or any other watercraft at Killbear Provincial Park.
Interpretive Programs:
There is a team of naturalists ready to answer any questions. It is probably one of the best-run nature programs I have seen at a provincial park. There is a full line-up of interpretive programs to provide visitors with both entertainment and education.
Bobby Orr Museum in nearby Parry Sound:
Killbear Provincial Park is only 35 km from the town of Parry Sound- a great place for a day trip on a rainy day. Being Canadian, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the small museum dedicated to Parry Sound’s most famous son- Bobby Orr! It is located in the Stockey Centre at 2 Bay St. Signs will direct you to it.
Things to Know:
- There is a nature shop at the Visitor Centre that has souvenirs, nature books, etc. It does not sell any grocery-type items. If you require ice or anything you may have forgotten, there is a small general store about a kilometre outside of the park entrance called- Killbear Park Mall. They sell a variety of items including fudge and pizza.
- Killbear Provincial Park is in Black bear country. It is very important to bear-proof your campsite- usually, this means keeping food and coolers secured in your vehicle. If for some reason, you have arrived at Killbear without a vehicle they will provide “Bear Proof” bins to store your food.
- Cell phone reception is sketchy at best within the park. If you need WiFi it is available at the Visitor Centre.
- Rattlesnakes. Killbear Provincial Park is the busiest location in the province that has a significant rattlesnake population. It should be noted that only 4 visitors have EVER been bitten by a Massasauga Rattlesnake and while treatment typically involves a hospital stay, no one has died.
Rattlesnakes tend to be shy and non-aggressive and as a result, would prefer to rattle rather than strike. They prefer beaver ponds (not the beaches) as a hunting ground.
IMO:
Killbear Provincial Park is a large park with a small park feel. Everything is accessible by bike or hike. The sites are of good quality and have decent privacy. I love Georgian Bay and all the water-related activities you can enjoy. I definitely recommend Killbear Provincial Park as an RV place to go!
