McRae Point Provincial Park

McRae Point Provincial Park is located near the city of Orillia on Lake Simcoe in Ontario.McRae Point was established as a provincial park in the Ontario parks system in 1971. It is a relatively small park with about 200 sites, the majority of which have electric hook-up.

Site Review:

There are 2 campground loops:

• North Campground
• South Campground

North Campground

All of the sites in North campground have electric service. They are large pull-thru sites that can accommodate extra-large trailers and motorhomes.

The trees are spaced apart and provide some nice shade but give the campground the feel of a city park.

I have camped at McRae Point twice and both times I have observed several large family groups occupying multiple sites adjacent to one another. People who camp this way typically have their vehicles parked on a couple of the sites, the tents and pop-up trailers occupy a couple more and then the picnic tables are lined up and numerous chairs are around the campfire ring on another.

North Campground is perfectly suited to this type of camping because of the openness and lack of barriers between sites. The first time we camped here we did so with friends and this was a great setup to share a campfire, dining tent, etc. However, this is noisy camping. You are either doing it and don’t mind- or you are not and you hate it. 

If your desire is something more secluded and peaceful then South campground might be the better place to reserve a site.

South Campground:

South Campground has both electrical and non-electric campsites. There is more privacy between the sites though most of the sites are still pretty open without much in the way of shade.

Some sites are very uneven with considerable pad slope. I would suggest consulting the Ontario Parks website for site descriptions prior to reserving a site. I have found their descriptions to be pretty accurate.

There are no waterfront sites in either of the campgrounds. 

The beach/ Day Use area is easier to access from North campground.

Comfort Stations:

There are comfort stations in both campground areas with flush toilets. To access the hot showers you would have to use the comfort station in North campground as the South campground comfort station has toilet facilities only.

There are only 4 showers for the entire park to use this sometimes causes lineups during peak times.

Activities:

Swimming:

McRae Point is located on the shore of Lake Simcoe. There is a large roped-off area for swimming. The beach is sandy though I have read reviews that recommend wearing water shoes because when you enter the water it is rocky with stones and pebbles. Once you are a bit further in it returns back to a sandy bottom.

The beach itself is narrow. Adjacent to the beach is a large Day Use picnic area. It is easy to set up for a beach day. There are lots of trees for shade. A comfort station and a playground are nearby.

Boating:

There is a boat launch within the park. There are also a couple of small docks to temporarily moor your boat during your stay.

Fishing:

Lake Simcoe offers great fishing opportunities. You will require an Ontario Fishing Licence. This needs to be obtained prior to your visit. Ontario Parks does not issue fishing licences.

Hiking:

There is only one trail for hiking at McRae Point Provincial Park. The  Waters Edge Trail meanders around the park through a hardwood swamp as well as incorporates some picturesque spots to view Lake Simcoe.

Biking:

There are no dedicated trails for cycling at McRae Point. You can bike on the campground roads.

The roads around the park are lightly travelled and flat for road biking.

If biking is an activity that you take seriously then you might be interested to note that the Simcoe Loop Trails can be accessed fairly easily from McRae Point. 

At the Narrows Bridge in Atherly (at the plaza where the Wild Wing and the Subway are) about 10km from the park entrance, you can connect to a multi-use trail system starting with the Orillia Millennium Trail. This is an easy trail that will take you into downtown Orillia. From there you can connect to the Uhthoff Trail and then the Tay Shore Trail which will take you all the way to the town of Midland on Georgian Bay (that would be a long bike ride haha!). The trails are flat and easily connect to each other.

Canoeing/Kayaking:

Lake Simcoe is a pretty big lake and is better suited to motorized boats. You can, however, kayak and canoe if you bring your own equipment as the park does not rent any. There are some nice bays and coves that are calmer near McRae Point that could be fun to explore. 

There is a  small dock providing water access for small boats near site 115 in North campground.

Nearby City of Orillia:

Orillia is situated on Lake Couchiching, which is accessible from Lake Simcoe via The Narrows. There are lakefront activities, restaurants, small museums and shops to enjoy. 

Casino Rama:

About 15 km from McRae Point is Casino Rama. Casino Rama is a large casino, hotel, and entertainment complex located in the town of Rama, Ontario.

Things to Know:

1. There is a dog beach near the boat ramp.
2. There is no on-site store for forgotten items.
3. Wood and ice can be purchased at the front gatehouse.
4. I had read a lot of reviews complaining about the amount of goose poop in the Day Use Area. There are geese and they poop so watch your step.

IMO:

If your site is in North campground you will either like the fact that you can see everybody, or you will hate the lack of privacy and the overall noise of being out in the open. South campground is better in terms of privacy.

And while North campground is a good campground for camping with groups of friends, you should note that the park staff does enforce noise violations which depending on the infraction could result in fines or even eviction.

McRae Point Provincial Park usually has sites available for last-minute camping though reservations are still advised.

If you are interested in the Orillia area there are two more provincial parks within 20 km of McRae Point: Mara Provincial Park and Bass Lake Provincial Park.

McRae Point Provincial Park is ok. The beach is fine. The hiking trail is easy. But unless you bring your own additional equipment like a boat, jet ski, kayak, bicycle etc.  or venture out and go to Orillia, it is not much more than a place to park for a basic camping experience and I would probably not reccommend it as an RV Place to Go.