Ontario Parks are very popular this season. It was crazy trying to get a reservation. Everybody was booking sites and maybe you had to resort to taking the first place you could. You may have never even heard of the park you just reserved at. But hey you managed to secure a reservation and that’s great! But what now? What is there to do?
Here are some suggestions of things to do at 10 lesser-known Ontario Provincial Parks to help you get the most out of your camping vacation this year.
Ontario Parks
- Mikisew Provincial Park
- White Lake Provincial Park
- Kettle Lake Provincial Park
- Oastler Lake Provincial Park
- Ferris Provincial Park
- Rock Point Provincial Park
- Six Mile Lake Provincial Park
- Voyageur Provincial Park
- Awenda Provincial Park
- Earl Rowe Provincial Park
Mikisew Provincial Park
1. A bike ride to Eagle Lake Narrows Country Store to get an ice cream cone: The route is 2 km each way and follows a local road used almost exclusively by the cottagers who live there. It’s pretty level so easy to manage and easily accessible from the trail near the beach.
2. Take a hike through the forest, by the lake, or around a beaver pond: Lots of areas to explore. (Over 5 km of trails none are very difficult and all are family-friendly.)
3. Try playing Disc Golf: Disc golf is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target. The rules are similar to golf. The 18- basket course is located directly across from the entrance sign into the park. Ask at the gatehouse to borrow discs and give it a try.
4. Go for a paddle on Eagle Lake: Bring your own kayak/canoe/ SUP board and launch from one of the 3 beaches or the boat launch. Or you can rent a SUP board from the gatehouse. Canoes and kayaks can be rented from Eagle Lake Narrows Country Store. Eagle Lake is a nice-sized lake with lots of coves and small bays and little islands to explore and paddle around.
5. Hang out with your dog at the pet park: By far one of the nicest pet-friendly areas I have encountered at an Ontario Park. It’s a big fenced-in area for your pooch to wander around freely off-leash and to cool off at their own beach
White Lake Provincial Park
1. Rent a motorboat and explore the lake: White Lake is nearly 20km long and motorboats are an ideal way to explore it. WLPP is one of the few Ontario Parks where you can rent a motorboat directly. Rentals are on a first come first serve basis and info can be obtained from the gatehouse.
2. Beach day: The beach in the Day Use area is sandy with a gradual slope and the water is clean and clear. There are picnic tables and a well-appointed playground. A great place to spend a summer day.
3. Go fishing: White Lake offers good fishing opportunities. The main species that attract anglers are Walleye, Northern Pike, Lake Whitefish, and Yellow Perch. You can bring your own boat, rent a canoe, or fish from the dock. There is a well-maintained fish cleaning hut that is free to use.
4. Fitness hike: Hiking is a good way to maintain a healthy fitness level and at White Lake, there is a trail that allows you to kick things up a notch. Located along the Fitness Trail there are permanent structures (along with instructions) at various stations that you use to incorporate a workout into your forest walk.
5. Winnie the Pooh stories around the campfire: About 30 minutes from WLPP is the town of White River Ontario. Here a soldier on his way overseas during WW1 purchased an orphaned bear cub and took it with him to be the regiment’s mascot. He named the bear Winnie. The bear eventually made it to the London Zoo and became a favourite of A. A Milne’s son Christopher Robin. A. A Milne would later write the Winnie the Pooh children’s books. Around the campfire with family is a great time to share some stories from the Hundred Acre Wood.
Kettle Lakes Provincial Park
1. Learn how to stand-up paddleboard: There are 22 kettle lakes. All are calm and the perfect place to learn how to stand-up paddle. SUP boards are available to rent from the gatehouse. Give it a try. It’s a low-impact workout and a great stress reliever.
2. Bike the trails: Kettle Lakes has 14 kms of biking trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. The trails wind through the forest and connect to lakes. You can also bike on several kms of camp roads. Get too hot? There is always a lake nearby perfect for a dip to cool off.
3. Ride the rails on the Polar Bear Express Train: Use Kettle Lakes as a base and do a day trip on the Polar Bear Express Train. The train has been touted as one of the few great rail excursions still running. Before going, remember if done as a one-day round trip, it is over a 12-hour journey (including the layover in Moosonee). Bring some food with you as there are not many options for eating in Moosenee. There really isn’t a better way to see the rugged Ontario wilderness.
4. Learn all about the bears at the Canadian Polar Bear Habitat: The drive to the town of Cochrane is about an hour from Kettle Lakes where you can check out the Canadian Polar Bear Habitat. The non-profit habitat is currently home to five polar bears who live on twenty-four acres that closely resemble their natural environment. The habitat plays an important role in conservation in the face of changing wild environments and climate change.
5. Launch a canoe at night and stargaze: Enjoy an after-dark float on a kettle lake and watch the stars reveal themselves. The quiet pulls you in and it’s easy to get lost in the stars. It is a form of mindful meditation and a chance to connect with nature. Take a deep breath and muse about all things astral.
Oastler Lake Provincial Park
1. Hike or Bike the nearby Seguin Trail: The Park to Park Trail is a series of interconnected multi-use trails that span over 200 km and connect Killbear Provincial Park with Algonquin Provincial Park. You can easily access the Seguin portion of this trail a few hundred metres from the entrance to Oastler at James Bay Junction Road.
2. Head into Parry Sound and check out a hockey legend: Parry Sound Ontario is Bobby Orr’s hometown. If you are interested in seeing the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame complete with memorabilia and interactive displays, it is only about 5 km from Oastler Lake. You could bike to it if you didn’t want to take the car.
3. Day trip on the Island Queen: From Parry Sound, you can book a tour of Georgian Bay’s 30 000 Islands onboard the 550 passenger Island Queen. The modern 132’ cruise ship was designed with easy maneuverability to meander into remote waterways and get up close to the natural beauty of the islands. You can book 2 or 3-hour tours.
4. Learn to make Banana Boats on the campfire: Bored of plain ole S’mores- then try something new over the campfire. There are lots of tasty options to try. Banana Boats are simply bananas with the peel still on cut lengthwise and filled with your favourite S’more ingredients, wrapped in aluminum foil and roasted on a campfire for 5-10 minutes. You could make S’more campfire cones, brownies in an orange peel, grilled apple crunch…
5. Use your camping permit for free entry into Killbear Provincial Park: Killbear Provincial Park is slightly more than a 30-minute drive from Oastler Lake. Both are part of the Ontario Parks system. Killbear is a larger park and has some more amenities than Oastler that you can enjoy as a Day Use visitor. There are several beach areas and a Discovery Centre, as well as some nice hiking trails along the rocky Georgian Bay shoreline. A nice option allowing you to enjoy the area fully. Your Oastler Lake camping permit allows you free entry into Killbear.
Ferris Provincial Park
1. Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge: The 300-foot-long bridge is just south of the falls in Ferris Provincial Park. The sides of the bridge are high but there is a little bounce when you walk and you can see through the grate to the water 30 feet below. The views are picturesque. It’s a great place for the perfect insta pic.
2. A walk into Campbellford to try the donuts everybody has been talking about: Doohers Bakery has been around since 1949. They make 17 varieties of donuts including Cream Filled and Chocolate Dip. On Saturdays, they make over 5000 donuts. It’s only about a 2 km walk from the suspension bridge but you better get there early they are usually sold out by noon.
3. Hike a portion of The Great Trail: The Trans Canada Trail, renamed The Great Trail, is a 27,000 km recreational trail that runs across Canada. It is the world’s longest network of multi-use trails. Ontario boasts the longest section of The Great Trail, at over 5,200 kilometres and a portion crosses through Ferris Provincial Park. Put those hiking boots on and go for a walk.
4. Watch the boats navigate the locks on the Trent Severn Waterway: Locks #11 and #12 of the Trent Severn Waterway are a short walk from the suspension bridge. The 386 km Waterway is Canada’s renowned inland passageway used by recreational boaters, including canoeists and kayakers, that connects Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. There are 45 lock stations along this route. Spend some time enjoying watching them in action.
5. A day trip to Petroglyphs Provincial Park: About an hours drive away is Petroglyphs Provincial Park where you will find the largest known concentration of Indigenous rock carvings (petroglyphs) in Canada, depicting turtles, snakes, birds, humans and more; this sacred site is known as “The Teaching Rocks”. There is a Visitors Centre offering programs and information about the site. Your Ontario Parks camping pass from Ferris will allow you free admission.
Rock Point Provincial Park
1. Fossil hunting: Budding paleontologists will love searching for exposed fossils in the 350 million-year-old coral reef embedded in a limestone shelf on the point at the end of the beach. The fossils are easy to discover and are a window to an ancient time.
2. Wave jumping at the beach: You can enjoy a one-kilometre natural sand/pebble beach along Lake Erie. The lake can be as calm as a swimming pool sometimes but it is more known for its choppy water quality because of the high prevailing winds it can get. The result is you get a body of water with wave action that feels more like an ocean than a lake. Wave jumping is fun and as a bonus, it uses all the major muscle groups of your lower body- so it’s a workout too. The slope is gradual but do be mindful of the undertow on windy days.
3. Try and spot an American Yellow Warbler: Or any other bird for that matter. Rock Point Provincial Park is a great place for birding. Over 260 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Common sights include the Barn Swallow, the Oriole, the Northern Cardinal, Gulls, Plovers… grab your binoculars and see what you can find.
4. Day trip to Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls is less than an hour’s drive from Rock Point. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Ontario. Lots of sights to see including the Falls but also mini-putt, go-karts, Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum, the Whirlpool Aerocar and so much more. If you haven’t been to Niagara Falls before you should check it out
5. A game of flashlight tag: Flashlight tag is one of the best-known flashlight games. Think tag and hide-and-seek in the dark. Flashlight tag’s rules vary, but the basic premise is one person is “it” and tries to spot his or her friends hiding in the dark by using the flashlight. The Day Use area is big with lots of trees and structures for hiding.
Six Mile Lake Provincial Park
1. Rent a pedal boat: Is it pedal boat or paddle boat? Properly a pedal boat is a boat powered by pedals and a paddle boat is a boat powered by paddles. Whatever you call it rent one for some fun around the lake.
2. Learn to fish: A free, hands-on program that teaches new anglers how to fish in Ontario. This fun and engaging two-hour program combines a practical teaching session with an hour of supervised hands-on fishing. Ask at the gatehouse for more information.
3. The Big Chute Marine Railway at Lock #44: The Big Chute Marine Railway is located about 10 km from the park in Honey Harbour. It is the only one of its kind in North America. It is fun to watch the boats transported up the hill. You can rent canoes and kayaks nearby at the Big Chute Marina if you want to experience the lift first hand.
4. Let your inner artist free: Six Mile Lake has long been the subject of artists. The most famous artist to paint images here is David B. Milne whose work you can find in the National Gallery of Canada. A walk along the David Milne trail in the park just might be the inspiration you need to give painting a try.
5. A different kind of wine tour: The Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery is a short 30-minute drive away and well worth a visit. It is primarily a cranberry farm (one of only 2 in Ontario) but with a twist, there are activities for all seasons for the whole family. Oh, and they make some delicious wine.
Voyageur Provincial Park
1. Take a hike and search for butterflies: Who has not been enchanted by butterflies? The Coureur des Bois Trail is a 1.5km loop that winds through several habitats. It’s easy to spot a variety of interesting butterflies, dragonflies and moths. A walk through a meadow helps develop a stronger connection to the natural world.
2. Family bike riding to the different beaches in the park: There are 4 beaches at Voyageur Provincial Park. The park is nicely spaced apart and though there are no dedicated biking trails you can bike on the camp roads. The terrain is flat and the beaches are sandy with roped-off sections for swimming. The Day Use area beach has a snack bar in case you work up an appetite for an ice cream treat.
3. Kayaking on the Ottawa River: Since Voyageur is located on the reservoir of the Carillon Dam, the Ottawa River portion of the park is wide and more lake-like in nature. With no rapids or whitewater, kayaking can be a safe and somewhat leisurely activity. The park has many small bays and inlets where visitors can explore and view wildlife. Kayaks can be rented at Second beach at the boat rental facility.
4. Day Trip to Ottawa or Montreal: Take a day and spend it at one of Canada’s most beautiful cities. Ottawa is the nation’s capital and you can enjoy sights that include Parliament Hill, the Royal Canadian Mint and the Byward Market. Or you can take a trip to Montreal and tour Old Montreal, appreciate the beauty of St Joseph’s Oratory, or find yourself a spot to enjoy a Montreal Bagel, poutine, or a smoked meat sandwich- all would be delicious in Montreal.
5. Get Crafty: I found a great link where you can make your own mosquito repelling bug bracelet Prepack the list of materials and make these bracelets in the afternoon and enjoy the benefits of repelling the mozzies when they come out at dusk.
Awenda Provincial Park
1. Craft the perfect campfire story: Stories around the campfire are an age-old tradition dating back to prehistoric times. Over the ages, the campfire story has evolved and many now take on a spooky theme. With my kids, we used to each come up with characters or individual elements we wanted to include and then somehow spin these details into a tale to share around the fire. I mean who can forget the girl in the cowboy boots and her guinea pig as they battled the hairy spider with the help of the giant moth with magical icing sugar dust on its wings? You can try some of the suggestions found here to get you started.
2. A trip into Penetanguishene for a boat cruise and Dock Lunch: The town of Penetanguishene Ontario is about 10km from the park entrance. A visit to the town dock is a nice way to spend some time. There is a large parking lot from which you can access tourist info, book a cruise on Georgian Bay or enjoy lunch at World Famous Dock Lunch while watching the boats come and go.
3. St. Marie Among the Hurons/Martyrs Shrine: If you’d like a little history side trip to go with your camping experience – about 20 km from the park is the town of Midland. Here you will find the recreated village of Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons. The village was originally established in 1639 by French Jesuits. Visitors get a unique opportunity to see the earliest Canadian pioneer life through displays and re-enactments in this living museum. Across the road is the Martyrs Shrine. It is one of only 9 national shrines in Canada. The Shrine honours the eight Jesuit Saints who lived, worked, and died here over 350 years ago, celebrating the significant contributions they made introducing Christianity into the aboriginal culture as well as the founding of the Province of Ontario.
4. Bike the trails: Awenda and the surrounding area on beautiful Georgian Bay beg to be explored and what better way than on your bike? The area is flat for the most part (albeit with some challenging areas) There are a variety of trails to check out that detail the difficulty level and outline the sights to see.
5. Gorgeous Georgian Bay Sunsets: Almost all people find sunsets beautiful; most find them calming as well. Whether it is the dancing light, the rich hue of colours, the hint of rest, or the promise of a new day: whatever it is that draws you to nature’s artistic display the shore of Georgian Bay at Awenda is a beautiful place to pause, appreciate and enjoy.
Earl Rowe Provincial Park
1. Swim at the manmade pond: Earl Rowe is one of the few Ontario Parks to have a swimming pool area with lifeguards. The swimming area is more than an acre in size and is fenced in. There is a small fee for usage. It is a nice change from lake swimming though that is always an option too- there are 2 beaches to enjoy.
2. Explore nearby Alliston: The town of Alliston is less than 5 km from the park entrance. The population is about 20,000 and the town has all the amenities including grocery, liquor store, gas stations and even a nice little Farmer’s Market that you can peruse on Saturdays between 8 am and 2 pm.
3. Bike it: There are bike-friendly trails throughout the park in addition to the camp roads you can bike on. Heck, the town of Alliston is so close you can easily bike there and check it out.
4. A nature scavenger hunt: Print off this pre-made card before you arrive at the park or make your own. You can make it a competition to see who finds their items quickest or it can be incorporated into a family nature walk along one of 6 named trails within the park.
5. Up your sandcastle-making game: There are 2 large beaches at Earl Rowe that are sandy and groomed daily. The beaches tend to be lightly used due to the manmade swimming pool option nearby. Lots of room to build that really good multi-level palace of all castles or whatever other sand art inspires you. A few tips for building the perfect sand structure and you are on your way.
Whatever you decide to do at the Ontario Park you have been able to reserve at here’s hoping you have a great time!
