Now that we have officially entered summertime, it is time to start thinking about outdoor recreation, especially for those who enjoy camping. This is because this year Ontario
Parks has reduced the maximum time you can stay in a campground or trailer in order to allow more people to enjoy Ontario's beautiful nature.
SUMMER, FAR AND NEAR
Accordingly, the number of requests for reservations for campsites has increased, and, according to those in the know, by the end of March 50 percent of them will already be taken. And although it seems a bit early to worry about this a few months before the season, it will help to avoid disappointment in the future.
Among the most popular are five parks that are especially popular.
The cost of visiting them is on the website: www.ontarioparks.com, depending on the category and the length of stay.
Bon Echo Provincial Park
Bon Echo Provincial Park is located near the town of Cloyn, one of the smallest in Ontario in terms of area, but it has it all: lakes and hiking trails, beautiful sandy beaches and one of Canada's landmarks, Mazinaw Rock, 1.5 km long and 100 m high, on which 260 ancient pictographs made by the indigenous people of these areas have been preserved. The lake is accessible by boat, canoe and boat, and fishing is permitted.
Advance camping reservations are required, online:
www.ontarioparks.com/reservations or call 1-888-668-7275
Information:
www.ontarioparks.com/park/bonecho and call 613-336-2228.
Address: 16151 ON, Hwy 41, Cloyne.
Hours: Year-round, daily,
7:00 am - 9:00 pm.
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park, with its hills, forests and swamps, rivers and thousands of lakes, large and small, traditionally breaks all attendance records.
Fishermen from all over the world come here specifically to catch trout, which are found in abundance in the reservoirs.
At any time of year, you can find an activity in the park: in winter - skis and snowshoes, in summer and fall - hiking, canoeing and just the opportunity to admire nature.
There are a lot of people who want to visit the park, so a camping site must be reserved in advance online, on the website www.ontarioparks.com/reservations, or by phone 1-888-668-7275. Additional vehicle permits, firewood, and ice can be purchased on site.
Please note that there are 14 campsites in the park. Therefore, it is recommended to call ahead for their opening hours.
Information:
www.ontarioparks.com/park/algonquin or 705-633-5572.
Address: Ontario 60, ON.
Time: May 12 through October 22, daily.
Sandbanks Provincial Park
At the mouth of the bay, on the shores of the freshwater Lake Ontario, is Sandbanks Provincial Park, which is especially attractive to sunbathers on the sand.
Within the boundaries of this reserve northeast of Trenton are the world's largest sand dunes and three huge beaches, which are constantly filled with people during the season.
There is also a separate small Outlet Beach - a beach for family recreation, gently sloping down to the flat bottom of the lake.
Restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities are available at the campgrounds, as well as picnic areas and a shop under the Visitor Center roof.
Camping must be reserved in advance, online at www.ontarioparks.com/reservations, or by phone at 1-888-668-7275.
Information:
www.ontarioparks.com/park/sandbanks and by phone at 613-393-3319.
Address: 3004 County Rd. 12 RR#1, Picton.
Times: Daily, April 28 to October 31.
8:00 am - 10:00 pm.
Killbear Provincial Park
Killbear Provincial Park, near the town of Nobel, is often called the crown jewel of Ontario's northern country, thanks to its picturesque nature.
Georgian Bay's rocky shores, sandy beaches, dense forests and stunning sunsets, slowly sinking into the waters of the bay, leave an indelible impression.
The park is crossed by 6 km of hiking and cycling paths, there are excellent places for swimming and even windsurfing, and the most daring can test themselves by jumping into the water from the cliffs.
Reservations are required for campsites, online at
www.ontarioparks.com/reservations
or call 1-888-668-7275.
Information at
www.ontarioparks.com/park/killbear or call 705-342-5492.
Address: 35 Eddie Ramsay Parkway, Nobel.
Times: Daily, May 12 - November 6,
8:00 am - 10:00 pm.
Pinery Provincial Park
Famous for its spectacular sunsets, Pinery Provincial Park has been named one of the 10 best in the world by National Geographic magazine for them.
On the shores of Lake Huron, this park is well-known for water sports enthusiasts for its Old Ausable Channel, which offers excellent canoeing, paddle boating, and kayaking.
There is also a 14-kilometre bike trail, 10 hiking trails. This is a stunningly beautiful park with a 10-kilometre sandy beach. Its ecosystem is incredibly diverse. There are hundreds of species of plants and birds in the park. The rolling dunes and forests, covering an area of 21 square kilometres, are an unforgettable sight.
Camping must be reserved in advance, online:
www.ontarioparks.com/reservations or by phone at 1-888-668-7275.
Information:
www.ontarioparks.com/park/pinery and by phone at 519-243-2220.
Address: 9526 Lakeshore Road RR2, Grand Bend.
Times: Daily, until December 31, 8:00 am - 10:00 pm.