It's a beautiful day to spend at Awenda Provincial Park!…read more We walked while others were biking the trails enjoying the outdoors while not having to wear a mask but social distancing when encountering others. Remember to pay and display your park use permit on your vehicle dash; strictly enforced or you can pay a $30 parking ticket. The machine accepts cash or credit card. It was a $15.50 charge for day use since the machine didn't allow an hourly selection. Gorgeous and tranquil nature along the shores of Georgian Bay.

I pulled a 'walk in' at Awenda park last weekend (July 1st long weekend). Have never been to Awenda…read morebefore, but read stellar reviews so my friends and I thought we'd give it a try. I knew we could only get walk in, but I didn't realize that if they have sites available, you can only have it for one night. They keep approx 60 sites each night for walk ins. Since we wanted to stay for two nights, we had to put our name on a 'roll call' list for the 2nd night. We also had to be at the office for 1pm SHARP and if our name was called, we got a 2nd night. I don't understand how, if they have 60 sites on Friday, they don't have 60 sites on Sat, since you can only stay for one night without getting on the list. But the next day they only had 5 sites available. Luckily we got there early enough and we got 2nd on the list, and got a site across the road (still in Turtle). A short move. The park itself is huge. There are 5 campgrounds in the park I believe. We chose Turtle. There are also 4 beaches, one dedicated to the fury friends. YOU WILL NEED TO DRIVE TO ALL THE BEACHES. If you try and walk, be ready for 45 minor 1.5 hr walk. They are not close. If you have bikes, the ride is nice, but also a bit far... and there's a steep hill on the way to the beaches so be ready to walk or I hope you're cardio is good :) I can only speak for Turtle... it was lovely, sites spaced far apart and heavily shielded above from the sun. Large, tall hardwood trees cover the park. There is warning of lots of poison ivy. Even though they have a plant at the office, I still couldn't spot it in the forest. Thankfully I didn't run into any. Bathrooms were relatively clean, till of course the next morning when there's flies and moths flying about. They close the bathrooms from 11:50-12:10 daily to clean them. The beaches are ROCKY. VERY VERY ROCKY. On beach 1 there is a sandy part on the FAR left (when looking at the water) that has been cleaned up a bit so you can walk on the sand. Otherwise, if you try to walk out in the middle, you will be stepping on rocks and it friggin hurts. Ladies: do not get a pedicure before you go to the beach. You'll be severly p-o'd if you did. I never do, but just a word of advice. I would definitely go back, try the other campgrounds. I hear there are some nice trails for hiking... the road to the beach is a hike itself.. It's nice and only 2hrs from Toronto. Great getaway!

This place is so awesome. It's a one-of-a-kind contraption, a boat lock of sorts, but it's a…read morespecialized rail car that takes boats up over the Big Chute waterfall. At the time we visited, the visitor's center was closed, but next year I really want to visit when it's open. There's an observation deck there to watch the boats being hauled up and down. There's also some nice parkette areas to have a picnic at, and some walkways to view the Big Chute and the lakes. A must see if you're anywhere nearby!

This is a review for day-use only, as the park is actually closed for camping during this time of…read morethe year. There are a couple of day-use lots on the outside of the actual park for locals to use, I don't believe you can drive into the park proper to use it for day use. At the time we visited, Orillia was close to peak color, so it was a fantastic time. It was a nice day for a hike, and there were quite a few other people using the park as well -- there's a little beach area in the day use part as well as a playground and places for taking your dog on leash. We went and followed the trails in the park, there seems to be a few that can be used, one in the treeline and one along the lake. You can make a decent little loop of a couple of kilometers. There's nothing incredibly challenging about this little hike, to be honest, but the tree colors make for some gorgeous photos. I'll definitely want to come back and visit here and go camping during the season. A really lovely provincial park!

Really clean easy access to the campsite, Quite as I was…read moreworking not on Holliday it was great.lots of fish and great trail's

I was worried when I booked two sites at Six Mile Lake because they were described on the Ontario…read moreParks website as "adjacent to wetlands" (a.k.a. swamp: that means bugs). However, in August, the bugs were not a big problem at all, despite the swampy conditions. We had two adjoining sites, which meant that we could colonize a little area and, with strategic placement of vehicles and tents, create a nice private alcove. The swamp was quite fascinating, actually, and we enjoyed watching the behaviour of a heron who was a regular visitor to the swamp. The scenery in the Maple, Oak and Poplar Campgrounds was spectacular. Many of the sites are very picturesque, with beautiful rock formations and spectacular views, but can pose challenges when you are choosing a spot to pitch your tent or park your trailer. Case in point: Site 83. It is the most scenic, romantic site ever. Imagine visiting with the partner of your dreams, and declaring your love on top of a granite stage, overlooking a majestic Muskoka vista, the likes of which inspired the Group of Seven. Then, you walk down the nature-made granite steps to your cosy tent, sheltered by the granite shelf where your fire pit is perched. Your tent would have to be rather small, of course, to fit comfortably on your site. However, because you are in the Poplar Campground, you have an actual flush toilet to use close by. Oak and Poplar have flush toilets. Maple, which has even larger sites, only has the vault (non-flush) toilets. However, the staff maintains them well so that they are not too horrible. People seeking electricity can find sites in the other Campgrounds at Six Mile Lake, but they lack the sheer beauty and natural experience of the non-electric sites. My recommendations are: 1. Go off the grid and book a non-electric site 2. Pay close attention to the description of the site on the Ontario Park website. Pay close attention to the size and ground slope when you book 3. If you hate vault toilets, don't choose Maple: If you love nature, then choose Maple. Oh, and Internet Service is good throughout the park. This is a beautiful park, and very well maintained. The dog beach is really big and nice if you are bringing your canine companions. My dogs, Mykyta and Kyra , had a wonderful time. You can also rent canoes, paddle-boats and take lessons to learn to fish. The helpful camp store will give you free dog bags and garbage bags. If you need to stock up on supplies, Midland is a 25 minute drive away and has everything, but I recommend the scenic drive to Honey Harbour, to visit the Honey Harbour Towne Centre General Store, which has most things that you would likely need. In short, if you like camping, scenic Canadian Shield experiences and if you are taking your dog, then Six Mile Lake will not disappoint you!

We recently visited Arrowhead Provincial Park for their Fire and Ice skating nights. What an…read moreamazing experience! The skating trail is a 1.3km loop that goes throughout the forest and is lit at night with tiki torches on both the trail and the paths between the trail and parking. Beautiful surroundings, fire pits to stay warm, storage area for your belongings while you skate. Very family and community friendly. Both bathrooms and change rooms are available, along with skate rentals if needed. You do need to book in advance. Highly recommended!

Arrowhead Provincial Park is a nice medium-sized park with a few hiking trails and a great place to…read morecome see the Fall colors. Entrance into the park is easy to find, but entry is a bit slow because not everyone reserved a day pass and had to turn around. So don't forget to make a reservation ahead of time. Once you're in the park, drive to the visitor's center to get a printout of your day pass. I'm not sure why we're asked to print out the day pass only to also get another copy. The visitor's center is a good place to start as it's close to most place you'll want to see. Within a short distance walk is the Big Bend lookout. There's a small parking lot there, but it was a little flooded and park employees weren't allowing cars through. There isn't any hiking in this area, so snap that photo of the iconic landmark and go on your merry way. The lookout is fairly small and crowded with maskless visitors. On the other side is Stubb's Falls, which is an easy 2.6km loop trail. It's 1.6km to the falls on the side closest to the vistor's center, and 1km on the other side. The 1.6km trail is fairly dry, but the 1km side is very muddy, so make sure to bring waterproof hiking shoes. The falls themselves are very touristy and the majority of people who visit don't wear masks or keep their masks wrapped around their wrists. After the falls, you can head straight across to view a bridge and Arrowhead Lake. The beaches are pretty nice, but there are lots of mosquitoes here, so make sure to pack some repellant. I tried to park in this area to hike parts of the Arrowhead Lake Trail, but was turned away because parking was full. Overall, Arrowhead is a decent park, but there isn't too much to do or see here.

Great park, especially if you have kids. Can get really crowded on summer weekends. The parking is…read morelimited and quite expensive, but don't park on the street, my friend got a $100 ticket after he left his car there for 5 min to unload some water toys.

I have a beach house here and it's so so beautiful!!! The sunsets never fail to amaze me and the…read morewater is so clear in the summer! Don't miss it!

Bracebridge Falls Walk is an absolute delight for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a tranquil…read moreescape. The picturesque views of the falls are simply breathtaking and create a serene atmosphere. The well-maintained walking trail allows for a leisurely stroll, surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of rushing water. The historical charm of the town adds an extra layer of charm to the experience. There is plenty of free parking spaces all around.

Nicely set up like a park with paved walkways, stairs and even art installations…read more Great to come with families as it is really easy to navigate. Falls is smallish so don't expect too much. Close to Bracebridge Downtown area so great to come for a walk after exploring the surrounding business.

I'm not going to pretend that I am an expert at anything camping. This was a nice Saturday drive,…read moreright up to our reserved spot at Killbear, complete with a designated firepit and list of infractions to keep the place clean and safe. What a beautiful piece of country; Parry Sound and Georgian Bay. Trying to disconnect with the fam and enjoying some homemade burgers and roasting marshmallows, I cannot overstate the tranquility of nature and small slice of Canadiana here. Sure, we shleped to Tim's the next day for coffee and drove back, but enjoyed a long track to Lookout Point, with neither rattlesnake or Bear to be found. I guess it might be considered 'Glamping,' with restrooms and clean showers right across. But its definately a safe place for the kids to bike, hike and enjoy each other's company as a throwback to simpler times. Definately worth the 2 hour drive, but book in advance! -Zuk

From my 2019 review: This is one of my favourite parks, and as a veteran camper, who has many…read morepleasant memories of Killbear, I cannot reduce it's rating. I say this, because we had few unfortunate experiences on our last trip. First, the positives of Killbear: - beautiful, unspoiled, Canadian Shield scenery - spectacular rocky shores, which you can use as a swimming platform, and then you don't get sand in your tent - not one, but two, dog beaches; they love the doggos! - large campsites The downsides - the campsites are large, but choose carefully, as many lack privacy and are very exposed. The old growth forest means that there is little bushy undergrowth to hide you from your neighbours (I like privacy! My dogs need it or they just bark. Then we get in trouble, sometimes) - you can't buy ice in the park, but you have to drive out to get it Update 2020: Killbear is such a beautiful park, AND now you can buy ice there!! This time, we were in Lighthouse A, which I would highly recommend. Close to the beach and nice hiking trails, but choose your site wisely and pay attention to the descriptions on the website when you reserve. If it rates privacy as "poor", then be prepared for a fully exposed site. That said, there are many beautiful sites, and TWO dog beaches. This year, the Anti-Fun, Anti-Noise Police-like Neighbors did not appear (do I sound resentful? You bet I am. Last year we had to leave a day early because of these noise fanatics. Really, they should have gone on a yoga retreat. This is family camping, people, not a monastery. We paid a fee when we reserved; we did not take a vow of silence). OK, I'm done the rant. Now, back to how great this park is. It is simply beautiful. The lake is wonderful: not the Muskoka soggy bottom lake, but nice, hard granite of Georgian Bay. The granite itself is beautiful. We had such a great vacation! Go off the grid! Try it!