Provincial Park recommendation

[fishing n autograph]

Hey All,

 

I want to take my wife and kids camping for the first time. I grew up outdoors and loved camping but my wife and kids aren't exactly the outdoorsy types lol.

 

Can anyone suggest a good place for first timers?

 

I'm looking for a place where I'm not going to run into partying teenagers etc

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Dave

[torco]

depends on what you are looking for but the parks tend to get more wilderness like the further north you go. How far do you want to travel, what are you looking for outside of a non party place?

[fishing n autograph]

Well I'm not worried about driving too far. Within 3-4 hours I kitchener-Waterloo.

 

I'm not too picky about emenities. A place for the kids to swim, hiking trails, some privacy would be nice

[davew3]

You could try Silver Lake on HWY 7 east of Marmora. Or Sharbot Lake out that way.

Edited May 2, 2013 by davew3

[Cast-Away]

Awenda in Penatang is quite nice with larger sites and a great beach. The beach is a 15 minute walk from the parking lot.

[fishing n autograph]

Has anyone camped at craigleith or earl Rowe!

[BillM]

Oastler Lake in Parry Sound was nice when I was there a few years ago. Same with Six Mile, but it's a lot busier.

[SirCranksalot]

Killbear is one of the best but may be booked up already---has good swimming, hiking, some massive big hunks of Cdn shield. And can nip over to Dillon, rent a boat, and go fishing.

Edited May 2, 2013 by Knuguy

[Rod Caster]

Mikisew in South RIver is perfect for kids! We went there many times growing up. Also, great fishing for Daddy!

[SylvanOwner]

Has anyone camped at craigleith or earl Rowe!

Earl Rowe isn't very nice as far as provincial parks go. The river is small and just won't do justice to the camping experience, IMO. Craigleith would be much better I think. Most of the other suggestions are good as well (in no particular order); Six Mile, Oastler, Killbear, Awenda, Bruce Peninsula National Park will all give you a solid camping experience.

 

Hope the family enjoys whatever you decide on.

Edited May 2, 2013 by SylvanOwner

[irishfield]

You could go all the way to Temagami Dave... nice sand beach for the kids and the choice between no power and power sites in two areas of the park. Pending what you want.... and you choose to head that way... I can recommend the best sites depending on what you want as a site and how close to the comfort station or just a privy that you require.

[spincast]

Bon Echo; hardwood hills campground. do the hike into Joe Perry for a of day fishing, or head to the group campsite lake.

[woodenboater]

Never camped at Craigleith myself but friends have and now avoid the place like the plaque. Noisy campers is all she remembers. ymmv.

 

+1 on Oastler, Awenda and Killbear. Although it's on the edge of your driving circle, I'd look into Arrowhead. Haven't camped there but from my winter visits there, it looks alike a nice campground and it's close to Huntsville if the family needs a break

[fishing n autograph]

I'm thinking Balsam lake, Wheatley or algonquin

[irishfield]

Lake of Two Rivers... has a nice swim beach Dave.

[cram]

Algonquin would be far more "camping experience" than Balsam.

I don't know Wheatley.

 

Restoule is nice, though a little further than 3-4 hrs from where you are.

 

Have heard good things about Massasauga, though I have never been.

[Fisherman]

I'd avoid Craigleith also, if you want to be a sardine for the weekend, that's the place to be. Along with being situated right along highway 26, no thanks.

[woodenboater]

If you go to Algonquin, my suggestion would be to pass on Rock Lake. It has some great attributes but there are enough noisy campers to make it very annoying. Mew or Two Rivers would be good choices (more so Mew) although Two Rivers is very wide open with pretty well zero privacy.

[irishfield]

although Two Rivers is very wide open with pretty well zero privacy.

VERY True... unless you can get a site along the river.

[Terry]

balsam is nice,,,,,well it was the last time I stayed there 10 or so years ago

 

there are lots of trails a nice sand beach canoe rentals and fishing

 

book early to get a good site

[SirCranksalot]

Avoid Balsam if you don't like noise!

[irishfield]

The campground past the Mews and Lake of Two Rivers campgrounds has a radio free zone.. can't remember it's name but it's at the East end of Lake of Two Rivers.

[woodenboater]

Mew has a radio free as well although not sure how well that works out as sound just shoots across the lake/pond. I think the size of Mew and the fact that it's beside the highway make it seem less desirable. I really like it and it has access to several trails in close proximity and a field full of blueberries just waiting to be picked...

 

and there's the 'waterfall/rapids' on the Madawaska that makes for nice summer lounging

[irishfield]

Yep... we've walked the trail from Mews to what ever the other campground is down the East end of the lake.. and it's a little further in on hwy 60 than Mews and Lake of 2 Rivers so should be quieter.

 

Just wish we could still fly in there... considering the area East of the Mews was a runway through the 60's /70's and caused less noise than the 10's of thousands of cars on hwy 60 !

[Moosebunk]

Frontenac Park is a great scenic spot too. Lake trout, speckle and bass fishing opportunites.