Campsite recommendations?

shanekingsley

shanekingsley

Curry - so nice it burns you twice
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Need a place to go camping Labour Day weekend. I wanted to go to Killarney Park, but didn't book anything and it's all booked up. So is Killbear Park.

Any suggestions for good places to go camping within 5 hours of Toronto? I would want to be close to a lake and hopefully somewhere a bit quiet.

Edit: Even something in the states might work too - as long as the roads nearby are twisty!

Thanks!
 
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Did you try Restoule Provincial Park? also try Bon Echo, theres nice riding roads out that way too.
 
Long weekends you will likely be out of luck now at any provincial park in Ontario you could however try the KOA's they tend to not fill up as quick. As for the states that might be your best option but sorry don't have any suggestions for you.
 
You could try conservation areas as well. Though ones with decent lakes may be hard to find. This summer I did my first motorcycle camping trip to Elora gorge conservation area. No lake but you could go tubing on the rapids there.

oh but the one downfall is the alcohol ban...be discreet..
 
When I want to see some sights and hit up some twisty's, I head out to the Bon Echo area as i live very close.
Tons of decent riding within minutes of leaving whatever camp ground you end up at.
If you head out that way, try out this loop for some good fun. Make sure to take Flinton road to Northbrook if you head up hwy 7.
http://www.motowhere.com/maps/route/22997
 
I automatically head south for any "away weekends". Eastern Ohio is my usual. Waterfront isn't big but I find it quiet and cheap. Rather than camp I stay in a Best Western (Uhrichsville). Quiet except for the clip clop from Amish squids.
 
shanekingsley said:
Need a place to go camping Labour Day weekend. I wanted to go to Killarney Park, but didn't book anything and it's all booked up. So is Killbear Park.

Any suggestions for good places to go camping within 5 hours of Toronto? I would want to be close to a lake and hopefully somewhere a bit quiet.

Edit: Even something in the states might work too - as long as the roads nearby are twisty!

Thanks!
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I went to Grundy Lake Provincial Park last weekend, but I can't comment on the riding roads nearby as the camping was the objective more than the ride. Its a beautiful campsite - and it has radio free zones, which is nice. My last two camping trips were ruined by neighbours blasting music out to past midnight - I love music but not when I camp. I want to hear the sound of the loons on the lake, not the loons next door reliving their Grateful Dead concert experience (not to knock the Dead).

P.S. - Re camping southside - it is going to be a nightmare going across the border on the Labour Day weekend. However I stayed in a place called Canyon Campgrounds outside of Wellsboro a few weeks ago - they take reservations, but pay the extra few bucks and get a "premium" site, or you will hear your neighbours - errrr "pass wind" in their sleep. There is a short gravel road heading up to the campgrounds, but its well packed - and all roads leading to it are twisty.
 
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Algonquin is all booked and a bit too busy for me on a long weekend.

Grundy Lake sounds great too - thanks very much for that info, I'm not sure how I missed it when I was looking up that way before. I would also like a radio free zone when I go to a place like this. The roads nearby are quite amazing - I could do a short or long day trip from there that would be nothing but twisty and gravel roads and never be more than 150km from the park.
 
Grundy Lake was awesome! We snagged a lakeside campsite in one of the radio free campgrounds and it was just perfect. Highly recommend this place and it's less than an hour to the 518! All the lakes are motorboat free, so it was really good for swimming (calm and clean) and canoeing around.

Thanks again for the recommendation BeastieGirl:)
 
shanekingsley said:
Grundy Lake was awesome! We snagged a lakeside campsite in one of the radio free campgrounds and it was just perfect. Highly recommend this place and it's less than an hour to the 518! All the lakes are motorboat free, so it was really good for swimming (calm and clean) and canoeing around.

Thanks again for the recommendation BeastieGirl:)
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No problem! Can you give me some recommendations on how to get there from Hamilton avoiding the 400? I've gotten as far as taking the 407 to Hwy 27 up to Barrie where it turns into Essa Road, but then I'm stumped :-(
 
I know you said you take Hwy 27, but for a change you could also try taking Weston Rd from Major Mackenzie northward to Hwy 9. From here a slight zigzg (re: Rupke Road) and it becomes Sideroad #5 which will lead you to Essa Rd as well. From there any detours you take will only add a lot of time onto your trip. If you have a few extra hours to spare, I would get back on the 400 at Essa and then head over and up Hwy 11 to Southwood and take that up past Bala, around Mortimers Point, up Peninsula Rd, along the 141 and then up Swords to the 518. If you are comfortable with a bit of twisty hard packed gravel then head up Old Nipissing Trail to Magenetawan and keep working your way from there... you could also ride along hwy 529 for a short bit which is between Parry Sound and Grundy Lake. That whole route looks something like this: http://goo.gl/maps/16BXL

You could also skip going up hwy11 to Southwood and just ride up the 400 for a short bit and take Muskoka Rd 38 over to Bala and then start the rest of the mapped route from there.
If you don't want the hardpacked gravel of Old Nipissing Trail, then after the 518 head back over to the 69 and continue from there. Old Nipissing is really awesome though. Taking those two out looks kinds like this: http://goo.gl/maps/FA6NT

Also should mention that our campsite had private access to the lake and it was a huge lot - enough for 2 bikes and 2 tents easily. There were lot's of beaches and lot's of private places to jump off the rocks for your own swim away from others. Canoe's were $30 to rent from the local supply post for a 24 hr period (included paddles/jackets) and delivery/pick-up to your campsite is $1.50 each way. Staff was friendly and the place was very clean and well maintained. Thanks again for the heads up about the place, it was really nice and we would totally go back.

This thread is useless without pics!
Early Morning Fog over Grundy Lake:
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Gotta Love the Canadian Shield:
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Our Campsite:
DSCN9811-L.jpg
 
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