Camping season usually starts the same way; choosing your destinations and booking a campsite, presumably, at a nature park in Canada.
If you’re an RVer in Ontario, you’ve likely camped in one of the more popular provincial parks at least once. Campsites at these parks fill up quickly and tend to get crowded depending on the season. However, your campsite options go far beyond the usual suspects. There are 340 provincial parks in Ontario, and a good number rarely get swarmed with visitors.
If you’re seeking to explore a different part of Ontario, or are looking for a less crowded camping experience, we suggest one of these 6 hidden camping gems:
Driftwood Provincial Park
About 2.5 hours from Ottawa sits Driftwood Provincial Park, nestled between the Upper Ottawa Valley and Laurentian Hills. It is a relatively smaller park with scenic views of the hills and sandy beaches, a stone’s throw away from the camping sites. It’s a great park to spend the weekend or even just a day.
Driftwood Provincial Park has over 80 campsites scattered across the 4.22 km². Its amenities, coupled with quiet beaches and easy trails, make it the perfect spot to getaway.
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is about a three-hour drive from Ottawa. It spans both sides of the Mattawa River, which was used for transporting goods during the fur trade.
This park is perfect for family trips. It has easy hiking trails, warm water beaches, and extensive RV facilities. The park is also home to the Canadian Ecology Centre which has an all-ages Natural Heritage Program. And don’t forget to check out the many other activities available to occupy you and your fellow campers.
Murphys Point Provincial Park
Murphys Point Provincial Park is near Perth and sits along the Big Rideau Lake. Aside from the natural attractions, it contains some relics of the first settlers. One is Silver Queen Mine, where the settlers mined mica, apatite and feldspar. You can spend the day hiking in and exploring the mine.
Other historical sites are marked out around the park and are easily accessible. After hiking the trails, head to Hogs Bay Beach to picnic under the pavilion.
Awenda Provincial Park
The Awenda Provincial Park has several trails and beaches. The lake is perfect for a leisurely kayak or canoe ride. During the warmer months, you can even find turtles sunbathing on the driftwood in the lake.
Look out for the many chipmunks that crowd the camping sites. Their shenanigans are amusing, but make sure not to feed them.
Petroglyphs Provincial Park
Located near Peterborough, Petroglyphs Provincial Park is home to The Teaching Rocks. This sacred space has the highest concentration of Indigenous rock carvings in Canada. It is a record of spiritual and cultural knowledge passed down through generations of First Nations people of Ontario.
The park is also home to McGinnis Lake, one of Canada’s meromictic lakes.
Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park
Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park is a longer drive from Ottawa, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for a truly wild camping experience. There, you’ll find several waterfalls and rugged ridges, one of which is the highest point in Ontario – Helen Falls. Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park is a ‘wilderness class’ park, meaning it must be undisturbed by human activity, so remember to pack reusable containers and follow the leave no trace rules if you’re visiting.
Whether you’re a veteran camper or this is your first time RVing, your trip’s success depends on the model and condition of your RV. Ensure your RV is properly serviced beforehand and that you have all the accessories you’ll need for a comfortable camping experience.
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