Out of vacation days, but still craving a quality backcountry adventure?
These quick weekend getaways provide all the solitude of the Ontario backcountry, and the ability to be back in the office bright and early Monday morning.
Frontenac Provincial Park
3.5 hours from Toronto, 2 hours from Ottawa
Frontenac Provincial Park offers site-specific, year-round backcountry camping. Located on the Frontenac Arch, the park offers visitors rocky northern landscape within southern Ontario.
Campsites are located in clusters on lakes in the park’s interior and must be accessed by hiking or paddling. Each campsite has its own 4mx4m tent pad, fire ring, bench and picnic table. An enclosed privy toilet is shared at each campsite cluster.
Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park
3 hours from Toronto, 3.5 hours from Ottawa
You’ll fall in love with the rugged rolling landscape of small lakes, wetlands, forests and rocky barrens at Kawartha Highlands. The park offers over 100 backcountry campsites spread over six recommended canoe loops.
Most sites have three tent pads, a designated fire ring, picnic table and a privy toilet. Campsites can only be reached by canoe and most require portaging to access.
Grundy Lake Provincial Park
4 hours from Toronto
Grundy Lake Provincial Park offers nine backcountry campsites that are located on a number of inland lakes. A short canoe trip of 5 to 20 minutes will get you to your campsite. At each campsite, you will find a picnic table, tent space and a toilet nearby. Grundy’s mixed forest makes it a beautiful gateway between northern and southern Ontario.
Grundy Lake’s backcountry sites are available first come, first served until October 9. There’s usually plenty of space, but you can always phone the park to check before you hop in the car.
Bon Echo Provincial Park
3 hours from Toronto, just over 2 hours from Ottawa
With spectacular forest, and the magnificent Mazinaw Rock that towers 100 m over the lake, camping backcountry and exploring Bon Echo is a fall adventure that is sure to create lasting memories.
There are twenty-five canoe-in campsites that are located on Joeperry and Pearson Lakes. From the parking lot, there is a 500 m portage to the launch point. Then, all of the sites are a quick paddle in – a trip of 10 to 30 minutes will get you to your campsite.
At each campsite, you will find a picnic table, tent space and a toilet nearby. The park is open until October 21.
The Massasauga Provincial Park
3 hours from Toronto
The Massasauga Provincial Park offers 135 backcountry campsites that are located on a number of inland lakes. A short canoe trip of 5 to 20 minutes will get you to your campsite. At each campsite, you will find a picnic table, tent space and a toilet nearby. Paddle the clear blue the waters of Georgian Bay and explore the park’s wilderness and windswept islands.
