General Info:
– 1 hour northwest of Toronto
– seasonal camping: May – October
– car camping in 2 campgrounds:
1. Westside: only open from June-September.
2, Riverside: open the whole season and accessible through a separate gated entrance on the opposite side of Concession Road 7 from the main Registration
– canoe and paddleboats available for rent
– non-motorized boat launch area in the park
– 5 hikes
Fletcher’s Mill (1.5 km)
Lookout Trail (4 km)
Resource Trail (1.5 km)
Rainbow Run (11 km)
Little Trail (0.5 km)
– 2 large sandy beach areas
Directions:
https://goo.gl/maps/ZVN7m3gSaX3mRZtk7
The Good Stuff: Rating and Review
Earl Rowe took my previous visit and scoffed at it. It wanted to leave an impression and it succeeded. This was a really good one! Plenty of trails to explore, beautiful sandy beaches, several rivers and islands to paddle around, and a variety of car camping sites to meet everyone’s needs. If you’re looking for convenience and beauty, this hour commute from Toronto is easily well worth it.
As for cons, I actually don’t have many too damaging. So let’s get them out of the way first and foremost.
1. I could hear traffic from the nearby Concession Road 7 and Highway 89 throughout my stay. Being a mere 72 minutes from Toronto means that this isn’t the most wild location. There aren’t dense forests or acres of old growth. But that doesn’t mean that what Earl Rowe has isn’t beautiful.
2. It also doesn’t cater to those that are chasing more of a backcountry experience. The park only offers car, RV, and group campsite options.
And, 3. The distance between the two campgrounds could easily be both a pro or a con. If staying at the Westside grounds, you’re an easy walk from most trails, the beaches, and plenty of park amenities. It’s where the group sites and some of the larger RV and popular family sites are located. But if you’re after privacy and quiet, Riverside Campground is removed enough from the main park to meet those needs. But expect to walk at least 30 minutes (or bike for 10) along a trail that follows the river and passes beneath the highway to make the most of the park amenities situated in the main day-use area. Or you can opt to drive from your site and park in any of the many public areas offered past the main gate entrance.
So depending on personal preference, campground selection with Earl Rowe is definitely an important consideration.
As for me, camping in the Riverside grounds proved to make for a pretty idyllic stay. Greeted by an eagle sitting outside my site, Riverside had me won over early. My site, and those around me, were some of the smaller ones I’ve come across so far. And I didn’t hate it. They were intimate and private and oh-so-easy to tarp. But definitely would have been a tight squeeze if I’d brought friends along.
Earl Rowe gave me plenty of opportunities to be taken aback. The sunsets were spectacular and the views from both water and land were beautiful. Kayak in tow, I was happy to be able to drive right up to a non-motorized boat launch and set off for a day of paddling. Earl Rowe is a man-made dammed reservoir with two rivers that offer plenty of islands to explore and two sandy beaches to paddle up onto. Although a paddler’s dream, those hoping to rip around on something more substantial may be out of luck. And if diving into the fish-filled waters doesn’t appeal to you, the park offers a large recreational pool as well.
I went home from Earl Rowe feeling great! Sunburnt. And exhausted. But great. This was a perfect place to take my kayak on her maiden voyage and I genuinely enjoyed everything the park had to offer. With the caveat that there’s some limitations to the types of sites available, this one otherwise covers most of the bases. An easy 4/5 stars for me!
She Collects Campsites 