General Info:
– 2 hours and 20 minutes Toronto
– seasonal camping: May – October
– 2 campgrounds:
Valleyview
Bedrock
– some sites along the Trent River
– pedestrian suspension bridge with views of Ranney Falls
– 10km of hiking trails:
Drumlin (3 interconnecting loops: 1.2km+2.5km+2.5km)
Ranney Falls (1k)
River Gorge (3.5km)
– no swimming area at the park
Directions:
https://goo.gl/maps/MtuEzhQbQg7PGPb86
The Good Stuff: Rating and Review
I have fond memories of Ferris prior to this project. It’s where my best friend and I would go just the two of us and where inevitably shenanigans would ensue. There are some fun stories there. Like the time we hastily moved our whole campsite without taking anything down – shuffling our way down the road, tripping and laughing when our surprise camp neighbor left his site briefly. Or when we discovered the brilliance of Boatswana. (Pro tip: If you have a little inflatable boat, make yourself a campfire couch and you’ll never look back).
But back to the park itself…
North-east of Toronto in the Trent Hills, just outside of Campbellford, Ferris Provincial Park is a super accessible destination. Abutted by the Trent River, it’s a small park with few attractions all just a short walk from most sites. The highlight of this park is the suspension bridge. The long, cabled bridge hangs 30 feet over the Trent River, spanning the Ranney Gorge. Offering picturesque views of the river and falls, it’s a great destination to watch the sunset.
The hikes can take up to 2 hours to complete and transverse the park’s valleys, mature mixed forest, seasonal creeks, waterlogged wetlands, and along the Drumlins (elongated hills formed by glaciers thousands of years ago). Depending on the time of year, the forests host a large variety of mushrooms, the most notable being the puffball. A large, white fungus that looks suspiciously poke-able that harvesters favor for its meaty flavor and large, grill able ‘steaks.’
I’ve had fun on my trip to Ferris, and I think a large part of that is the company I’ve had. The park itself is nice but not spectacular. The 3-star rating feels right. Due to the dam upstream, the currents are too strong for swimming and as such, there’s no designated beach or area to cool off in the water. The park does offer a boat launch downstream so you’re not completely restricted from water activities, and the hike along the river provides a beautiful view of the falls. Easy hikes, little acreage, and the swimming restrictions mean Ferris takes a small hit for me, but it’s still a place I’d recommend for a weekend away with friends that leaves you with some good stories.
She Collects Campsites 