It takes 3.5 hours to drive from Paris to Brussels. 7 hours from Edinburgh to London. In Toronto, getting from one side of the GTA to the other can be a 2 – 3 hour drive, depending on traffic. Our perception of time and distance is a little skewed. That means that sometimes, staying ‘closeContinue reading “For The Outdoorsy Urbanite: 5 Parks Worth the Drive”
Tag Archives: Blog
Provincial Park #8: Ferris
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 theContinue reading “Provincial Park #8: Ferris”
Provincial Park #6: Bon Echo
General Info: – 3 hours and 15 minutes from Toronto – 4 campgrounds:Hardwood Hills (drive-in/walk-in)Mazinaw (drive-in/yurts)Abes and Essens (backcountry sites)Joe Perry and Pearson (backcountry sites/portage)– cabins available for rent – Indigenous pictographs– 3 natural sandy beaches – 5 hiking trails:1. Cliff Top Trail (1.5 km) – only accessible by water2. Abes and Essens (3 loopsContinue reading “Provincial Park #6: Bon Echo”
Provincial Park #5: Arrowhead
General Info:– 2.5 hours north of Toronto – all-season campground: open January – Dec (winter camping available) – 3 campgrounds: 1. Roe2. East River3. Lumby – 15km of hiking trails Beaver Meadow (7 km)Homesteaders Trail (3 km)Mayflower (1 km)Stubb’s Falls (2 km)Big Bend Lookout (under 1 km)– boat rentals available – 3 sandy beaches –Continue reading “Provincial Park #5: Arrowhead”
Provincial Park #2: Rock Point
General Info:– 1 hr. 45 min. south of Toronto– seasonal: open from May-October– 4 campgrounds (all car/RV)– long rocky beach along lake Erie– shores are covered in fossils – no boat launch area in park– 1 hiking trail: Woodlot (2km) Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/7iK4Cr9cCSUQKrgc8 The Good Stuff: Rating and Review Rock Point was a pleasant surprise! TheContinue reading “Provincial Park #2: Rock Point”
Project Provincial Update: Thwarted By A Pandemic
It’s been a slow start to the season… April 25, 2021 would have been my first weekend out under the stars. And WHAT a weekend it would have been. With the projected (and very rare) potential for witnessing a farther south reaching aurora borealis, uncharacteristically warm days, and lots of sun, it would have beenContinue reading “Project Provincial Update: Thwarted By A Pandemic”
There’s A War Raging. And It’s On ontarioparks.com
There’s been an influx of reservations this year and the Ontario Parks website is being flooded with fresh campsite seekers. More than double the activity than previous years, the site has forewarned visitors of a slower technical response. And honestly, besides those IT woes, it’s cut-throat out there. And not all those that book seekContinue reading “There’s A War Raging. And It’s On ontarioparks.com”
Gear 101: The Necessities
I’ve been that person who forgot a spatula, an extra tank of stove fuel and the ever-important towel. I’ve suffered through the arduous task of lighting a fire without precious dry kindling or the magically efficient aide of newspaper. Camping isn’t always the most forgiving to the forgetful but with the skills, one can definitelyContinue reading “Gear 101: The Necessities”
Provincial Park #1: Balsam Lake
General Info:– 2 hours north east of Toronto – seasonal: open from May – November – 8 campgrounds– sandy beach– canoe rentals available – 2 hiking trails: Lookout (2.6 km) Plantation (4.2 km)– waterfront sites available Directions:https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Toronto,+ON/Balsam+Lake+Provincial+Park,+2238+Kawartha+Lakes+County+Rd+48,+Kirkfield,+ON+K0M+2B0/@44.2004365,-79.7232493,9z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d4cb90d7c63ba5:0x323555502ab4c477!2m2!1d-79.3831843!2d43.653226!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd5398a929a41c7:0x48d66a5bcecaed47!2m2!1d-78.8752853!2d44.6359353 The Good Stuff: Rating and Review Balsam is definitely a well-rounded park. Plenty of campgrounds to suit personalContinue reading “Provincial Park #1: Balsam Lake”
Balsam Lake – A Reluctant Dog and A Tiny Tent
Park #1 done! What a learning experience!~First time solo camping with my dog.~First time trying out a good amount of my equipment in the field.~First time sleeping in a “2-person” tent. The past two nights I holed up in a tiny tent in -2°C weather with a less than impressed dog. We stayed warm enoughContinue reading “Balsam Lake – A Reluctant Dog and A Tiny Tent”
She Collects Campsites 