New Pictures of Bass Lake Provinical Park

Img_0425
Originally uploaded by finder1957

Follow Waterview Trail and learn how Bass Lake park, a farm for more than 100 years, was transformed to a recreational area. Just west of Orillia - close to historic Huronia - it is a popular spot for swimming, hiking, fishing and boating. Its fields and trails are good for skiing and snowshoeing in winter.

Visit the Bass Lake Provincial Park listing on CampSource at http://www.campsource.ca/parks/default.aspx?parkid=2941 for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

Pictures can be viewed on CampSource via the Flickr Slideshow at http://www.campsource.ca/parks/pictures.aspx?parkid=2941

If you have pictures of Bass Lake Provincial Park, and would like to add them to Campsource, go to the Flickr group for Bass Lake at http://www.flickr.com/groups/bass_lake_provincial_park/

Ontario Parks is updating their reservation service

Ontario Parks is updating its campsite reservation system. When you go to make your reservation on-line or at our call centre you will notice a new look and many new improvements. There will be some changes from our previous service.

Here's what you need to know:

• We have obtained a new reservation service provider called Mediamix Interactive Incorporated (MMI). MMI has experience in providing campsite reservation services to several clients across Canada, and are located in Toronto, Ontario.


• Our phone number and web address will stay the same. You can continue to go to www.OntarioParks.com or 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275) to make your campsite reservation. The call centre hours will be slightly shorter - now from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm (as opposed to 11:00 pm). On-line reservations can still be made 24 hours/day, 365 days a year.


• If you are currently an Ontario Parks user and have made a reservation with us in the past, you will be receiving an email with your new temporary login and password which will allow you to update your account before making your campsite reservation.


• It will now cost less to make a reservation! The reservation fee will be reduced to $9.00 (savings of $3.00), and cancellations/changes to reservations will be reduced to $7.00 (savings of $2.00). There will be an even greater savings if the reservation is made on-line as it will only cost $8.00 to make a reservation and $5.00 to cancel or change a reservation.


• To assist you with navigating the reservation service options, we have set up a "Frequently Asked Questions" site available at the website link above.


• Over time, new enhancements to the reservation service will be made available such as adding campsite photos and an online shopping cart feature that holds your campsite for a short time while you get ready to pay for it.


• Save this web link for easy access as we will continue to update these pages with information about the new features as they are rolled out.

We hope you enjoy the new reservation experience. Please let us know what you think by sending us your comments here.

For more information, visit the Ontario Parks website at http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/reservations/index.html

Ontario Park Insider Report on Bonnechere

Belted kingfishers swoop across the river and the pileated woodpecker's hysterical call echoes throughout the backwoods. American bitterns sing out from patches of sedge where the river widens, and an assortment of warblers flutter through the trees. Wildlife abounds along the shores of the Bonnechere River, part of Bonnechere Provincial Park.

Winding its way through the northern portion of the Madawaska Highlands, between the southeast border of Algonquin Park and Round Lake, The Bonnechere is rich in human history too. Aboriginal peoples hunted, fished and trapped, lumbermen felled trees, and immigrant settlers cleared farms. Over time, each group left its mark on the landscape.

Thanks to extensive archeology research performed by members of the Ontario Archaeological Society, the park has been able to bring its rich human history to life. So rich in fact, that research has uncovered human activity in the region that dates as far back as 3000 B.C. There are several events you can be a part of throughout the year, simply log on to the Friends of Bonnechere website to find out more.

Nearby and Natural

Bonnechere is a great base camp for exploring the natural and historical wealth of the region. Once you are finished discovering the wonders of the park, hop in your car, grab your hiking boots or paddle and discover some of these hidden gems.

Basin Depot, a historical site located a few kilometres north of the main campground inside the boundary of Algonquin Park, contains the ruins of an old shantytown loggers inhabited between 1850 and 1913. A well-constructed log home built by the McLachlin Lumber Company in 1892 is still intact, making it the oldest standing building in the Algonquin region. The house served as a hospital during a diphtheria epidemic in 1911, and at least seven gravesites hidden in a nearby poplar grove remain as signs of the outbreak. There are ten self-guided hikes to various historic and scenic sites along the upper Bonnechere River at Basin Depot.

Heading in the opposite direction, take a driving tour of the Bonnechere River Watershed to Eganville. Once there, you can visit the Bonnechere Museum, which features the natural and cultural landscapes of the Bonnechere River watershed. After lunch, follow the Fourth Chute Road to Ontario's Natural Underground Wonder - the Bonnechere Caves where award-winning guides lead you underground through a series of eerie and entrancing passages.

Copyright Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2008

For more information, go to the Bonnechere listing on CampSource.

New Pictures of Algonquin Provincial Park Interior

Algonquin Moose
Originally uploaded by Marty MacG

Explore Algonquin at its best! A vast landscape of maple hills, rocky ridges, spruce bogs, and thousands of lakes, ponds, and streams await those who seek the rugged beauty of Algonquin Provincial Park by canoe or on foot.

Algonquin Park is the oldest and most famous provincial park in Ontario and one of the largest in Canada. Algonquin is just three or four hours away from Toronto or Ottawa, and stretches across 7,725 square kilometres of wild and beautiful lakes and forests, bogs and rivers, cliffs and beaches - a canoeist's and camper's paradise as far as the eye can see. The essence of Algonquin is in its vast interior of maple hills, rocky ridges, and thousands of lakes. The only way to explore the interior of this park is by canoe or on foot. There is also a second Algonquin - along the 56-kilometre stretch of Highway 60. Here you can enjoy camping at one of eight campgrounds, hike one of 14 trails, take part in extensive education programs, and visit Algonquin’s superlative Visitor Centre and the Logging Museum.

Visit the Algonguin Provincial Park Interior listing on CampSource for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

Ontario Parks Insider Report on Grundy Lake

Grundy Lake Provincial Park has it all. It's far enough away from urban areas to lessen the weekend crowds but close enough to lessen the boredom the kids have to endure during the car ride. One viewing of Madagascar 2 and a couple episodes of Scooby-doo and you'll have the family setting up camp under a rich canopy of northern pine and spruce. Campsite choice is excellent at Grundy; all are well maintained and laid out for tent or trailer.

Hiking trails are also supreme. The park offers three main loop treks ranging from 2 to 4 kilometres in length, and all take you on a spectacular tour of the region's natural attractions: barren rock of the Precambrian Shield, tranquil stream, dense forest, beaver ponds and vibrant wetlands (one being home to an impressive Great Blue Heron nesting site, also known as a rookery). And according to Grundy Lake regulars, after a long hike it's tradition to take a twilight swim at "The Rock" - located on the east side of Grundy Lake, between White Pine and Red Maple campgrounds.

But the best part about Grundy Lake is that the half-dozen lakes making up a good portion of the park are all motorboat free, which in turn provides great canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. Paddling on Grundy Lake, Gurd Lake and Gut Lake are popular day outings. Grundy Lake's ultimate plus, however, is the backcountry sites. Ten interior sites have been added to Grundy, Gurd, Beaver and Pakeshkag Lakes. These are perfect for families wanting to try out interior canoe and kayak tripping, experience a more natural (and less crowded) camping experience, but still want to be close to all the conveniences of the campground (showers, laundry, firewood, Natural Heritage Education Programs) just a short paddle away.

And for those rainy days, drive 15 minutes north of Grundy Lake to visit the French River Visitor Centre or into Sudbury just 60 kilometres north to visit Science North.

Copyright Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2008

For more information, go to the Grundy Lake listing on CampSource.

Ontario Park Insider

If you would like to be informed about important dates, events and news, as well as special offers from Ontario Parks and their partners, sign up for the Ontario Parks Insider. The current issue (April 8, 2009) contains articles on featured campgrounds, gearing up for spring, wildflowers of the provincial parks, and more.

New Pictures of Mono Cliff Provincial Park

Mono Cliff Provincial Park
Originally uploaded by Richard Cleaver

Mono Cliffs contains a significant section of the Niagara Escarpment, including crevice caves, an upland limestone plain, and talus slopes. The park features two prominent masses of rock, separated by erosion from the main rock body. When this occurs, the resultant feature is called an outlier. Botanists have noted that the local vegetation includes a particularly rich diversity of ferns. This park is part of the Niagara Escarpment Parks System, and the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve. The park offers parking lots, toilets, and trails for hiking. The natural features in the park are fragile.

Pictures of Mono Cliff Provincial Park, Penetangusishene, Ontario have been added to CampSource. View the Mono Cliff Provincial Park pictures or add your pictures to the Mono Cliff Provincial Park Group on Flickr.

Visit the Mono Cliff Provincial Park listing on CampSource for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

New Pictures of Killbear Provincial Park

Killbear Provincial Park
Originally uploaded by Richard Cleaver

This Georgian Bay peninsula is a water lover's paradise for swimming and sailing, fishing and boating. Camp by a sandy beach, on a rocky shore or under the trees. Hike to lookouts for views of Parry Sound, that lonely white pine on a windswept rock or one of Georgian Bay's spectacular sunsets.

Pictures of Frontenac Provincial Park, Penetangusishene, Ontario have been added to CampSource. View the Killbear Provincial Park pictures or add your pictures to the Killbear Provincial Park Group on Flickr.

Visit the Killbear Provincial Park listing on CampSource for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

New Pictures of Frontenac Provincial Park

Frontenac Provincial Park
Originally uploaded by Richard Cleaver

Situated on a southern arm of the Canadian Shield north of Kingston, this semi-wilderness park features granite outcrops, vast wetlands and mixed forests, plants and wildlife. Trails wind through rugged terrain to Moulton Gorge, the Arkon Lake Bog, the Black Lake homestead and the Crab Lake mines. From Otter Lake, hikers and canoeists head into the interior for glimpses of osprey and kingfisher, deer and black bear, coyote and fox, and abundant beaver. Wilderness skills courses are offered in summer and winter.

Pictures of Frontenac Provincial Park, Penetangusishene, Ontario have been added to CampSource. View the Frontenac Provincial Park pictures or add your pictures to the Frontenac Provincial Park Group on Flickr.

Visit the Frontenac Provincial Park listing on CampSource for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

New Pictures of Awenda Provincial Park

Awenda Provincial Park
Originally uploaded by CampSource

Nippissing Bluff drops 60 metres into Georgian Bay. Across the water is Giant's Tomb, an island where the spirit Kitchikewana rests. Below the bluff, sand, cobble and boulder beaches in sheltered Methodist Point Bay offer the best swimming. Like the kettle lake inland, they are signs of a glaciated past. From the shoreline fen to forest bog, on spirit walks and owl prowls, explore a unique convergence of wildlife and geography.

Pictures of Awenda Provincial Park, Penetangusishene, Ontario have been added to CampSource. View the Awenda Provincial Park pictures or add your pictures to the Awenda Provincial Park Group on Flickr.

Visit the Awenda Provincial Park listing on CampSource for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

New Pictures of Balsam Lake Provincial Park

Balsam Lake Provincial Park
Originally uploaded by CampSource

Pictures of Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Kirkfield, Ontario have been added to CampSource. View the Balsam Lake Provincial Park pictures or add your pictures to the Balsam Lake Provincial Park Group on Flickr.

Located in the picturesque Kawarthas, Balsam Lake is an all-season recreational park along the Trent-Severn Waterway. In summer, swim at a clean, safe beach, hike to a lookout tower, fish for bass, sail and windsurf. Come in spring for wildflowers and in October for autumn glory.

Visit the Visit the Balsam Lake Provinical Park listing on CampSource for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

New Review for Bonnechere Provincial Park

A camper from Petawawa gave Bonnechere Provincial Park 4 out of 5 stars and wrote this review.

"Bonnechere Provincial Park is a wonderful campground. Whether tenting or rv'ing, there is a spot for everyone. We spent alot of time there in the fall; the foliage was a beautiful sight to behold and we almost had the campground to ourselves! I highly recommend this campground facility for families, young and old, as it is a peaceful escape to nature with all the amenaties close at hand. We especially enjoyed the fact that it was open later in the season than most other parks. The non electrical sites were prefered over the electrical sites because we found the latter a little sparse of vegetation and not quite as private as those without electricity."

Bonnechere Provincial Park is located in Killaloe which is in Eastern Ontario. According to Ontario Parks, "The meandering Bonnechere River once carried furs and pine logs out of this Ottawa Valley region. Now canoes move along its leisurely, ever-changing path to Round Lake where there is a buoyed, sandy beach. Trails pass an old beaver pond and marshes. An historic depot depicts the life of early forest rangers."

Visit the Bonnechere Provincial Park listing on CampSource for contact information, facilities, rates, directions, campground reviews, and more.

The picture is a copyright of the Queen's Printer for Ontario