Our Top 5 Ontario Provincial Parks for Paddling + bonus parks.
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- We've camped at over 50 Ontario Provincial Park over the past 5 years. One thing we really enjoy doing is heading out on the lake, for a few hours, in a kayak or on a paddleboard. In putting together our top 5 parks for paddling we came up with so many more that we added another 5 parks as honourable mentions. So, you're getting 10 parks for the price of 5!
00:00 Intro
04:10 #5 Grundy Lake Provincial Park
06:36 #4 Silent Lake Provincial Park
09:10 #3 Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
13:54 #2 Killarney Provincial Park
17:48 #1 Algonquin Provincial Park
23:24 Honourable Mention - Bon Echo Provincial Park
26:39 Honourable Mention - Charleston Lake Provincial Park
29:09 Honourable Mention - Rainbow Falls Provincial Park
30:50 Honourable Mention - Restoule Provincial Park
33:29 Honourable Mention - Rockwood Conservation Area
35:37 Closing
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This UA-cam channel is for entertainment purposes only. We are not camping or RV experts. We simply share our opinions and what works for us. As always you should do your own research and make your own decisions.
Bonnechere is a great little introduction park to paddling! The river with all its curves, inlets, and the delta make for some excellent paddling on a river that doesn’t have much current. You can also paddle at Bonnechere at Round Lake, and if you’re real adventurous, cross the lake to the abandoned Foy Provincial Park beach.
Another great park for paddling. We loved it there! We saw two beavers while going down the river in the park.
Love Grundy and area as I crown camp up there true to the many lakes and so beautiful. But they all sound so epic , I cant wait until summer to go explore . appreciate your reviews they are so very helpful.
This is a great pointer good reviews and thanks for all the tips I definitely doing kayaking this summer😀🥰💕
Great top 5! 4 out of 5 of my favorites too. Hoping to make it to Samuel this year! Been recommended by a coworker, now the Coles. Thanks!
If you’re looking for a kayak to bring Jax, look at a sit-on-top style! They’re very comfortable and open, and a bit more stable than the sit-in style. Pelican makes a good entry-level one (Pelican Sentinel 100X), or if you want to buy more local, Das King makes fantastic kayaks and they’ll be at the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show!
Thanks for the great suggestions. A few months ago at the Toronto Fall Camping Show we saw @daskingpaddlesports1701 for the first time. I was intrigued by the inflatable tandem iyak. I went back to the booth a couple of times, looking at it but eventually walked away. I'll have another look at them at the spring show.
Highly recommend the Inuvik by Clearwater Designs….made right here in Ontario. The cockpit is nice and big and we sometimes bring along our Golden Doodle too :) It has a higher weight capacity vs the Clearwater Iqaluit. Very stable and tracks well.
Thanks for the tip. I especially like that it's made in Ontario.
Love all your videos. They're so helpful! We're going to Killbear, Macgregor Point and Algonquin this year!
Very nice! Happy camping.
Another great episode, thanks for sharing! I’ve paddled all but 2 of the PP’s mentioned. Hope to see you guys at the show next weekend.
See ya there.
Thanks for this, much appreciated.
Great surprise with the Rockwood mention. We frequent this conservation park all the time.
Glad you liked it.
We use an inflatable sea eagle canoe for both us and our 2 puppers, sadly this year just 1 pupper, so that’ll be a little strange. Favourite for paddling hands down is Quetico. A bit nearer we love Pog, LOTR to waterfall at Mew always lovely and Charleston and not forgetting Silent Lake, because it’s so…quiet! Pretty new to your videos but love them 👍🏻
Thanks for the sea eagle tip. I'll look into it. Sorry to hear you're down pup. We have an old timer that doesn't usually make it on our trips anymore. He used to be a great camping companion. Now he stays home with our daughter. We haven't made it up to Quetico yet. The furthest we've gone is Sleeping Giant. We still have more parks to see and more paddling to do. Happy camping!
Second vote for Quetico. Gorgeous park, but a bit of a drive from southern ON.
We love paddling at Pog (Algonquin), Grundy, Bon Echo and Charleston Lake... all great! We have noticed an increase in the past couple of years around cautions on spreading invasive species from lake to lake via our kayak, have you? For example at Algonquin this year, we noticed a mobile boat wash station to rinse off hitch hikers. And at Bon Echo, we saw an area in the water cordoned off with buoys and signs asking paddlers not to go in that area to avoid spreading an invasive water plant that was growing there. So much going on to protect our parks, I love learning about these things!
I recall seeing boat wash stations at a couple of parks but I never really looked into it. We throw our kayaks on the roof of the truck so we'd see if anything like zebra mussels were attached.
@@CampingwiththeColes We said that same thing too to the park rangers! But they said there's a lot we can't see that we are carrying... microscopic organisms that can decimate a lake. All quite fascinating! Noticed you did the 3 lake loop on your paddle board at Grundy. We have been lifetime kayakers, but hubby's back seems happier on a SUP, so we are thinking of getting him one for this year. Do you find it good for longer distances if relatively calm?
@@mmcgray955 I like going longer distances on the SUP when in calm water. I like to stand up for most of it, then take a break and sit down with my feet in the water and maybe go for a swim. I then continue and do it again. It's very relaxing.
😮😢Charleston lake
Glad we found your channel. Great job.
We're glad you found us too! Happy camping.
Thank you for getting me through the slow days of winter. Those where all beautiful camp grounds with amazing lakes on it. This makes me miss the summer!!
Our next video will bring you right back to winter. We went to Arrowhead PP last weekend, staying in a cabin. Heavy snowfall.
@CampingwiththeColes you picked a wintery week to go cabin camping. Was it snowy at arrowhead? We got dumped with 2 feet over the weekend this week it's been 8 degrees everyday and now it's melting away again.
My wife and I stayed in a Yurt before we had kids one winter at McGregor Point it was an amazing experience.
Look forward to your next vid
@@devintimmins-litt748 we had an absolute dumping of snow when we were there. It couldn't have worked out better.
My late Yogi ( Bernease mountain dog) loved going on a kayak ride & we bought a double kayak & man did he love his ride.
Yeah, Cheryl thinks a tandem kayak might be what we're looking for. Thanks for the suggestion.
Great video. Of the 10 mentioned I have been to two Grundy and Restoule. I have a lot more parks to check out for paddling. My husband and I love Halfway Lake. One of our favourites.
Halfway Lake is one we haven't been to yet. We'll have to check it out.
Great choices that you’s made. Must of been hard to bring it down to 5 for sure. I was so fascinated with Rockwood the first time we went as we are from Niagara and it’s pretty much the closest. The scenery blew me away. You feel like you’re up North without the travel through Toronto. Thanks for this great video👍❤️
We knew we had to include Rockwood, even though it's not a Provincial Park. It is an amazing spot that you don't have to drive north for hours. Thanks for watching.
Great video, thanks for sharing. I would definitely take a look at Swift's Saranac LC models (Large Cockpit). You'll appreciate the storage too. If you need more cockpit space than that, then I would suggest a pack boat to get the feeling of a kayak, but with a more padded seat.
Thanks for the tips. I'll look into them.
Hello ! thank you so much the video is great and the information is perfect thank you very much.🎉
You are so welcome!
Thank-you for this post. I so appeciate any of your info that you can share. I am hoping to do my trip to St.Raphael PP in 2026/7. I am starting my research, training and prep for a hopefully post graduation and cancer, "reward" trip. I might do it solo, as I am not sure anyone I know, will want to go with me. Cheers
Very timely video as we book our sites for the coming season. Grundy, Charlston Lake and Algonquin are all on the list to explore this season. In viewing your videos, I often wonder when you go lake to lake, what do you do to not get lost? When you go down rivers, do you paddle back upstream or do you do a shuttle? We enjoy both kayaking and canoeing and look forward to exploring new rivers and lakes this season, but if we paddle out, we need to be able to paddle back again. Looking forward to seeing your itinerary for 2024😊
We always paddle out and back. When going from lake to lake we have a map with us and if we have cell service we can use Google Maps. Also, I have a pretty good sense of direction whereas Cheryl has no idea what direction she's going. If we relied on Cheryl we'd never make it back😋. If we do a river we try to do a river without a strong current so that we can go on it both ways. If the river does have a fairly strong current we always start out against the current so that the trip back is easier. We did a river once where we went against the current for an hour paddling hard and then came back in 15 minutes with the current just lily dipping. You're planned trips of Grundy, Charleston Lake and Algonquin all have easy paddling out and back. Have fun!
Great video as always!
I'd love to visit Samuel de Champlain, but need to have enough reserve power for CPAP machines.
Yeah, that's a problem. The only way to do it is with a good power station and they're pretty pricey.
Ok Samuel du Champlain, adding it to my list of places to go. 👍
Love, love, loved the video. I’m always impressed at how you keep all your footage and bring it back for videos like this.
When will we hear about your itinerary for 2024?
Thanks Alison. We are still working out our itinerary. Believe it or not we haven't really planned ahead yet past July. We'll probably share our itinerary in late March or April.
Whoa! It’s like you’re busy living life or something 😉
Look forward to hearing about the itinerary once you have it sorted out. 🙂
I’m looking forward to your “Sitting on my ass by a campfire doing nothing but reading” list.
My thalassophobia keeps me along the shoreline.
Near my cocktail. 😂
Great Top 5 plus 4 plus 1. 😁👍🏼
Great suggestion for a future video! 😄
Love the video! Have you any recommendations for good paddling in southwestern Ontario? I just got a kayak last summer, but haven’t been to any Ontario parks with it yet!
Unfortunately there isn't a lot of good paddling in SW Ontario Parks. Pinery has the Old Ausable river but it's straight out and back. We mentioned Rockwood Conservation Area already. Not much else I can think of.
Hello I use the Pelican Sentinel 100X EXO sit on top kayak with my dog (20lbs). I like that it has a grip mat/pad out front for him
Thanks for the tip🛶
Hey guys, great video as always, I am looking to buy my first paddle board and was hoping to get the name of the brand you are using and also, any advice for beginners in selecting paddle board will be great help. Thanks!
My paddle board is a Jimmy Styks paddle board. It was sold by Costco about 8 years ago. It has lasted very well. I don't think Costco sells them anymore though. It's just a low cost SUP. I think Costco sells Body Glove paddle boards now. When looking for paddleboards, the bigger (wider) the more stable it is and easier for beginners. Good luck and happy camping.
You should check out a pack boat. I believe Swift makes them. It’s an open kayak. Built on a kayak hull but open like a canoe
Thanks. I'll look into that.
Love this video! Excellent picks! Ben, about how long did that Grundy route take you?
I think that route was a very leisurely 3 hours for me. It can be done much quicker but I took extra time to do some filming along the way.
Thanks! Can't wait to try it out.
We want to check out Silent Lake and Killarney. Our kayaks are a bit larger than yours (18 feet), so we prefer longer paddles. Charleston Lake, Algonquin, Killbear and Restoule are our favourites so far.
Yeah, our kayaks are basically toys. It's always nice to get on the water in whatever you can.
@@CampingwiththeColes For sure! Like you, we are on the hunt for a kayak where we can bring our 60lb retriever with us. Beginning to think we have to to switch to a canoe.
Ben you say you are cramped and uncomfortable in your kayak. Try some different models, there are recreational kayaks with large cockpits and very comfortable seats. Some examples old town sorrento, old town loon, ws pungo.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into them.
What kind of cameras do you guys use when out on the water? Great videos by the way.Oh ya, will these places let you use the lakes if your not camping?
When out on the water Cheryl usually has a GoPro Hero 9 Black and I have a GoPro Hero7 Black. This past fall I got an Insta360 and have been playing around with it. I used that camera at Rockwood Conservation Area and Canisbay Lake campground of Algonquin. That camera gives some great angles and I can sometimes imitate drone shots with it. I'll be using it alot more this upcoming season.
We use sit on fishing style kayaks fits our dog and more comfortable all around
Our friend has one and it sure looks easier to get in and out of.
You should look in to the kayak sup hybrids like perception hi life or the crescent sup+
Thanks for the tips.
Thank you for good information! :) I have one question. 20:58 How did you get back to your car after padding all the way to East Beach?
We paddled back the same way. It's not too long of a trip.
We paddled back the same way. It's not too long of a trip.
@@CampingwiththeColes 😃👍
Thought you were doing a winter camping video?
We just got back yesterday. It'll be the next video.
Try a sea eagle inflatable canoe/kayak. They are amazing
Yeah, the inflatable kayaks look like they might be what I'm looking for. Thanks for the tip.
Clearwater Design Iqaluit has a big cockpit.
Thanks for the tip.
Tell your daughter I said hi (she was my teacher
You must be mistaken. We don't have a daughter that is a teacher.
Great video really enjoyed watching, me and my friends have a camping channel if you guys are interested in checking it out. I promise you won't regret it:)
LOL, we checked it out. Can't believe you guys from the UK have watched our camping videos from Canada. Keep up the good work.
You should just get a canoe. Lots of room for everyone
I hear ya but after 32 years of marriage we prefer to not be stuck in a canoe together lol. Maybe a solo canoe.