This is a very small park and it feels like it gets over looked a lot. It is not even in the online reservation system on the Ontario Parks website (although the website does say that they will be adding this park to the reservation system as of 2020). It is mainly run by the township and when I called the first number listed on the website just before I left to ask if there were any sites available, I got the township office and had to call back on the second line (705-544-2050). There are about 61 sites in the park and when I asked if there were any sites still left open they said "Yes. 61" Sounds like I might have the whole park to myself!
Unfortunately, no internet also meant no debit machine. And I hadn't had time to go get money out of my account before I left. She was completely understanding of this (I am sure this happens more often than she would like here) and when I said that I would just run to the store that I passed about a kilometer back and get money from the ATM there, she said not to worry about it. She was about to go home and wouldn't be there by the time I got back. Instead, she said that I could pay the next day and that if no one was in the office, there were self serve envelopes to put the money in. This was easier for both her and I so we agreed to that. Besides, she already had my license plate number and address so she could track me down if I didn't pay up. She told me I could choose any site I wanted and to just put the permit on the post.
I drove around the entire loop looking for the best one. There was only one other camper on the campground and they had site number 11. (Guess I didn't have the whole park to myself after all, ah well). I chose site number 5 and noticed that the post for putting your permit in had seen better days.
I wasn't sure what to make of some of the sites. Some of them were long and narrow with no fire pits; as though intended for an RV. But there was no electricity and I had been under the impression that this section was for tents only. Maybe I was mistaken on that point. Although the sites looked very well cared for, I noticed most of the permit posts were falling apart and needed numbers repainted on them. |
I had almost completely finished walking the loop when I could see a building in the center of the loop. I wondered what it was and how to get to it since there was a bunch of trees between me and it. After a bit of searching I discovered an over grown road jutting in to the center of the loop and subsequently to the building. The further down the road I went the more over grown it became, until I was climbing over deadfall and the ferns were whipping at my pant legs. And what was this mysterious building? It was, at one time, the bathroom for this part of the campground. One look told me that this building hadn't been used in a very long time and there was a sign on it saying "Closed. Please Do Not Use". I wondered if it was closed because it was falling down or because there was no water. I wondered this because I realized that I hadn't found a single water faucet on my search. So I had no water. |
I didn't have a campfire because I hadn't bought any wood and the office was closed. There didn't seem to be a park store in the first place. I don't know if they even had any wood for sale, come to think of it.
It is so quiet and peaceful here, which isn't surprising considering there is hardly anyone here. I did end up with more neighbours who pulled in to the site next to me at about midnight. But all in all, there were not a lot of people here. It was almost as quiet as it is when I am backpacking. I was actually thinking that most backpackers wouldn't mind this at all. We are used to not having a bathroom, running water, or people when we are in the back country. Not much different.
The moon came out and shone very brightly and the sound of the river was soothing. It was a gorgeous night for camping.
The outside of the building was nice looking and nicely landscaped. The inside though, could do with some updating. It made me think, once again, how much this park could really use some money. I was seeing all over the place where this need was great, but at the same time, they did marvelously with what ever funds they do have. The park signs were all new and beautiful. The grounds were well kept. The campsites were well kept. There is love and care going into the place, It's just that you can tell that there is no money available to bring this park out of the past and into the present. |
So, what I formulated from my visit to this park is that although things are falling apart here, there is still much care given to the place. I see new things (new signs and picnic tables) but I also see a lot of old.As a day-use park this park is pretty nice. As a tenting park, it leaves something to be desired. I have not figured out if they are slowly upgrading things as money comes in or if they have given up on some things. I like to think that they are working on updating things and that it is just a slow process. If so, then in a few years from now this park could be spectacular. I can just imagine how much greater this park could be if it had the money needed to support it. (Getting internet here for the office would be a big win!) For now, it is just stuck in the past.