For me, tent camping was not love at first sight. Sleeping on the hard ground on a borrowed air mattress and leaky tent was not my idea of comfort. Don’t get me wrong, my outdoor abode of choice was my family’s rustic cabin in the forest. Its outhouse, foam mattresses and wood cookstove were by no means the lap of luxury, but it had all the comforts I needed. Unfortunately, that camp is a long ways away and I realized I needed to embrace tent camping in Ontario if I was to enjoy the forest experiences I love more frequently.
I never seem to do things in gentle progressive steps. The first time tent camping started by driving 14 hours to Pukaskwa National Park on the northern shores of Lake Superior. On the long lonely stretch of canadian shield between Wawa and Thunder Bay, I learned a lot about what was important when it came to sleeping in a tent. I also learned on our 18km hike in the backcountry why I choose to sleep in a tent. To have nature just outside the zipper.
Since that trip we have stopped borrowing tents and explored many parks in Ontario with our family. Here is quick list of things your need and 8 of Ontario’s finest parks.
Tent camping kit
You should think about your kit before you go off tent camping. With so many options of price and manufacturer, it can be overwhelming to decide what kind of gear you need. However after many backcountry camping trips in Ontario and in Norway, I have learned you don’t need that much for tent camping as you may think. Less gear = less weight to carry and care for. We have become very minimal campers and this is our camping kit for both car camping and backcountry.
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Tent, poles and stakes
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Mattress
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Sleeping bags
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Tarp (fly)
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Flashlight
Axe, knife and matches, Extra rope
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Camp kitchen
We have a compact camp kit with bowls, cups, pot, cutlery and room for my Primus stove and fuel. Perfect for backcountry camping as well car camping.
Read more about tent camping : 101 tent camping I wrote for Camping for everyone.
Hattie Cove
Pukaskwa National Park
The landscape in the park is diverse, rugged and wild; with wonderful hiking opportunities and canoeing.
Pukaskwa’s Coastal Hiking Trail is a premier backcountry-hiking destination in Northern Ontario. My family pitched a tent in the quiet campgrounds and hiked a part of the coastal trail to the White River suspension bridge (18 km round trip). We also swam and enjoyed Lake Superior’s beauty when we hiked the mini trails in the park and foraged a few mushrooms, blueberries and lingonberries by the trails. This park is for families that are seeking solitude in nature and looking for a good hiking challenge in a scenic landscape. The next time we are come back maybe we will hike the whole Coastal Hiking Trail (60 km).
Perfect for backcountry camping and car camping
Agawa Rock Pictographs
Lake Superior Provincial Park
We don’t have first hand experience camping here, but I know lots of families who enjoy this beautiful park with gorgeous beaches. A highlight of our Ontario road trip we did as a family, was a stop at the Agawa Rock and Pictographs where we enjoyed a half kilometer mini scenic hike to the Agawa Rock and got close to ancient pictorgraphs. Perfect for backcountry camping and car camping
Algonquin Park
My family canoe camped here in the fall and it did not disappoint. It was both a cultural experience as well as an outdoor adventure. I felt we were connecting with Ontario’s true soul when we paddled through Ragged Lake. Melodie Percy grew up camping every summer in Algonquin and has continued to go here every summer with her family. “A few thousand square miles of beautiful landscapes. Perfect for the car camper or the adventurous interior portager.” Perfect for backcountry camping and camping.Read more about camping in Algonquin by Melodie.
Georgian Bay Islands National Park
By Marina Burke
One of the hallmarks of Georgian Bay is that you can feel the history in the ancient rocks and wildlife in the land. The Georgian Bay Islands National Park inspired the Group of Seven, a collection of landscape artists known for their inspirational portrayal of Canadian nature.
Beausoleil is the biggest of all the Georgian Bay islands. You can take a boat, called the DayTripper from Honey Harbour, which takes you directly to Beausoleil Island. On the island you can go hiking or rent bikes. The waters of the Georgian bay are clear and refreshing.
Perfect for backcountry camping
Bruce Peninsula National Park
This is a must visit park for Ontarians and in my opinion the most scenic park in Ontario. Unique landscapes with rocky cliffs and azure blue water with unique attractions like Blue Grotto and Flower Pot Island with many amazing hiking opportunities on the rugged Bruce Trail. While the car camping site was convenient the real experience was camping in the backcountry campsite at Stormhaven. Access to the site is only by foot to a limited number of reserved wood platforms overlooking Georgian Bay.
This park is high in demand so you have to book your campsites early. Only part of the park is open in 2020, check on updates from the park. Perfect for backcountry camping and car camping.
Thousand Island Park National Park
Thousand Island Park is located between Toronto and Ottawa by Gananoque, a great park for families interested in trying out kayaking and “backcountry” camping for the first time. We rented kayaks from 1000 Islands Kayaking in Ganoque and stayed two nights on one of the islands. 1000 islands Kayaking also have courses for beginners and offers guided overnight camping trips if you are not comfortable exploring on your own.
Perfect for backcountry camping.
Sandbanks Provincial Park
Sandbanks is an attraction in itself with beautiful sand beaches and sand dunes supplying a great visit for families. Located in beautiful Prince Edward County it is perfect for families looking to relax at the beach. We have gone to this park as a day trip from Toronto, but particularly enjoyed an overnight tent camping experience in their campsite.
Check if the park is open for camping 2020.
Elora Gorge Conservation Area
This small gorge offers tubing, swimming and hiking in a scenic setting nestled in the beautiful town of Elora. It is not far away from Toronto and can be done as a day trip. We especially loved the tubing here. Great for tent camping. Check if the park is open for camping 2020. Read about our camping here.
I asked our facebook community about what they thought was the best camping in Ontario. Here is what they said.
Presqu’ile Provincial Park is nice with good beaches and a marsh.
I’ve heard Pinery Provincial Park is gorgeous and I plan to try it this summer. A friend said the beach is better than the ocean.
Cape Croker is nice and quiet with good rock climbing.
Awenda Provincial Park – a great beach with the most amazing large rocks. Also good canoeing and trails; all are great for different reasons.
Heather:
Pancake Bay Provincial Park – the best beaches in the world!
Bronwyn: Massassauga Park is great if you have a canoe. Remote and close by. Totally doable in a normal two-day weekend. Awesome getaway.
