To celebrate Healthy Parks Healthy People Day, all provincial parks are offering free day-use this Friday! If you choose to stay the night, here are some awesome campsites available all weekend (available as of 12:00 pm on July 19, 2018).
Or, scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!).
Southern Ontario
Wheatley Provincial Park
Wheatley’s campgrounds are situated among a tangle of creeks in a beautifully wooded Carolinian forest (at the same latitude as northern California!). The park sits on a major migratory bird route and provides excellent bird-watching.
Wheatley is 1 hour from Detroit, Windsor and London.
Balsam Lake Provincial Park
Balsam Lake campers love the Lookout Trail (2.6 km). Walk through eskers and kames formed over 10,000 years ago from the Wisconsin Glacier, and take in a panoramic view of the surrounding area.
Events taking place at Balsam Lake this Friday include a Planting Blitz, a Go Wild for Art program and Beach Yoga!
Balsam Lake is 2 hours from Toronto, and 45 minutes from Orillia.
Ferris Provincial Park
At Ferris, you’ll find over 10 km of trails that take you through forest and riverside settings. The Ranney Falls trail follows the original roadway to Ferris Provincial Park before looping back along the river. The suspension bridge offers a panoramic view of the Trent River Gorge and — of course — the trail’s namesake Ranney Falls.
Ferris is 1.5 hours from Kingston and just over 2 hours from Toronto.
Voyageur Provincial Park
Voyageur has many small bays and inlets that visitors can explore by canoe or kayak. Dropping a line in the spring to catch catfish and barbotte (bullhead) is a popular local activity.
Voyageur is just over an hour away from both Ottawa and Montreal.
Near north
Chutes Provincial Park
Situated between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, Chutes offers a hiking trail with great views of scenic waterfalls and a river gorge. It is a great base to explore Manitoulin Island and the North Channel of Lake Huron.
Chutes is just over 1 hour from Sudbury, and 2.5 hours from Sault Ste. Marie.
Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park
Samuel de Champlain is located on the historic Mattawa River fur trade route in the Mattawa Valley. Natural heritage education staff provide interactive programming suitable for all ages. The refreshing, clear waters of Moore Lake provide a relaxing way to spend a warm day.
A number of outdoor activities are planned this Friday at Samuel de Champlain, including an outdoor yoga session with Park Naturalist Mary!
Samuel de Champlain is 40 minutes east of North Bay, and 3.5-4 hours from Toronto or Ottawa.
Northeastern Ontario
Halfway Lake Provincial Park
This family-oriented campground boasts two buoyed beaches, great swimming and terrific fishing.
Friday is full of fun events for Healthy Parks Healthy People Day!
Halfway Lake is 1 hour north of Sudbury.
Nagagamisis Provincial Park
Camp beside the lake, and enjoy easy access to the water all weekend long. Anglers return to Nagagamisis year after year, drawn by the excellent fishing for Walleye, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch in this large secluded lake, north of Hornepayne.
Enjoy a Discovery Hike on Shaganash Trail on Friday to celebrate Healthy Parks Healthy People Day or take part in our Art in the Park program on Saturday!
Nagagamisis is 4.5 hours north of Sault Ste Marie.
Northwestern Ontario
Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
The 40 m high Kakabeka Falls is the second highest waterfall in Ontario. This park offers excellent views of the falls and gorge from the boardwalk that wraps around the top of the falls.
Join the park on Healthy Parks Healthy People Day for some neat events in the park including kids programming, a live show demonstrating the wonders of weather and climate, and a Discovery Hike!
Kakabeka Falls is 30 minutes from Thunder Bay.
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Sleeping Giant has over 100 km of incredible hiking trails with spectacular features such as the “Sea Lion,” Tee Harbour, and breathtaking views of Lake Superior.
Sleeping Giant is hosting a “Go Wild for Art” program on Friday to celebrate Healthy Parks Healthy People Day! Don’t miss it!
Sleeping Giant is 1 hour from Thunder Bay.