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Ontario Parks

Reservations - Rules and Regulations

Rules and Regulations

What You Need To Know

  • Reservations are accepted up to 5 months in advance of your arrival date. This means you can call on February 1, 2015 to make a reservation for July 1, 2015.
  • The Ontario Parks Internet Reservation Service is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The five month reservation window starts at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time daily.
    • You can use the Internet service to book campsites, yurts, most backcountry reservations.
    • First time users must complete a registration form to create an account with an email address and unique password.
    • Each time you make a reservation, you will be prompted to enter your email address and password.
    • The information collected in your User Profile is confidential and will not be disclosed to outside parties.
  • The Ontario Parks Call Centre Reservation Service (1-888-668-7275) or 1-519-826-5290 (outside North America) is offered 14 hours a day, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time, year-round (closed Christmas and New Years day).
    • You can use the call centre to book campsites, backcountry sites, cabins, yurts and cottages.
  • There is a non-refundable fee of $11.00 for each internet reservation made and $13.00 for call centre reservations, payable at the time your reservation is confirmed.
  • Group campsite reservations for most parks can only be made by calling the park directly. As a pilot project, group campsite reservations for 12 southwestern parks can now be made by contacting the Ontario Parks Call Centre or online through the reservation website. Check this list of participating parks.
  • No more than six people can occupy a campsite unless these people comprise a single family of parents and their children.
  • One vehicle is included in your campsite permit. Additional Vehicle Permits must be purchased for all other vehicles at the time of registration and they may have to be parked in a separate designated parking area from your campsite. The number of vehicles permitted on a campsite varies from park to park – please contact the park directly for more information.
  • A confirmation email will be sent for all internet and call centre reservations (where an email address is provided). If you do not have an email address and your reservation was made at least 7 days in advance of your arrival, a confirmation letter will be mailed to you.
  • Multiple reservations in the same name for the same time period are not allowed.
    • Reservations must be made in the name of the person who is arriving to pick up the camping permit.
    • If you are reserving for another person, you must use “Step 3 of 5: Site Occupant” under the payment process function at the time the reservation is made, to assign the permit to that person or provide this information to your call centre agent.
    • You cannot change the reservation name from one person to another at the time of arrival.
  • Reservations cannot be changed or cancelled more than 4 months in advance of your arrival.
    • To cancel or change a reservation, call 1-888-ONT-PARK (668-7275), or go on-line at www.ontarioparks.com.
    • An administration fee of $10.50 will apply if your reservation is changed through the call centre and $8.50 if it is changed online. Note: the party leader name and alternate party leader name cannot be changed for Interior/Backcountry reservations made for Quetico Provincial Park.
    • If you cancel your reservation or shorten your stay a 10 to 50 per cent penalty charge will apply. The percentage is based on how long your reservation has been held. For example, if your reservation has been held for one month or less, a penalty of 10 percent will apply; more than one month and up to two months – 20 per cent etc. to a maximum of 50 per cent (five months).
    • Cancellations and changes to the arrival date must be made before 12:00 noon (Eastern Time) on the day of arrival or a “no show” fee will be applied. A “no show” will result in the reservation being cancelled and a penalty of the first night’s camping fee, plus the applicable percentage penalty charge will be applied. No show penalty charges.
    • For Quetico, cancellations or changes to the arrival date must be made 72 hours in advance of your day of arrival. The penalty charge will be the applicable percentage penalty, 10 to 50% based on how long the reservation has been held, applied to your $100.00 deposit.

Reservation Information Requirements

  • When you make a reservation, please have the following information available:
    • Park name
    • Campground name
    • Arrival date
    • Length of stay (number of nights)
    • Email address (mandatory for internet reservations)
    • Number of people in your party
    • Size and type of camping equipment
    • Eligibility for discount camping rates (Ontario Seniors/Residents with disabilities)
    • Method of payment

Fees and Payment

  • Click Fees for a listing of all Ontario Parks fees. Discounts are offered to the following:
    • Ontario residents 65 and older. Please note, if there is anyone between the ages of 18 and 64 registered to the site they will become the registered owner and full rates will apply.
    • Ontario residents who have a CNIB identify card.
    • Ontario residents who have a Ministry of Transportation accessible parking permit.
    • Discount fees do not apply to yurts, cabins or cottages.

  • Internet reservations can be paid by Visa or MasterCard only. Telephone reservations can be paid by Visa, MasterCard, cheque or money orders.

    • Cheques and money orders must be in Canadian funds.
    • Cheques drawn on US banks will be deposited in US funds; please calculate the currency exchange prior to issuing the cheque.
    • NSF/cancelled cheques will void your reservation and a $35.00 administration fee will apply.
    • To confirm your campsite cheques and money orders must be received within 14 days of making your reservation and at least 21 days prior to your arrival date (for cheques) and 10 days prior to your arrival date (for money orders). Your campsite cannot be guaranteed until your payment arrives.
    • Make cheques payable to the Minister of Finance and remember to write the park name and confirmation number on the back.
    • Mail cheques and money orders to: Ontario Parks Reservations, 130 Research Lane, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 5G3

Campsite Availability

  • If you wish to visit a particular park, complete the reservation details under “Getting Started” and then click “On a Map”, “On a List” or “On a Calendar” to check campsite availability.
  • If you are searching for a new park to visit, you may wish to choose your destination by clicking on “Browse Maps”. Once you select the region you would like to visit, you will be directed to a regional map of parks that accept reservations. Click on the park icon to view campground maps.
  • Each park sets their own limit of campsites available for reservation according to availability and demand from a minimum of 85% to 100% reservable.
  • The following parks do not accept reservations and are available to campers on a first-come, first-served basis: MacLeod, Missinaibi, Ojibway and Pakwash.

Car Camping Reservations

  • To make a site specific reservation, where a specific campsite is booked, payment of all fees is required at the time of booking.
  • A campsite can be reserved for a maximum of 23 nights.
  • Reservations can be made up to 8:00 p.m. on your day of arrival.
  • Reservations are only held until 8:00 a.m. the day following your scheduled arrival date. Reservations not claimed by this time will be considered a “no show” and the park can re-sell that site. No show penalty charges apply.
  • No more than six people can occupy a campsite unless these people comprise a single family of parents and their children.
  • Where space permits, you are allowed up to three pieces of shelter equipment plus one dining shelter/tarp on your campsite. Only one piece of shelter equipment can be a tent trailer, house trailer, motor home, or self-propelled camping unit.
  • Check in time is after 2:00 p.m. and check out time is before 2:00 p.m.
  • Campers with reservations who shorten their stay after arriving at the following 20 most popular parks will be refunded 50% for any unused camping nights: Algonquin, Arrowhead, Awenda, Balsam Lake, Blue Lake, Bon Echo, Charleston Lake, Grundy Lake, Killarney, Killbear, Long Point, MacGregor Point, Pinery, Point Farms, Port Burwell, Presqu’ile, Sandbanks, Sauble Falls, Sleeping Giant, Rushing River

Backcountry Reservations

  • Backcountry reservations can be made through our website, call centre and in person for Algonquin, Bon Echo, Charleston Lake, Frontenac, Fushimi Lake, Grundy Lake, Kawartha Highlands, Killarney, The Massasauga, Murphys Point and Quetico. All in person reservations can only be made for the park you are making the reservation at.
  • Please call the park directly for trip planning advice (e.g. selecting a trail or route based on your level of expertise) before making a reservation.
  • You must obtain an Interior camping permit from your Access Point / Ranger Station; prior to entering the Interior/Backcountry.
  • Reservations can be made up to the day of arrival.
  • Check in time is after 2:00 p.m. and check out time is before 2:00 p.m.
  • Reservations are only held until 8:00 a.m. the day following your scheduled arrival date. Reservations not claimed by this time will be considered a “no show” and will result in the reservation being cancelled and a penalty equivalent to one campsite night (B – Middle, no hydro, no showers) , plus the applicable percentage penalty charge will be applied.
  • Maximum party size is nine persons per campsite except at Frontenac, Killarney hiking trail, Bon Echo, and Charleston Lake which allow a maximum of six.
  • The maximum length of stay on any one backcountry site is 16 consecutive nights (except Frontenac where the maximum is three nights).
  • Backcountry reservations at Killarney for George, O.S.A., David and Killarney Lakes are limited to four nights on each lake.
  • The reservation fee plus a deposit of $50.00 is required, except for Quetico, where a $100.00 deposit is required. For Kawartha Highlands, full payment is required at the time of reservation. For cancellations or to shorten your length of stay the penalty charge will be applied to your deposit (see What You Need To Know section).
  • Cancellations or changes to your arrival date can be made up to 12:00 noon (Eastern Time) on the day of arrival except for Quetico which requires a minimum of three days notice.
  • If entering Quetico from outside of Canada it is your responsibility to clear Canada Customs. Arrangements can be made to acquire a “Remote Area Border Crossing Permit” by, telephone 807-624-2162 or http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass/menu-eng.html

Roofed Accommodation Reservations

  • A non-refundable reservation fee is required for all reservations.
  • Yurts, Camp Cabins, Soft-sided Shelters and Trailer Equipped campsites can all be reserved through the Internet Reservation Service. Rustic Cabins, Cottages and Algonquin’s backcountry Ranger Cabins can only be reserved by phoning the call centre 1-888-668-7275 or 1-519-826-5290 (outside North America).
  • The maximum length of stay for rustic cabins and cottages is 14 consecutive nights.
  • In the peak season (3rd Friday in June to Labour Day), Rustic Cabins and Cottages are rented for one-week minimum (Saturday to Saturday inclusive).
  • Yurts, Camp Cabins and Trailer Equipped Campsites are rented for a two-night minimum on weekends year round (three nights on long weekends).
  • Yurts have a two-night minimum (Victoria Day until Thanksgiving) during weekdays at Bronte Creek, Bon Echo, Killarney, Pancake Bay, Pinery, and Silent Lake.
  • Camp Cabins, Soft-sided Shelters and Trailer Equipped Sites have a two-night minimum at all times.
  • Reservations are only held until 8:00 a.m. the day following your scheduled arrival date.
  • Reservations not claimed by this time will be considered a “no show” and a penalty of the first night’s fee, plus the applicable percentage penalty charge will be applied. No show penalty charges.
  • Full payment of camping fees is required at the time your reservation is made.
  • Algonquin’s backcountry Ranger Cabins require full payment of the cabins fees at the time of booking plus the $50.00 backcountry fee deposit (Brent and Kiosk cabins do not require the backcountry fee deposit).
  • Yurts, Camp Cabins, Soft-sided Shelters and Trailer Equipped Sites require full payment when the reservation is made.
  • For cancellations or to shorten your length of stay a penalty charge will be applied to your deposit (see What You Need To Know section).
  • Upon arrival, a security deposit ($100 to $500) may be required. The security deposit is refundable at checkout subject to inspection.
  • Pets are not permitted in any roofed accommodation or on the campsite.
  • Smoking is prohibited in all facilities. Cooking in yurts is not permitted.
  • For Rustic Cabins, Cottages, Yurts, Camp Cabins, Soft-sided Shelters and Trailer Equipped Sites check in time will be after 3:00 pm and check out time will be before 11:00 am. For Algonquin’s backcountry ranger cabins check in time is after 2:00pm, and check out time is before 12:00 noon.

Alcohol Rules

  • Alcohol is permitted in Ontario Parks for most of the season with the exception of a two-week period around the Victoria Day weekend. For 2018, the alcohol ban is in place from May 11 to May 21 inclusive in the following parks:
    • Arrowhead
    • Awenda
    • Balsam Lake
    • Bass Lake
    • Blue Lake
    • Bon Echo
    • Bronte Creek
    • Craigleith
    • Darlington
    • Earl Rowe
    • Emily
    • Ferris
    • Fitzroy
    • Grundy Lake
    • Inverhuron
    • Killbear
    • Long Point
    • MacGregor Point
    • Mara
    • McRae Point
    • Murphys Point
    • Oastler Lake
    • Pinery
    • Point Farms
    • Port Burwell
    • Presqu’ile
    • Rideau River
    • Rock Point
    • Rondeau
    • Rushing River
    • Samuel de Champlain
    • Sandbanks
    • Sauble Falls
    • Selkirk
    • Sharbot Lake
    • Sibbald Point***
    • Silver Lake
    • Six Mile Lake
    • Sleeping Giant
    • Sturgeon Bay
    • Turkey Point
    • Wheatley

***Sibbald Point also bans alcohol around the Labour Day weekend. The 2018 ban is August 30 to September 3, inclusive.

For More Information

For general information about visiting a provincial park call 1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746); write or phone the park you plan to visit; or check the Ontario Parks website (www.OntarioParks.com).