In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
A loop of around 1,450 kilometres through Ontario's lake country: canoe trips between maple forests, granite outcrops on Georgian Bay, a ferry across Lake Huron and limestone cliffs above turquoise water.
The spirit of the route
An hour north of Toronto the city ends and the Canadian Shield breaks through the surface: pink and grey granite outcrops, with lakes, swamp and mixed forest in between. On Highway 60 through Algonquin, mist hangs over the lakes in the morning, a loon calls, and with a bit of luck a moose stands knee-deep in the water beside the road. In autumn sugar and red maples turn the hills red and orange, the nights get cold, and the canoe lies dripping next to your site. On Georgian Bay you sit in the evening on smooth-worn rock beneath wind-bent pines and watch the sun go down over the water. The Chi-Cheemaun carries your camper from Manitoulin across Lake Huron to Tobermory, where white dolomite cliffs drop into clear, ice-cold water. This route lives on paddling, short hikes and long evenings by the campfire – and on campsites booked in good time.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Toronto to Huntsville (Arrowhead Provincial Park) (approx. 215 km)
- The drive
- Head north out of Toronto on Highway 400, then from Barrie take Highway 11 through Orillia and Gravenhurst to Huntsville. Beyond Washago the landscape visibly changes: granite rock cuts, lakes and forest instead of farmland. The road is four-lane and well built, about 2.5 hours of pure driving time – on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings the traffic heading to cottage country, or back into the city, is often at a standstill.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst with the Muskoka Discovery Centre and the historic steamships on Lake Muskoka – check the timetable and season beforehand.
- Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site in Gravenhurst: birthplace of the physician Norman Bethune (Parks Canada, open seasonally).
- Lions Lookout in Huntsville: view over Fairy Lake, the town and the wooded hills, a foretaste of Algonquin in autumn.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Arrowhead Provincial Park, a few kilometres north of Huntsville on Highway 11: open year-round, around 380 campsites, about 175 of them with electricity and a few pull-throughs, showers, washroom building, sani-dump with fresh water, three sandy beaches on Arrowhead Lake. Reserve at reservations.ontarioparks.ca. Closer to Toronto as a stopover: Six Mile Lake Provincial Park on Highway 400 near Port Severn (seasonal).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Along the route in Muskoka there is practically no freely accessible Crown land with vehicle access for motorhomes, and many municipalities prohibit overnighting in public car parks. Supermarket or Walmart car parks only with the express permission of the store – ask inside beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- Avoid the Hwy 407 ETR north of Toronto: it is a private toll road billed via licence plate, and with rental vehicles the rental company adds an administration fee. On Hwy 400 the limit is now mostly 110 km/h from the 401 to Lake Joseph Road. Fill up and shop in Huntsville – there is hardly any supply in the Algonquin corridor.
2Stage 2: Huntsville to Algonquin Provincial Park (Highway 60 Corridor) (approx. 110 km)
- The drive
- Take Highway 60 east via Dwight to the West Gate at Oxtongue Lake, then 56 km through the park to the East Gate. Two lanes, well paved, 80 km/h, gentle hills, lakes to the left and right. All the sights are signposted with distances from the West Gate. Pure driving time to the campgrounds is under an hour – plan at least two nights for this stage.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Lookout Trail (km 39) and Track and Tower Trail (km 25): short, steep trails to viewpoints over a sea of maple and conifer forest, especially good very early in the morning in autumn.
- Algonquin Visitor Centre (km 43) with an exhibition, viewing terrace and park information; opposite it is the Spruce Bog Boardwalk (km 42.5) across a bog.
- Algonquin Logging Museum (km 54.5): a 1.5 km loop trail with replicas of a logging camp, a steam alligator tug and a log slide; the reception building is open from late June to mid-October, the trail is accessible year-round.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: There are eight Ontario Parks campgrounds along Highway 60. Mew Lake (km 30.6): open year-round, with electricity, showers, sani-dump and heated yurts; since 2026 the office there also serves as the contact point for Lake of Two Rivers (permits, firewood, information). Lake of Two Rivers (km 31.8): around 240 sites, some with electricity, showers, washroom building, sandy beach and store, in 2026 from 8 May to 25 October (its own office has been permanently closed since April 2026). Pog Lake (km 37): pine forest, electricity, showers, sani-dump, in 2026 from 14 May to 13 October. More basic: Canisbay Lake and Rock Lake (until 18 October), Kearney Lake (until 12 October). Reservations open five months ahead; from July to Labour Day a maximum stay of seven nights applies in Algonquin.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the provincial park you may only overnight on booked campsites; parking on the shoulder of Highway 60 is prohibited and dangerous. Legal nights in nature are only possible in the backcountry by canoe or on foot (backcountry permit, designated campsite on the route).
- Insider tip for campers
- Day passes (Daily Vehicle Permit) can be bought online up to five days ahead; on autumn weekends, above all on Thanksgiving weekend in early October, they are often sold out – then there is no admission. With a camping booking, one vehicle is covered. Canoes can be rented from the Portage Store on Canoe Lake (km 14) and from outfitters on the Lake Opeongo Road; a paddle on Canoe Lake or Lake of Two Rivers early in the morning is the quietest time for moose and beaver.
3Stage 3: Algonquin to Killbear Provincial Park (Parry Sound) (approx. 210 km)
- The drive
- Take Highway 60 back to Huntsville, briefly Highway 11 south, and at Utterson turn onto Highway 141 via Rosseau: two lanes, hilly and winding, between lakes and rocks, with less traffic than on the main roads. At the end of Highway 141 join Hwy 400 north past Parry Sound and, north of Nobel, take Highway 559 for about 18 km to the Killbear peninsula. About 3 hours of pure driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Ragged Falls just before the West Gate at Oxtongue Lake: a short trail to a broad cascade over granite steps (provincial park, day visits only).
- Tower Hill Lookout in Parry Sound: an old fire tower above the town with a view of the harbour and the islands of Georgian Bay.
- Lighthouse Point and Lookout Point Trail in Killbear: pink granite, wind-bent pines and sunset over the open water.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Killbear Provincial Park: around 880 campsites in several campgrounds along the coast, a good 250 of them with electricity (including Kilcoursie, Beaver Dams, Lighthouse Point and Harold Point), showers, washroom buildings, a sani-dump and fill station; Granite Saddle, Harold Point, Lighthouse Point and Georgian are radio-free. Open in 2026 from 8 May to 2 November. The waterfront sites go quickly – book five months ahead, maximum seven nights in summer.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Around Parry Sound the same applies as in Muskoka: overnighting in public car parks is mostly banned by municipal bylaw, and Crown land with motorhome access is rare. A night in one of the provincial parks is the reliable way.
- Insider tip for campers
- Killbear is one of the most important refuges of the Eastern Massasauga, Ontario's only venomous snake: stay on the trails, wear sturdy footwear, leave snakes alone and report sightings to park staff. Before the long stage north, empty your grey water and take on fresh water at the park's dump and fill station. Fill up and shop in Parry Sound.
4Stage 4: Parry Sound to Killarney Provincial Park (optional) (approx. 215 km)
- The drive
- Take Highway 69 north: partly widened to four lanes, on the remaining sections two lanes with a lot of truck traffic; the widening towards Sudbury is progressing only section by section, so allow for roadworks. Pass the French River to the Highway 637 turn-off, then 67 km through rock and forest to the end of the road in the village of Killarney. About 2.5 hours of pure driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- French River Visitor Centre on Highway 69: bridge over the gorge and an exhibition on the history of the fur traders' route.
- Granite Ridge Trail and Chikanishing Trail in Killarney: short trails over granite ridges with views of the white quartzite hills of the La Cloche Mountains and Georgian Bay.
- Village of Killarney with harbour and lighthouse; Herbert Fisheries, with fish and chips from a food truck on the channel, is an institution.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: George Lake Campground in Killarney Provincial Park, about 10 km before the village: open year-round (reachable only on foot in winter), showers, sani-dump, beach on George Lake and yurts usable year-round. No electrical hookups, narrow access roads – rather unsuitable for vehicles over about 10 m. Sites are booked out months ahead in summer and for the autumn colours. Without a booking: Grundy Lake Provincial Park on Highway 69 (seasonal, with electricity and showers).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): North of the French River begins the zone in which people without Canadian residence need a paid permit to camp on Crown land (Non-resident Crown Land Camping Permit, per person and night, via the Natural Resources Information Portal or ServiceOntario). Exempt, among others, are those who have rented a camping vehicle from a business in Ontario – check the current status of the rule before the trip. Inside the provincial park, free camping is prohibited.
- Insider tip for campers
- Highway 637 is a dead end with no petrol station until the village: fill up at the junction with Highway 69 (petrol stations at Britt, Grundy Lake or Estaire). The Crack, the best-known day hike, is demanding, and its car park on Highway 637 (about 7 km east of the George Lake office) fills early in autumn; day passes are valid only for the place booked. If you skip Killarney, drive from Parry Sound directly via Midland, Collingwood and Owen Sound to Tobermory (see stage 5).
5Stage 5: Killarney to Tobermory (via Manitoulin Island and the ferry) (approx. 300 km)
- The drive
- Take Highway 637 back to Highway 69, go north to Sudbury and west on Highway 17 as far as Espanola, then Highway 6 south across the single-lane swing bridge at Little Current onto Manitoulin Island and across the island to South Baymouth. There, take the MS Chi-Cheemaun for about two hours across Lake Huron to Tobermory. About 3.5 hours of pure driving time plus the ferry – a long day; a night on Manitoulin is the more relaxed variant. Without Killarney (overland from Parry Sound): Highway 400 and Highway 12 to Midland, Highway 26 via Wasaga Beach and Collingwood to Owen Sound, then Highway 6 to Tobermory, about 330 km and 4.5 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Swing bridge at Little Current: during the shipping season it swings open regularly during the day for boats – traffic then stands for a quarter of an hour.
- Bridal Veil Falls near Kagawong and the Cup and Saucer Trail on the north side of Manitoulin: a waterfall with a swimming pool and a cliff trail above the Niagara Escarpment.
- Crossing on the Chi-Cheemaun: from the upper deck you see the islands of Fathom Five National Marine Park and the lighthouse at Big Tub Harbour as you approach Tobermory.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Tobermory Parks Canada has only the Cyprus Lake Campground in Bruce Peninsula National Park (drinking water, flush toilets, central showers, sani-dump at the office, yurts, no electrical hookups; reservations from May to October at reservation.pc.gc.ca). Note: in 2026 the campground has been closed since the end of August because of bears that have become habituated to food, most recently extended to 31 October – check the status beforehand for the 2027 season. Alternatives are private campgrounds in Tobermory and Miller Lake or Sauble Falls Provincial Park (see stage 7).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the national park and in Tobermory, overnighting in car parks is prohibited; the municipalities on the peninsula run checks in summer. On Manitoulin Island there are First Nations lands (including Wiikwemkoong) – overnight there only with the permission of the community concerned.
- Insider tip for campers
- In 2026 the Chi-Cheemaun runs from 1 May to 18 October, from 8 September only twice daily (plus Friday evening); the fare depends on vehicle length. Be sure to reserve (ontarioferries.com), check in at least one hour before departure and observe the propane limits for motorhomes (at most two cylinders with a combined capacity of no more than 65 litres, readable on the container) – with too much propane on board, boarding can be refused. Without a reservation in autumn, you risk a five-hour detour overland.
6Stage 6: Tobermory to Bruce Peninsula National Park (Grotto, Cyprus Lake) (approx. 40 km)
- The drive
- Short distances: from the town take Highway 6 south and then the Cyprus Lake Road through forest to the car park at Cyprus Lake, about 15 km in all. Singing Sands on the west side and Halfway Log Dump further south can each be reached via side roads. A day on foot and by the water.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Grotto and Indian Head Cove: from the car park about 30 minutes on the Georgian Bay Trail to a sea cave in the dolomite cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment; the water is clear, turquoise and cold even in August.
- Flowerpot Island in Fathom Five National Marine Park: by excursion boat from Tobermory to the two rock pillars, with a glass-bottom detour over the wrecks in Big Tub Harbour (season usually ends mid-October).
- The national park's Visitor Centre in Tobermory with a lookout tower over Georgian Bay and the short Burnt Point Loop.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: As for stage 5: Cyprus Lake is closed until the end of October in 2026; use private campgrounds in and around Tobermory or continue to Sauble Falls. If you have booked at Cyprus Lake in a later year, you can hike from there to the Grotto without a parking reservation.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping in the park or in the town. The car parks without reservation at the Visitor Centre and at Singing Sands fill up quickly in the morning and give no access to the Grotto.
- Insider tip for campers
- For the Grotto/Cyprus Lake car park, a reservation for a four-hour time slot is mandatory from 1 May to 31 October (8–12, 9–13, 12–16, 13–17, 16–20 or 17–21 h), bookable through the Parks Canada reservation system. Halfway Log Dump requires a six-hour slot from 19 June to 7 September. For large motorhomes, ask Parks Canada in advance about suitable parking areas. Wear good shoes on the cliffs: the rock is sharp-edged and slippery when wet, and rescues here are not uncommon.
7Stage 7: Tobermory to Sauble Beach (approx. 110 km)
- The drive
- Take Highway 6 south across the flat, wooded peninsula, with a detour to Lion's Head on the east shore; from Wiarton take Bruce Road 13 to Lake Huron. Straight, quiet roads, about 1.5 hours of pure driving time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Lion's Head: harbour and beach at the foot of the escarpment, and on the Bruce Trail a walk to the lookout above the cliffs (half-day loop).
- Sauble Falls: flat limestone steps on the Sauble River; in autumn salmon leap upstream here, in spring rainbow trout.
- Sauble Beach: about 11 km of sandy beach on Lake Huron, with sunset over the open water in the evening.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Sauble Falls Provincial Park, a few minutes north of Sauble Beach: two campgrounds (East and West), around 150 sites, about half with electricity, showers, laundry, sani-dump with fresh water; the West Campground is radio-free. Large vehicles: when booking, check the permitted length of the individual site. 2026 season from 24 April to 1 November.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): South Bruce Peninsula penalises overnighting in public car parks and on the beach; checks are made in season. Free camping is not an option here.
- Insider tip for campers
- Parking at Sauble Beach is charged in season (billed via licence plate or app, follow the signs). The cheaper supermarkets and petrol stations in the area are in Wiarton or Owen Sound.
8Stage 8: Sauble Beach to Toronto (approx. 240 km)
- The drive
- Head south via Owen Sound and Highway 10 through farmland and small towns such as Shelburne and Orangeville, then via Brampton into the Greater Toronto Area. Two lanes, later four; about 3 hours of pure driving time, considerably more on Sunday afternoon.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Inglis Falls near Owen Sound: the Sydenham River drops 18 m over the escarpment edge (conservation area, parking fee).
- Owen Sound Harbour with the Farmers' Market on Saturday morning.
- Hockley Valley east of Highway 10 near Orangeville: hilly mixed forests with late autumn colour.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: There is no provincial park campground within the city of Toronto. For the last night, Earl Rowe Provincial Park near Alliston (seasonal, with electricity and showers) or a private site on the outskirts are options. Alternatively Albion Hills (a Toronto and Region Conservation Authority conservation area) north of Bolton – check season and booking beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): There is no legal free camping in the Greater Toronto Area; Walmart and supermarket car parks only with the store's permission, and many municipalities ban it outright.
- Insider tip for campers
- On the way back into the city, avoid the tolled Hwy 407 ETR and use Hwy 410 or 427. Before returning the vehicle, take care of grey water, toilet and fresh water at Sauble Falls or Earl Rowe – sani-dumps are rare within the city (overview at sanidumps.com).
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- In provincial parks and national parks, overnighting is only allowed on booked campsites. Anyone sleeping in car parks or by the roadside risks fines under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act or the Canada National Parks Act respectively.
- Crown land (public land of the province) may in Ontario generally be used free of charge for up to 21 days a year at the same site. People without Canadian residence aged 18 or over need a permit north of the French and Mattawa Rivers (Non-resident Crown Land Camping Permit, per person and night); exceptions apply, among others, to rental vehicles from businesses in Ontario. In designated “Green Zones”, camping on Crown land is banned entirely for non-residents. The regulation is being revised – check ontario.ca before the trip. South of that, there is hardly any Crown land with motorhome access on this route.
- Municipalities in Muskoka, on Georgian Bay and on the Bruce Peninsula mostly ban overnighting in public car parks by bylaw. Walmart and other supermarkets only with the express permission of the store.
- Black bears: food, cooler, rubbish and dishes go into the locked vehicle at night, never in the tent or on the table. Report aggressive bears in Ontario to the Bear Wise line 1-866-514-2327, and call 911 in case of danger. Moose on Highway 60 especially at dusk – drive slowly and never stop on the carriageway.
- Do not bring firewood from elsewhere (spread of pests such as the emerald ash borer); buy it locally and observe fire bans.
- Useful apps and sites: iOverlander, Park4Night, Campendium; reservations for the provincial sites at reservations.ontarioparks.ca (five months ahead), national park at reservation.pc.gc.ca, ferry at ontarioferries.com, road conditions via Ontario 511.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Sani-dumps with fresh water are available at the large provincial parks (Arrowhead, Mew Lake, Pog Lake, Killbear, George Lake, Sauble Falls, Earl Rowe) – for non-campers usually only with a day pass. Further stations at some petrol stations and campgrounds (sanidumps.com).
- Electrical hookups on Ontario Parks sites: mostly 15 or 30 A; bring a long extension cable and adapters. Full hookups (water, sewer) are practically non-existent on these sites.
- Never release grey water onto the ground; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations. Lake water is clear, but always filter or boil it.
- Propane: refills at petrol stations with a propane station and at propane dealers in Huntsville, Parry Sound, Sudbury and Owen Sound, not in the parks. Cylinders must have valid certification; European gas cylinders and connections are generally not refilled. Check the propane quantity before the ferry.
- Fuel: in the Algonquin corridor and on Highway 637 to Killarney there is no reliable petrol station – fill up beforehand in Huntsville, Dwight or on Highway 69.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits in km/h: two-lane highways mostly 80 (also Highway 60 in Algonquin), four-lane 400-series highways 100, on many sections now 110 – including Highway 400 from the 401 to Lake Joseph Road in Muskoka. There are no separate limits for motorhomes or towed rigs; turning right on red after a stop is permitted unless prohibited.
- Mobile phone ban at the wheel: hand-held devices are prohibited; first offence 615 CAD out of court (up to 1,000 CAD in court), three demerit points and a three-day licence suspension. Only hands-free with a mount.
- Tolls: the private Hwy 407 ETR is billed via licence plate (camera images, invoice to the owner; rental companies pass on the costs plus a fee). Hwy 412 and 418 have been toll-free since 2022, and since 1 June 2025 so has the provincially owned Hwy 407 East between Brock Road (Pickering) and Hwy 35/115. You do not need any toll road for this route.
- Park fees: Ontario Parks charges a Daily Vehicle Permit (reservable online up to five days ahead, no admission if sold out); Bruce Peninsula National Park admission plus parking reservation for the Grotto (1 May–31 October) and Halfway Log Dump (high summer). Check current amounts with Ontario Parks and Parks Canada.
- Ontario Parks: booking five months before arrival, at most six people per site, one vehicle included; from July to Labour Day at most seven nights in Algonquin and Killbear. Winter tyres are not compulsory in Ontario, but are sensible from the end of October – snow can fall early in the north.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Head net or bug shirt: from mid-May to the end of June black flies are a real plague in the Canadian Shield, after that mosquitoes remain until August.
- Screens for the sliding door and roof vent, or a screened canopy for the table – otherwise evenings by the lake get unpleasant.
- Life jacket and waterproof dry bag for canoe trips in Algonquin and on Georgian Bay; rental canoes do not always come with suitable vests for everyone.
- Sturdy shoes with a good sole for granite and sharp-edged dolomite at the Grotto, plus water shoes for the rocky entry into the cold water.
- Binoculars for moose on Highway 60, loons and bald eagles on Georgian Bay – observe from a safe distance.
- Warm layers and a sleeping bag with a margin: during the autumn colours from late September to mid-October, nights in Algonquin regularly drop below freezing.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
