Discover the Best Winter Camping Destinations in Ontario
Embrace the chill and extend your camping adventures into the winter months with Ontario’s breathtaking snowy landscapes.
Known for its abundant wilderness and snowy vistas, Ontario offers some of the finest winter camping destinations for both novice and seasoned campers.
Here’s your guide to exploring Ontario’s frosty frontiers.
Drive-in Winter Camping in Ontario
Many of Ontario’s best drive-in (also known as “frontcountry”) campgrounds remain open during the winter months.
These locations offer a great opportunity for beginners to experience winter camping without the challenge of backcountry travel.
Renting a four-season tent and sleeping bags from local outfitters is advisable, though a three-season tent with layered summer-weight sleeping bags can suffice in milder conditions and the controlled environment of a campground.
Campgrounds often provide amenities such as firewood sales, comfort stations, and access to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails.
Backcountry Winter Camping Adventures
For those seeking a more challenging and adventurous experience, Ontario’s backcountry offers unparalleled winter camping opportunities with far more silence and solitude.
These destinations, such as those found in Algonquin and Killarney Provincial Parks, require specialized equipment like windproof four-season tents or canvas shelters with compact woodstoves, and winter-rated sleeping bags.
Due to spotty cell service, a satellite communication device is recommended for added safety.
Some parks enforce special rules to minimize environmental impacts, such as prohibiting camping on summer campsites.
Top Winter Camping Destinations in Ontario
1. Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin is Ontario’s most popular park for winter camping, offering both frontcountry and backcountry options.
Mew Lake Campground, open year-round, provides 131 electrical and non-electrical sites, heated yurts, and a comfort station with hot showers and flush toilets.
Trails like the Old Railway Trail for skiing and snowshoeing, and an outdoor skating rink, are highlights.
Backcountry winter camping is also available, with routes like the Western Upland and Highland trails accessible from the Highway 60 corridor.
Backcountry camping permits are required; make reservations online or pick up permits at Algonquin’s West Gate or East Gate entry points.
Remember to avoid designated summer campsites to reduce environmental impact.
2. Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico’s Dawson Trail Campground offers a unique winter camping experience, with five sites open from January 1 to March 31.
Three sites provide electrical service, and the campground offers access to 15 kilometers of cross-country ski trails.
You can rent snowshoes and skis nearby in Thunder Bay.
Rustic cabins at Dawson Trail add a cozy option, and self-serve backcountry permit stations facilitate exploration of Quetico’s interior.
Travelers should be prepared for extremely cold and variable conditions.
3. Bruce Peninsula National Park
Experience the stunning ice formations along Lake Huron at Bruce Peninsula.
Camping is available in the Tamarack section of Cyprus Lake Campground, with 78 non-electrical sites and ten heated yurts.
The park offers prime trails for winter hiking and snowshoeing, with backcountry campsites accessible via challenging hikes. Warm gear and high-energy foods are essential for these expeditions.
Plan your itinerary carefully. It’s a 3- to 4-hour hike from the parking lot to the campsites at Stormhaven, and an 8- to 10-hour trek to the sites at High Dump. Reservations are available online.
4. Limberlost Forest
Limberlost Forest near Huntsville offers 52 frontcountry campsites for winter camping.
The area is known for its cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities, with over 70 kilometers of trails through rugged terrain similar to Algonquin Provincial Park.
Camping prices range from $20 to $40 per person, per night, and reservations can be made online for both campsites and cottage rentals.
5. Killarney Provincial Park
Killarney Provincial Park is a stunning winter destination with over 140 frontcountry campsites at George Lake Campground.
Facilities include outhouses, firewood sales, and snowshoe rentals. Although campground roads are not plowed, they are groomed for skiing.
The backcountry offers vast exploration possibilities, but travelers must be prepared for challenging portages and the risks associated with ice travel.
6. Silent Lake Provincial Park
South of Bancroft, Silent Lake boasts a 34-kilometre network of groomed skiing trails and 17 kilometres of snowshoe trails.
The drive-in campground operates year-round, with both non-electrical and electrical sites available that can be reserved online.
The park’s comfort station, firewood sales, and snowshoe rentals enhance the camping experience.
7. Frontenac Provincial Park
Located off Highway 19 north of Kingston, Frontenac offers free beginner winter camping workshops through Friends of Frontenac Provincial park events.
With 48 interior campsites available, this park provides an ideal setting to apply new skills. Campsites can be booked online.
The park features an eight-kilometre network of groomed ski trails and over 100 kilometres of hiking trails perfect for snowshoeing.
8. Temagami
Temagami, about an hour north of North Bay, offers a backcountry paradise for experienced winter campers.
Crown land camping is free for Canadian residents, providing access to frozen lakes and easy portages.
The Central Lake Temagami Access Road is a reliable entry point, and guided trips with heated canvas tents are available through Temagami Outfitting.
9. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Despite its proximity to Thunder Bay, Sleeping Giant’s backcountry offers a remote winter experience.
Backcountry camping permits are available through Ontario Parks’ online reservation system, with access at the South Kabeyun Trailhead showcasing the Lake Superior shoreline, including views of the Sea Lion rock formation.
Snow conditions vary, so large metal snowshoes with crampon grips are advisable.
