Toronto 
Ontario is filled with wonderful opportunities for wilderness adventure.
Credit: Point Grondine Park
Whether your passion is hitting the water in your canoe or kayak, hiking rugged terrain and wilderness paths, this populous province is truly an incredible place to explore. Here are 25 places to escape the crowds and experience nature in Ontario.
Point Grondine Park
Point Grondine Park, owned and operated by Wikwemkoong Unceded Territory First Nation, is pure bliss of 7000 hectares of scenic natural and wilderness landscape. Hike, explore Wemtagoosh Falls, paddle through traditional routes of the Anishnaabek people and more this secret destination. There are over 22 camping sites located in this fabulous wilderness park.
Address: 2102 Wikwemikong Way, Wikwemikong
Spanish River Provincial Park
The Spanish River and Biscotasi Lake is a place rich with history. Its rugged landscape used to be a historic route of the Ojibwe and 18th-century fur traders. Now, however, the fantastic towering pines and variety of whitewater allow The Spanish River to be an amazing destination for backcountry canoeing and camping. However, some trails and paddle routes are only accessible by train. The train will drop off and pick up paddlers at various points along the river.
Address: 660 Imperial Street North Massey
The Massasauga Provincial Park
The Massasauga offers backcountry camping on the Georgian Bay with the spectacular views of hundreds of windswept islands, inland forests and lakes. All campsites are accessible by water only. Each has a picnic table, fire pit, and box privy. Approximately 60 campsites on the bayside are equipped with food lockers.
Address: 380 Oastler Park Drive, Parry Sound
Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
Woodside Caribou is a paddler’s paradise offering almost 2,000 km of maintained canoe routes on a myriad of rivers and lakes with excellent fishing opportunities sprinkled throughout. In addition, the high occurrence of Canadian Shield rock outcrops and the open boreal setting are ideal for a variety of campsites, with up to 1,000 to choose from.
Address: 227 Howey Street Box 5003, Red Lake
Wabakimi Provincial Park
World-class wilderness canoeing with over 2000 kilometres of lakes and rivers, a legendary fishing experience, pure northern grandeur and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities make Wabakimi park a backcountry campers dream. The park is the second-largest in Ontario and thus offers approximately 500 backcountry campsites scattered throughout the park. Each campsite varies in size and ground cover, from large bedrock tent areas to small earth-covered clearings. Some campsites will have a fire ring, but no other features are provided, and campsites are not marked.
Address: Thunder Bay
Bon Echo Provincial Park
Bon Echo offers great hiking trails and the 100-metre high Mazinaw Rock featuring over 260 Indigenous pictographs. Joeperry and Pearson Lakes offer 25 canoe-in campsites and the 17 km Abes and Essens hiking trail has five backcountry campsites Each campsite has a picnic table, cleared area for a tent, fire pit, and box privy.
Address: 16151 Hwy. 41 Cloyne, Ontario
Charleston Lake Provincial Park
Charleston Lake is a family favourite back-country camping destination offering excellent swimming, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing. Charleston Lake offers 10 backcountry campsites, grouped in small clusters. On each campsite you will find two to three raised wooden tent pads, a fire pit, picnic table, and an enclosed privy.
Address: 148 Woodvale Rd. Lansdowne
French River Provincial Park
The French River is a beautiful place with great historical significance. It’s also rich in history and you can literally walk the same paths and paddle the same routes as First Nations people, fur traders, explorers, and voyagers did. Backcountry camping in French River is perfect for adventurers looking for a long multi-day trip along the river. All fast-moving water has been marked and there are well-maintained portages to bypass these areas. French River paddlers and boaters have their pick of more than 250 backcountry campsites scattered along the shore of the river. All campsites and portages in French River are accessible by boat and are clearly marked. All campsites have a firepit, and most are equipped with box privies, where the landscape permits.
Address: 20526 Highway 69, Alban
Fushimi Lake Provincial Park
Fushimi Lake is a clean, clear northern lake, surrounded by lush and beautiful Boreal Forest. Enjoy backcountry camping one of the many islands in the park. All 12 backcountry campsites are accessible by water only. All campsites are a short distance from the boat launch, and only a few hours paddle.
Address: 613 Front Street, Hearst
Grundy Lake Provincial Park
Grundy Lake is an experience for the entire family! The park has activities for all ages: great hiking trails, endlessing canoeing adventures and many great beaches with smooth rocky shores provide excellent swimming. All backcountry campsites are accessible by canoe. Each has a fire pit, picnic table, food locker, and box privy.
Address: 20400 Highway 522
Halfway Lake Provincial Park
A family-oriented campground experience with two buoyed beaches and great swimming, day tripping, overnight hiking, canoeing and amazing wildlife viewing opportunities. This park is ideal for beginner backcountry visitors most backcountry campsites have a box privy.
Address: Halfway Lake Provincial Park, Old Cartier Rd, Levack
Ivanhoe Lake Provincial Park
A long curving lip of a sandy beach with warm, shallow water and a playground makes this park attractive to families with young children. Ivanhoe lake offers a variety of camping locations all with ranging amenities and others.
Address: 170 Ivanhoe Lake Road PO Box 191, Foleyet
Lake Superior Provincial Park
The world-class hiking and paddling along the Lake Superior shoreline coupled with the diverse scenery make Lake Superior a picturesque experience. The backcountry of Lake Superior Provincial Park provides access to numerous hiking and paddling opportunities which vary from easy day trips to multi-day adventures along the dramatic coast of Lake Superior. Lake Superior Provincial Park has approximately 200 backcountry campsites. Each backcountry campsite is equipped with a fire ring and box privy. Campsites on some of the more popular backcountry areas, such as Mijinemungshing Lake, come with a picnic table. Several backcountry campsites along the Coastal Hiking Trail are equipped with a food locker.
Address:96 Broadway Avenue, Wawa
Missinaibi Provincial Park
Missinaibi is a 500 km long provincial park, encompassing large lakes, scenic waterfalls and outstanding whitewater while being rich with history and tradition. The backcountry campsites on Missinaibi Lake are dispersed along the perimeter of the lake and are accessed by water. Campsites along the Missinaibi River are well distributed along its 500 km length.
Address: 190 Cherry Street, Chapleau
Mississagi Provincial Park
A rugged landscape of ancient hills and clear lakes located west of Sudbury. And with over 40 km of trails to explore and amazing canoeing opportunities, the park is ideal for both backcountry hikers and paddlers. Mississagi has 5 backcountry sites all of which can be accessed on the hiking trail network. Mississagi’s backcountry is accessed from the main campground. All the campsites are marked and come equipped with a fire pit and box privy.
Address: Algoma
Murphy’s Point Provincial Park
Murphy’s Point is a great mix of wildlife habitats: forest, wetland, old fields and three lakes making it an ideal backcountry experience. All backcountry campsites are located on Big Rideau Lake and accessible by water only. The campsites are known for their seclusion and lakeside views. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire pit, and a shared vault privy.
Address: 2243 Elmgrove Road, R.R. 5, Perth
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Sleeping Giant offers breathtaking views of Lake Superior and the surrounding area are available from the Top of the Giant Trail and Thunder Bay Lookout. The park also has over 100 km of incredible hiking trails with many spectacular geological features such as the ‘Sea Lion’ and Tee Harbour. The park’s signature backcountry sites are located at Tee Harbour, Sawyer Bay, and Lehtinen’s Bay. All these locations have multiple campsites equipped with designated metal fire-pits. Box privies, and food lockers are found at many of these sites.
Address: Thunder Bay
Killarney Provincial Park
This iconic 645 square kilometre wilderness landscape showcases the wild Georgian Bay Coast of pink granite; the La Cloche Mountains’ white quartzite ridges and over 50 exceptionally clear sapphire lakes set among Jack Pine hills. While camping in Killarney’s backcountry, visitors will find basic amenities on most campsites, including a designated fire pit and box privy. The backcountry trails, portages and campsites are well-marked; however, understanding and utilizing map navigation is essential.
Address: 960 Highway #637, Killarney
Algonquin Provincial Park
The essence of Algonquin is in its vast interior of maple hills, rocky ridges, and thousands of lakes. The only way to explore the interior of this park is by canoe or on foot. The backpacking trail network features three different trails with loops ranging from 6 km to 88 km for a total of 140 km of trails. Algonquin canoe routes suit all skill levels, ranging from an easy paddle-in campsite, to a weeks-long paddling trip. Every backcountry campsite is marked by an orange sign and features a fire pit, box privy, and flat area for your tent.
Address: Ontario 60
Frontenac Provincial Park
Frontenac offers great fishing, wildlife viewing, interior camping, paddling, hiking, swimming, cross- country skiing, snowshoeing and winter camping. Most portages are of moderate length and difficulty and paddling routes provide access to all campsites, except in cluster 12. Each campsite has a tent-pad, fire-pit, picnic table, privy, and food locker.
Address: 6700 Salmon Lake Rd, Sydenham
Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park
Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park is a special place with many opportunities for you to experience the outdoors ranging from backcountry canoeing and camping to short hikes. Kawartha Highlands provides well defined canoe routes with marked portages and campsites. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and box privy. Most campsites have at least three tent pads.
Address: Beaver Lake, Peterborough County
Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico is an iconic wilderness class park renowned for its rugged beauty, towering rock cliffs, majestic waterfalls, virgin pine and spruce forests, picturesque rivers and lakes. The park has over 2,200 backcountry campsites to explore. The backcountry has no facilities, services, or signs on campsites and portages.
Address: Dawson Trail, ON-11, Atikokan
Pukaskwa National Park
Hike or paddle to one of 65 designated backcountry campsites in the heart of Lake Superior.
Address: Thunder Bay
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Stormhaven and High Dump are the two backcountry camping areas in Bruce Peninsula National Park. Located along the Bruce Trail on the scenic Georgian Bay shoreline, they offer a tranquil camping experience in a beautiful and remote setting. Rugged limestone cliffs rise mysteriously from the turquoise waters Lake Huron creating a breathtaking contrast that is a must-see.
Address: Bruce Peninsula
Ontario Crownlands
Crown land, managed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, represents approximately 77 percent of the province. Canadians can camp for free up to 21 days on any one site in a calendar year.
Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater
Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park offers back-country campers the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature, the joy of paddling and fishing, with expansive solitude. The park also offers breathtaking photo opportunities. Maple Mountain Trail is one of the most visited interior destinations in all of Temagami, leading to a spectacular view at the summit. There are 235 km of canoe routes, 84 portages, and 142 campsites. Box privies are available on most campsites.
Address: 24 Finlayson Park Road, Temagami
Makobe-Grays River
Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park is well known in Ontario for it’s challenging whitewater. It’s rapids and drops along the river are technical and require scouting. Other lakes and rivers within the park allow for a comfortable paddle and portage allowing for endless opportunities in the interior for swimming including both shallow and deeper water entries along rocky headlands. Along the park’s 28 km length, there are 14 marked portages and 16 marked campsites. There are box privies on most campsites.
Address: Unorganized West Timiskaming District, ON
Obabika River
Obabika River Provincial Park offers an incredible diversity of landscapes, from meandering rivers to island-speckled lakes, and rocky cliffs to expansive wetlands. Fine sand beaches, slit shorelines, and rocky headlands offer swimming opportunities and access to the water. There is a system of day-use hiking trails spread through the old-growth forest area, many of which require a full day or more to explore. There are over 100 marked campsites in the park, as well as 10 marked portages. Most campsites have box privies.
Address: Obabika River Provincial Park, Temagami, ON
Solace
The rugged landscape of Solace Provincial Park offers 21 km of canoe routes, 17 portages and 16 campsites. There are two short loops that lie completely within Solace and can be done as day trips from a basecamp. Most campsites are equipped with a box privy.
Address: Capreol, ON P0M 1H0
Sturgeon River
Sturgeon River Provincial Park offers paddlers whitewater, slender lakes, scenic water falls, rapids, and continually changing scenery. Whitewater canoe and kayak routes are available on the Sturgeon River through much of its length. Bird watching and wildlife viewing are popular in the park’s diverse forests. Angling is primarily for cool water species such as Walleye and Northern Pike. Campsites are often found near rapids and waterfalls. The 70 km long park includes 22 portages and 36 campsites. The portages and campsites are marked, and there are box privies on most campsites.
Address: Sudbury, Unorganized, North Part, ON
