This feature is Part 1 of 6 of our “Escape the City” series, presented with SAIL – your outdoor equipment store.
If you’ve been thinking about going camping this summer, but haven’t planned anything, because well, planning is hard…we have some good news. We did the work for you and found 5 places to get you started. The best part is: you don’t even need to go that far. There are tons of great places to “get your nature on” within just a few hours of this wonderful, bustling city.
If your camping experience is limited…don’t worry, we have you covered. You’re not a rookie, you’re just not as “seasoned” as you’d like to be. In that case, a campground with amenities that you can drive up to would be a good place to start. Less time setting up = more time relaxing.
If you consider yourself one with the wilderness, good for you! Your next stop should be into the back country..it won’t be easy, but we promise it’ll be worth it.
Whichever style of camping suits you, escape from the city and hike, climb, or paddle your way through these epic natural landscapes.
Sibbald Point Provincial Park – 1.5 hour trip
- Known for: Large sandy beach along the shore of Lake Simcoe
- Don’t Miss: Hiking on the Maidenhair Fern Trail
- Camping Options: drive-up campsites for tents & RVs, group camping sites to accommodate up to 50 people
- Get directions
Craigleith Provincial Park – 1.5 hour trip
- Known for: It’s close proximity to both Blue Mountain Village and Wasaga Beache
- Don’t Miss: Checking out the shoreline formed of shale plates containing 450 million year old fossils
- Camping Options: drive-up campsites for tents & RVs
- Get directions
The experts at SAIL say: Keep your camp lit with this collapsible candle lantern that will provide cozy heat and natural light for up to 9 hours.
Bon Echo Provincial Park– 2 hour trip
- Known for: 100-metre high Mazinaw Rock featuring over 260 Indigenous pictographs
- Don’t miss: The Peregrine Falcon – a threatened species in Ontario, which is often seen nesting on Mazinaw Rock.
- Camping options: drive-up campsites for tents & RVs, backcountry camping including canoe-in campsites, or cabins for rent.
- Get directions
The experts at SAIL say: Heading to the backcountry? These water purification tablets make water safe for drinking. You never know when they might come in handy.
Pinery Provinical Park – 3 hour trip
- Known for: 10km of sandy beaches along the shore of Lake Huron
- Don’t miss: Watching the sunset – views from the park are ranked as one of the Top 10 Best in the World by National Geographic
- Camping options: drive-up campsites for tents & RVs, group camping sites to accommodate up to 35 people as well as the option to rent roofed accomodations including a cabin, a soft sided shelter or yurt.
- Get directions
Algonquin Park – 3.5 hour trip
- Known for: it was the first provincial park in Ontario and is easily accessible to all types of campers
- Don’t miss: Public Wolf Howl expeditions on Thursdays in August.
- Camping options: drive-up campsites for tents & RVs, or rent a yurt. Back country camping options accessible by backpacking, or paddle and portage.
- Get directions
The experts at SAIL say: Stay cozy in this Algonquin Mummy Sleeping bag – it was named after the region and will keep you warm during nights as cool as 5 degrees Celsius.
Wherever your adventure takes you, make sure you’re equipped with the right gear. Visit your local SAIL store for all your outdoor needs.