Win a MEC $100 Gift Card

Every Campsite Review submitted between January 1st, 2010 and August 22 2010, will be entered into a draw for a $100 MEC Gift Card.

If you can't find a campground you would like to review, use the Add a Camp feature to add the campground, then review the campsite! It only takes a few minutes.

The winning review will be chosen randomly.

The contest closes on August 22, 2010 and the winner will be notified by email, so make sure that when you sign up, your email address is correct.

Good luck!

This contest is sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op.

The Outdoor Adventure Show

Happy 2010 Everyone!


The Outdoor Adventure Show is just around the corner. This year it is hitting Toronto, Ontario on February 26th, 27th and 28th at the International Centre. Look for Kirby or Matt from myCampsiteReview.com at the show and say hi.

Calgary, Alberta will see the show on March 27 and 28th at the BMO Centre (Roundup Centre) - Stampede Park.

Attend the show in Vancouver on April 24th and 25th at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

http://www.outdooradventureshow.ca/

Cheers!

New Experiences...

This weekend Matt and I, and our families are off to Pinery Provincial Park…the first family camping trip of the year. We have never camped together before, but have talked about it lots since starting up this website 18 months ago.

Both of our families have new additions, with my daughter just turning 1 a month ago, and Matt’s son turning 1 in another month. I hope, for all of us, the weather is better this year than it was last year, with all the rain we had.

As I write this, it is raining in Brampton, and the forecast calls for some rain over the weekend (yikes!). This will make camping tough with/on the youngsters. Not surprisingly, Matt hasn’t been camping with his son yet…it’s a completely different experience compared to camping on your own. We are camping in the Burley section of Pinery this year, which will be new for all of us. I have camped twice in the Dunes area, and loved it. I’m looking forward to going into Grand Bend this weekend for Burgerfest, sounds like a perfect camping/non-camping experience.

Hope you are getting started with your camping season…don’t forget to submit your reviews…we need to see more of your content on the website.

Kirby the camper

Opening of Trout Season in Algonquin Park…A Tradition

Opening of Trout Season in Algonquin Park… A Tradition - written by Kirby the Camper

I’ve been lucky enough over the past 10 years or so to be invited to go backcountry camping in Algonquin Park with one of my best friends, Dan. Dan has continued a 50 year (or so) family tradition of going to Algonquin Park for the opening of trout season. Sadly, Dan’s father passed away in the mid 90’s, but Dan felt it was important to continue on the tradition, and opened up the invite to some friends, as well as his extended family. Camping has always been something important to Dan and his family. The great part about this tradition is that Dan and I have young children that we have been able to take camping, and hope that when they are old enough, we will be able to take them into Algonquin Park to enjoy the park as we do.

Our group usually numbers between six and ten, with the number growing as kids become old enough to deal with the canoeing, portaging and isolation that are all a part of backcountry camping. Our general rule is that we like the kids to be ten years old in order to come with us. They seem to really enjoy the freedom, and the idea of backcountry camping, far away from daily stimulants. We camp and fish on Ryan Lake, which is north of Madawaska, accessed through the Shall Lake Permit Office. Our trip starts off with a couple of kilometer portage to Shirley Lake. To help us out with the portage, we have sets of wheels for the canoes, making carrying our load of supplies much easier. If the winds are up, and blowing down Shirley to where we are crossing, we can continue the portage on the logging road to the south shore of Ryan, but our preference is to cross Shirley to the Ryan Lake portage.

Ryan is a relatively small lake with maybe ten campsites on it. We usually camp at “the beach”. It’s south facing, maybe ten feet about the water, with a slope that is sandy, like a beach. The site is surrounded by tall pines that provide shelter from the winds, but open up just enough to let sunshine in during the day. Dan’s family has camped at another site I call “the field” which has no shelter. It’s a great location when the sun is shining, so you really have to hope the weather is cooperating. Over the years, both sites have provided us with a good supply of fish. If we are struggling, there is nothing to stop us from traveling around the lake to find the fish. A few years back a couple of us decided to travel to Fog Lake, a small lake located west of Shirley, with a portage that went straight up a steep hill. “Legend” had it that there were lots of fish there. We didn’t even get a nibble, but had a great afternoon relaxing in the sunshine.

Ryan Lake is stocked with Splake every other year, providing us with an opportunity to catch fish every year (although we have been catching fewer fish the past few years). The traditional bet is $1 for largest fish, $1 for first fish, and $1 for the most fish. I have paid out much more than I have taken in, since I have only caught three fish since I started going to Algonquin. Fishing isn’t the priority for me for the weekend, but there isn’t much better than eating the fresh fish we catch on opening day (our alternative is macaroni and cheese).

Some of the lessons I have learned over the years:

Change your socks before you go to bed…the nights in April are pretty cold, and damp socks aren’t good when the temperature is low.

Pack light, but still be prepared for the elements. We have had many cold nights, and one year woke up to three inches of snow on the ground. Packing up and coming out under snowy conditions was not fun.

Be careful in the canoe. We did have a fully loaded canoe, with two passengers, flip over on Ryan Lake. Luckily, everyone was fine.

Get up really early on Saturday morning in order to catch the first fish (I have not done well with this one…I would rather sleep), and start brewing the coffee.

There aren’t many beers bottled in plastic bottles (glass is banned in the backcountry).

Dan’s supply list has served us well. Dan uses the same list for supplies every year, so things are rarely forgotten.

Google Earth/Maps has really opened our eyes to what is around us.

If you get a chance to go backcountry camping in Algonquin Park, or any park, take it. It is a completely different camping experience compared to “car camping” which I love as well. ~ Kirby

Win a Woods Camping Combo

Every Campsite Review submitted between May 22 2009 and August 22 2009, will be entered into a draw for a Woods Camping Combo - which includes a 6 person dome tent, 2 sleeping bags, 2 camp chairs, and a storage shelf.

If you can't find a campground you would like to review, use the Add a Camp feature to add the campground, then review the campsite! It only takes a few minutes.

The winning review will be chosen randomly.

The contest closes on August 22, 2009, the winner should hopefully have the camping combo to enjoy for the September long weekend.

The winner will be notified by email, so make sure that when you sign up, your email address is correct.

Good luck!

This contest is sponsored by Canadian Tire.

Congratulations to MarkyZ!

Congratulations to MarkyZ - the winner of the Magellan eXplorist 200 handheld GPS receiver.

The winning campsite review of Cyprus Lake, Bruce Peninsula National Park, can be viewed here.

myCampsiteReview.com will soon be announcing another prize giveaway, so stay tuned.

One Week Left

Hurry everyone!

There is only one week left to enter your campsite reviews, and be eligible to win the Magellan eXplorist handheld GPS receiver.

Remember, you can submit reviews for campsites you have stayed at in previous years. All it takes is 2 minutes and you could win a handheld GPS receiver.

Stay tuned - myCampsiteReview.com's next contest is a big one!

Winter Camping

It's that time of year again. Lots of the campgrounds in the colder climates are shutting down for the season, and lots of campers are putting away their camping gear for the winter, and they're starting to prepare for the long hybernation.

Not Jim Muller, of http://www.wintercampers.com/ - He's actually looking forward for the lakes to freeze, and the snow to fall, so that he can get out into the woods and experience what many others wouldn't think of doing - winter camping.



Visit http://www.wintercampers.com/ for lots of tips and advice on winter camping.

Win a Magellan eXplorist 200

Every Campsite Review submitted during the Fall Season of 2008 will be entered into a draw for a Magellan eXplorist 200 Handheld GPS receiver.

If you can't find the campground you are looking for, use the Add a Camp feature to add the campground, then review a campsite! It only takes a few minutes.

The winning review will be chosen randomly.

The contest closes on December 21, 2008.

The winner will be notified by email, so make sure that when you sign up, your email address is correct.

Good luck!

Labour Day Weekend at Sauble Falls Provincial Park

Labour Day Weekend at Sauble Falls Provincial Park

By Kirby the Camper

We decided to reserve a campsite at Sauble Falls PP because it is really close to Sauble Beach, a beach I had heard about in my teens, that was supposed to be comparable to Grand Bend and Sandbanks. We spent the weekend with good friends of ours that also love to spend time at the beach, hanging out, swimming, eating etc.

The drive for us was great, considering it was a long weekend…all highway driving, with minimal traffic. This is something we now consider with every family vacation. Being stuck in traffic on the way is something we try to avoid. For us, that means trying to avoid traveling across Toronto. On the way to Sauble Falls PP, we drove through a Wind Farm north of Shelburne. I have seen them when traveling through western USA, but it was something new for me within Ontario. It’s great to see renewable energy being used…we need more of it.

Sauble Falls PP is split up by Hwy 13, and sits on the edge of the Sauble River. We camped in the East Campground. At night (and during the day) you could hear the occasional road noise, and our site was further into the campground. I would recommend taking this into consideration when booking. Much of the West Campground is close to the road as well.

We spent our first day at the park exploring its natural features. The falls are great, not very high, but the kids loved it. You can walk out into the falls, and feel pretty safe. Beside the falls and the remains of an old mill - no buildings, but the old water chute is still there. The river itself is slow moving, making it safe for canoeing (you can rent canoes right at the falls). We also hiked the Sauble Trail at the end of the East Campground. It’s a nice 2.5 km loop that takes you through some forest management areas and high up on dunes next to the river.

One afternoon we spent some time walking up and down Main St. Sauble Beach. We played mini putt, did some shopping, had some ice cream and then drove up to Sauble Beach Amusements. The kids loved it, riding mini go karts, going down the super slide, then riding on the adult go karts with their mothers. The adults finished off the visit by riding the Pipeline, a single seat coaster. Good times had by all!! The beach, at the bottom of Main St., provided me with a personal conflict. I had heard that you could actually park ($10) on the beach, which is something completely foreign to me, and something that just doesn’t sound right in today’s “Green” movement. The beach is very wide, allowing for a huge amount of people to enjoy the sunshine and the water. The water is shallow, and the bottom is sandy, making it prime swimming for kids (and adults).

One thing I did find odd about Sauble Falls PP was that they did not sell firewood or ice, and when we went to the store that staff recommended, the store didn’t have kindling. Overall, we really enjoyed our long weekend. It’s worth a visit to that part of Ontario.

See Sauble Falls Provincial Park on a Map
Read Campsite Reviews for Sauble Falls Provincial Park

October Trekking in the Backcountry

The Toronto Star posted a great article today about wilderness treks in October.

Surviving the Backcountry

by Daina Lawrence

Backcountry camping is attracting more and more enthusiasts each year to Algonquin Park but hikers must assess their needs- from the proper footwear October's a great time for wilderness treks, but make sure you're packing the essentials

ALGONQUIN PARK, ONT.–Hiking boots? Check. Freeze-dried food? Check. Economy-size box of Band-Aids? Check. Sanity? To be determined.

Backcountry hiking enthusiasts come out of the woodwork each season as the activity attracts more newcomers annually.

"Every year certainly things are getting busier," says Gordon Baker, assistant general manager at Algonquin Outfitters. Baker has been supplying hikers, backpackers and canoeists for years at this store at the southwest corner of Algonquin Provincial Park, about 250 kilometres north of Toronto. Backcountry hiking and camping is definitely not "everything but the kitchen sink" camping, since all items required for basic well-being must be strapped to the hiker's back. So why would anyone want to spend days in the bush without the comforts of home? "I think it offers a challenge ... The result is that good feeling of having accomplished something," says Algonquin park ranger Kirk McEathron.

The park offers new-to-the-sport hikers several trekking options, with routes ranging from six kilometres, suitable for day hikes, to gruelling 88 kilometre loops.

The park was established in 1893 as a wildlife sanctuary and later frozen in time through artist Tom Thomson's The Jack Pine and other famous paintings.

"There are not a lot of what I would call spectacular jaw-dropping things (in the park), but more of a cross-section of this part of Canada and Ontario – this is really what our bush is like," says McEathron. He recommends October as the best time of year to venture into the interior. The bugs are at a minimum, the water is often still warm enough to swim in, and the changing leaves will distract hikers from their burning muscles.

Experts agree that proper equipment will make or break a backpacking trip....

Read More...

Fall Campsite Review Contest

Hello Campers!

The summer camping season is offically over - and we'd like to thank everyone for submitting their campsite reviews.

Starting on September 21, every new campsite review submitted will be entered into a draw for a GPS receiver. The contest will be open for the entire Fall camping season - so we will announce the winner sometime in December.

Didn't do much camping this summer? Submit reviews for campsites you've visited in previous years!

Stay tuned for more contest details as well as more prize information.

Happy Camping!

Matt
myCampsiteReview.com

Coleman - Thinking Green

Coleman has patents pending on a new industry-changing development called the Green Key® tool.

The tool works by locking the propane cylinder valve in an open position. Because it is no longer pressurized, the cylinder is not considered “hazardous material” and is ready to be recycled. Beginning June 2008, most Coleman produced propane cylinders will have a Green Key® tool along with a second instruction label that details how to properly use the system.

DISPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS IN CANADA FOR COLEMAN® PROPANE CYLINDERS WITH THE GREEN KEY® TOOL

NEWS RELEASE: CLICK HERE (pdf)

IMAGES: Green Key, Propane Cylinder

Q&A FACT SHEET: CLICK HERE (pdf)

A Wet Week at Pinery Provincial Park (Part 2)

On our way to the Pinery, we decided to stop at The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Mary’s, Ontario. I’ve wanted to visit the Hall for a while, hearing bits and pieces about it, and being a fan of both the Blue Jays and Expos. It was great to see the displays for baseball heroes such as Fergie Jenkins, and memorabilia like a base from the final Jays game at Exhibition Stadium. We enjoyed some lunch (and a cold beer) at the Parkview Creamery, and then continued on our way to the Pinery.

Early in the week, my son and I rented a 2-man kayak and went for a 1 hr trip down the Old Ausable Channel. It’s a nice, protected waterway where you can do a little exploring with the kids, and get some exercise at the same time. Later in the week, my wife and some friends went on the guided Voyager canoe trip, where you will find out about the history of the channel, and the park. For this, you have to make reservations, and there is a small cost, but you get to ride in a 20-person canoe.

We (along with many other campers) took in the Rum and Spirits performance put on by the staff during the evening at the Amphitheatre. This is a very entertaining show, stepping you through the history of the park, as well as sharing camping messages.

Pinery is a great park for the active. We spent a lot of time cycling around the park. There is the 14km Savanna Bike Trail loop that takes you through the oak savanna and planted pines, along the channel, and by the day use beach. You can rent bikes at the Park Store area, and the cycling path goes by that area. We stopped at the store for an ice cream break, a priority for my 5 year old son (and for dad). The main roads in the campground are paved, making it easy for children to bike, and really, because of the design of the park with its dead end roads and loops, traffic is pretty slow, making the roads relatively safe. Since my son had just shed his training wheels, we did a lot of riding, rain or shine. By the end of the trip, he was completely independent, able to start and stop on his own. He did suffer his worst crash during the week, going down the hill near the amphitheatre; he went head over heels over the handle bars. Luckily he had gone off the paved path and into a sand dune, cushioning his landing. At the front entrance of the Pinery, there is a paved and gravel bike path that leads into Grand Bend. What a great way to get there!

In Grand Bend ($15 to park at the beach), we had lunch at Cocos, but I get the impression that this is a better place to visit in the evening. We played mini putt at the Village Green to determine who would do the dishes that night. The beach was packed with 100 teams playing beach volleyball in the Not So Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. I think we will look into putting a team in next year.

As you can tell, we packed a lot into our nine-day camping trip. And there is still lots to do at the Pinery. Next year when we go, we plan on hiking the ten trails within the park. It should be easier as our daughter was only 10 weeks old at the time of our trip.

See Pinery Provincial Park on a Map
Read Campsite Reviews for Pinery Provincial Park

By Kirby the Camper

Ontario Parks Announcement

Bronte Creek Provincial Park Goes high tech with GPS

Bronte Creek Provincial Park is happy to announce the launch of a NEW program that will teach youth and general visitors about navigating with GPS technology. School groups and visitors will have the opportunity to learn about and use handheld GPS receivers to locate a series of waypoints.

"I am very excited to bring this high-tech program to the park visitors." says Park NHE Specialist Sheila Wiebe "This program will target grades 6 -10 and general family groups. It will encourage youth to learn about this new form of orienteering. I hope that through GPS technology the youth will get outdoors, explore and discover."

The GPS program has been in the planning and development stage for over a year. The major stumbling block was due to the high price tag of a classroom set of hand-held GPS receivers. Thanks to a donation from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation via the new TD Canada Trust branch in the Burloak shopping plaza and an in-store discount from Radioworld and Garmin; the hardware problem was solved.

Program Schedule August 28.

7:00 – 8:00pm

Day-use area (Burloak Drive)

For more information on park events and facilities please call 905-827-6911 or Visit http://www.brontecreek.org./

The park’s DAY-USE area accessible off Burloak Drive just north of the QEW.

See Bronte Creek Provincial Park on a Map

Read Campsite Reviews about Bronte Creek Provincial Park