Explore Wintertime Ontario Camping Locales
Explore Wintertime Ontario Camping Locales
Posted on February 25, 2020
Make the most of off-season camping with fewer crowds and incredible snow-covered scenery when you visit destinations across Ontario that offer year-round access. Hop in your RV and head to a variety of provincial parks and conservation areas that beckon you to engage in plenty of wintry adventures, including cross-country skiing, skating, sledding, snowshoeing, hiking, ice fishing and even dog sledding.
Breathe in the crisp, fresh air and revel in the absence of insects as you take in spectacular landscapes of winter in Ontario's most pristine wilderness. Get yourself and your RV ready for a wintry escape filled with peace, serenity and cold-weather fun.
Year-Round Camping Options In Ontario
There are many extraordinary places open for winter camping in Ontario. Here are several locations that offer year-round camping access for RVs and trailers:
Algonquin Provincial Park
Mew Lake Campground on Highway 60 in Whitney, Ontario, is well-known and well-loved during any season of the year. Take advantage of easy drive-in camping access, along with a variety of cross-country ski trails, a skating rink for hockey, and even dog-sledding tours.
Quetico Provincial Park
Dawson Trail Campground at Quetico Provencial Park is a popular destination and is just 45km east of Atikokan. They offer electrical and non-electrical sites, and the picturesque location boasts 40km of groomed ski trails, along with amazing ice fishing and picture-perfect nature trails for you to explore.
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Ploughed all winter long, Arrowhead Provincial Park in Huntsville offers easy access to winter camping and loads of fun activities, including trail and lit rink skating, cross-country skiing, tubing and snowshoeing. Equipment can be rented at the front gate for your convenience.
Windy Lake Provincial Park
Windy Lake Provincial Park in northeast Ontario offers plenty of amenities with 93 drive-in sites located next to comfort stations with flush toilets, hot showers, and more.
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Set up camp near the shores of Lake Huron in MacGregor Point Provincial Park. Near Port Elgin, this must-see location boasts a 400m lit skating trail and outdoor hockey rink, as well as groomed cross- country skiing trails for the whole family. Don't forget to check out the Visitors Centre that boasts livedisplays, exhibits and interpretive educational programs.
Pinery Provincial Park
The Pinery, in southwest Ontario, offers breathtaking views in both summer and winter. Also located next to the expansive Lake Huron, this outdoor wonderland provides unequaled access to hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing with over 38 km of groomed trails. There's also an evening lit toboggan hill for nighttime sledding. Bird watchers can revel in sightings of red-tailed hawks, tundra swans and a variety of other rare feathered friends just waiting to be discovered.
Valens Lake Conservation Area
Enjoy ice fishing and skating in the true northern wilderness of Valens Lake Conservation Area. Or you can explore your way through the snow-covered forests while cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.
Prepare Your RV For Winter Excursions
Freezing temperatures call for a few extra precautions before setting out on a winter camping adventure. Most newer RVs are built to withstand the rigors of wintry weather without much additional work, but even you have an older model, you can still enjoy the snowy settings with ease. Cleaning and testing the furnace, insulating hoses, adding special RV antifreeze to black and grey water tanks, and checking weatherstripping on windows and doors are great ways to avoid issues If you have any questions or concerns about winter camping in your RV, contact The Hitch House service department in Oro Medonte, Ontario, and schedule an appointment to have it inspected.
Emergency Item List
Being prepared for possible issues while winter camping is essential. Keep these important items with you when traveling to back-country destinations in cold, snowy weather:
- Tire chains
- Weather band radio and emergency GPS system
- Extra blankets, warm clothing and food
- Zero-degree temp rated sleeping bags
- Five gallons of drinking water stored in a heated area
- "White gas" camping stove that won't require propane
- Gasoline-powered generator
- Extra propane tanks
- Blow dryer to use for defrosting frozen pipes and tanks
- Solar charging panels for re-charging house batteries