Cathy and I just got back from camping in Killarney Provincial Park. This park is always rated as #1 or #2 in Ontario with its hiking and canoeing through La Cloche Mountain Range and alongside Georgian Bay. For us, this is our first trip back to Killarney in over 40 years and once again we are struck by the beauty of these 2.3 billion year old eroded mountains that were once taller than the Rockies. Killarney PP is 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Toronto and plan for 4 1/2 hours on the road.
We camped at the George Lake campground. There is a nice beach and good access to launch canoes and kayaks. No motorboats are allowed. We camped with our daughter, our nephew and my brother, plus two dogs Wrigley and Finn. We booked 2 campsites across from each other – numbers 32 and 33. They are OK but in a busy area with car traffic and generators. Walking around the campground, I liked the look of campsites 40, 48 and 65 in the quiet part of the park.
One day we loaded up our two canoes and a kayak, and paddled to the east end of George Lake where we took a short portage of less than 100 metres to the adjoining small lake. If you continue heading east, you take another portage into Killarney Lake. However the west wind was blowing hard and kicking up 10 inch waves that we would face on our return paddle, so we stopped for lunch and then paddled hard to return to the camp. Another day we hiked a short part of the famous La Cloche Silhouette Trail. It is very rugged and the local guides say that you need to plan 7 to 10 days to do the full circle.
Its worth the short drive into the town of Killarney with its harbour and views over Georgian Bay. It is a favorite stopping point for sailors doing the Great American Loop, although we did not see any big yachts at dock due to COVID cross border restrictions.
