Featured Park - Grundy Lake

Ontario Parks Insider

Grundy Lake Provincial Park has it all. It’s far enough away from urban areas to lessen the weekend crowds but close enough to lessen the boredom the kids have to endure during the car ride. One viewing of Madagascar 2 and a couple episodes of Scooby-doo and you’ll have the family setting up camp under a rich canopy of northern pine and spruce. Campsite choice is excellent at Grundy; all are well maintained and laid out for tent or trailer.

Hiking trails are also supreme. The park offers three main loop treks ranging from 2 to 4 kilometres in length, and all take you on a spectacular tour of the region’s natural attractions: barren rock of the Precambrian Shield, tranquil stream, dense forest, beaver ponds and vibrant wetlands (one being home to an impressive Great Blue Heron nesting site, also known as a rookery). And according to Grundy Lake regulars, after a long hike it’s tradition to take a twilight swim at “The Rock” – located on the east side of Grundy Lake, between White Pine and Red Maple campgrounds.

But the best part about Grundy Lake is that the half-dozen lakes making up a good portion of the park are all motorboat free, which in turn provides great canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. Paddling on Grundy Lake, Gurd Lake and Gut Lake are popular day outings. Grundy Lake’s ultimate plus, however, is the backcountry sites. Ten interior sites have been added to Grundy, Gurd, Beaver and Pakeshkag Lakes. These are perfect for families wanting to try out interior canoe and kayak tripping, experience a more natural (and less crowded) camping experience, but still want to be close to all the conveniences of the campground (showers, laundry, firewood, Natural Heritage Education Programs) just a short paddle away.

And for those rainy days, drive 15 minutes north of Grundy Lake to visit the French River Visitor Centre or into Sudbury just 60 kilometres north to visit Science North.

Nearby and Natural


Inside Ontario Parks: We Brake for Snakes

Ontario Parks Insider

“One of the unique aspects of the job as a park naturalist at Killbear is responding to snake calls,” says Kenton Otterbein, park naturalist at Killbear Provincial Park.

Since 1995, research has been conducted in the park to tag and record the locations of Killbear’s Massasauga Rattlesnake population. Park visitors are an important part of the research since all campers and staff are instructed to immediately contact park naturalists if they see a rattlesnake on a park road or campsite. When this happens a group of naturalists respond to the call armed with a snake stick and a pillowcase. If the snake is still around they will capture it, implant a microchip, take a photo, measurement, and paint part of the snake’s rattle - pink was the colour of choice in 2008. The naturalists’ goal is not to make the snakes look pretty, but to record their behaviours and protect them from humans. This information helps to determine the sections of road where rattlesnakes are most likely to be run over. Between 2007 and 2008, the park installed 668 metres of fence along the main road to try and prevent snakes from crossing. So far this strategy seems to be working, as fewer snakes have been killed along the fenced portion of the road during the past two years.

Kenton concluded “We get lots of support and interest from park visitors and neighbours for our efforts and the rattlesnake’s image has definitely improved over the past twenty years thanks to the efforts of the Massasauga Recovery Team.” To further support the rattlesnakes, The Friends of Killbear have started a campaign to raise $50,000 to build an eco-passage to allow snakes to safely cross the Day Use road.

Snake Bite Facts
Kenton has answered his fare share of snake bite questions. He has provided the following quick facts to help demystify rattlesnakes:

  • The Massasauga is the only venomous snake in Ontario and it has a fairly limited range. The Bruce Peninsula and the eastern shore of Georgian Bay are the two main areas where people are most likely to run across a rattlesnake.
  • The average number of bites in all of Ontario is about 3 per year with a range between 0 and 9.
  • Only two people have ever died from rattlesnakes in Ontario and the last one was almost 50 years ago. Neither of these two people sought proper medical attention.
  • With modern antivenin the chances of a fatal bite from a Massasauga are almost negligible.
  • Rattlesnakes can only strike 1/3 of their body length and since they are rarely over 90 cm long, as long as you give them a bit of space, (1 or 2 metres) you will be fine.
  • Their main prey is mice and they don’t have very large fangs. The venom works as an anticoagulant which kills mice quite quickly but since humans are hundreds of times larger than a mouse, the venom gets diffused.
  • Since Killbear opened in 1960 there has only been one documented case of a rattlesnake biting a visitor. After a 24 hour stay in hospital the lady was released with no ill-effects. Thousands of people enjoy a safe visit to the park annually.

Gear Up For Spring

Ontario Parks Insider

It is recommended that every RV go through a comprehensive preparation and inspection prior to the start of every new camping season. In much the same way as you would protect your investment with a detailed fall preparation for the winter, it is recommended that you prepare your RV for the coming camping season.

David Sammut, owner of Motor Home Travel Canada, suggests RV owners start off with checking up on the basics; “the first spring maintenance tasks should be to check the tire pressure, check the fluid levels, look for corrosion on the battery posts and fill the propane tank.” David continued, “your next task would be to take your RV for a test drive.”

A good place to take your test drive is to a licensed RV technician for a full de-winterization of your RV. David explains the process Motor Home Coach Travel takes to get your RV rolling again:

“We will de-winterize your water system and fully test the plumbing system including the water pump, hot water heater and check the holding tank operation to ensure trouble free operation. We will also inspect and service the propane system and appliances including your refrigerator, furnace, stove and oven to ensure proper and safe operation. We then check the electrical operation of all appliances including the microwave and air conditioner. Leveling systems, awnings and all other optional extras are serviced as well.

With the coach fully prepared we will then turn our attention to your motor home chassis. Checking battery levels as well as cleaning terminals, tire wear and pressures and perform an oil and filter change as well as topping up all fluids like the transmission and engine coolant.”

Now you are ready to embark on the adventures that await you at the many RV friendly provincial parks. The Ontario Parks’ website can help you determine what campsite best suits your equipment. Click on any campsite in the reservation system to see a site description, including the maximum equipment it will fit. So if the description says “small trailer” your 28’ fifth wheel won’t fit. On the other hand, if it says “large trailer or motorhome” you’re good to go! This information has been developed by Ontario Parks’ staff and is a reliable guide. If you decide to make a reservation, please check the reservation rules and policies first.

Tour Route - Spring Birding

Ontario Parks Insider

The Great Lakes are a significant barrier to migrating birds, which are reluctant to fly over open water with no place to land. Birds routinely hang out along the shore of these lakes waiting for favourable winds prior to crossing or to rest after crossing. Opportunity knocks! This is why the provincial parks along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario provide the best birding in Ontario.

Lake Erie
May is the prime time to visit the shores of Lake Erie to spot your favourite feathered friends. Turkey Point, Long Point and Rondeau Provincial Parks all provide excellent weekend birding destinations. Better still, combine stays at all three for a week long spring birding adventure.

Rondeau Provincial Park – A diverse natural habitat gives Rondeau the distinction of having the highest number of breeding bird species anywhere in Ontario. In any given year, more than 275 species of birds are sighted. The selection includes: Loons, Grebes, Woodpeckers, Sparrows, Finches, Owls, Hawks, Eagles, Blackbirds, Orioles, Tyrant Flycatchers, Herons, Pelicans, Bitterns and Egrets.

Lake Ontario
Further east, the parks on Lake Ontario, such as Presqu’ile and Sandbanks, offer a similar birding experience, with an abundance of species, but in a distinctive part of the province. Combining visits to these parks with the small town charm of Prince Edward County - or more affectionately known to locals as ‘the County’- creates a perfect spring getaway.

Presqu’ile Provincial Park - A trip here in mid-May could easily net 100 different species, and certainly counts of over 150 species a day have been obtained by some diligent and lucky bird-watchers. The advantage of early May bird-watching is that the leaves are not out and small birds are easier to see. Presqu’ile is perhaps best known for its shorebird migration. This migration is better in fall but can be quite good in spring between mid-May and early June, with several thousand birds of 10 to 15 species being seen.