The best camping near Arrowhead Provincial Park

Many gather here on winter weekends to skate the kilometre-long loop through the woods. All levels of nordic skiers love the 28 kilometres of groomed ski trails, and snowshoeing and tubing are also available, which can be followed up with hot cocoa by the fire in the visitor centre at its forest-facing glass facade. In summer, hiking, biking, and swimming are abundant—the Beaver Meadow Trail, about eight kilometres long, traverses marshland, streams, and a small pond before ending at an old Oke homestead. The park features about 300 campsites.

• Best for quiet relaxation: The beach at Roe Campground tends to be less crowded.
• Best for dogs: The northern Lumby Campground is pooch-friendly.

1. This park fills up incredibly fast. Reserve online five months in advance of the first date of your trip. The online reservation system opens at 7am, so be ready with your site already picked, plus alternatives if your first choice is gone. 
2. Consider booking midweek or during shoulder season when parks are less busy to guarantee a spot. Non-electrical sites tend to be less popular.
3. If sites are not available, try visiting the Ontario Parks’ Facebook cancellation page to snag someone’s reservation.
4. If this park is entirely booked, look into reserving a spot at nearby Algonquin Park.

Winter is really the showstopper here. The visitor centre stays open year-round for rentals including snowshoes, skis, and skates. The 1.3-kilometre skating loop is packed during most weekends. In summer, many families return annually to celebrate under the giant picnic shelters for groups up to 100. The winter cabins book up lightning-fast, so consider winter camping instead. 

• Try booking your winter trip during a full moon—a nighttime ski under the moonlight can’t be beat.
• Consider testing your endurance at the annual Muskoka Ski Loppet.
• Watch for when Ontario Parks announces special Fire & Ice Night, when the skating loop is torch-lit between 6 and 9pm.
• Don’t forget your winter tires and booster cables, as road conditions can be unpredictable throughout the park. Temperatures in January range between -5°C and -16°C.
• The park store sells souvenirs and baked goods, but not groceries. Buy supplies in nearby Bancroft or Huntsville.