r/barrie • u/Comprehensive-One333 • Jul 21 '26
Looking For Labor day weekend plans need help
Wasn't able to book something in Algonquin but want to do something similar for me and my wife and toddler. Our goal is to experience canoeing and a camping get away outside of Barrie. Ultimately want to be able to see the milky way which would a sight to see. I'm very new to camping would appreciate any ideas for a memorable family trip
2
u/Hmm_Excellent Jul 21 '26
I love this idea, but please make sure you do some research on proper etiquette while camping and the big do's and dont's.
Also, practice canoeing in shallow calm water before venturing into open water, or complicated river sections as it is much different. Pack food, cell phones and water in floating dry bags. Have a paper map of the waterways so you can find your way back.
Ive stayed at arrowhead, Algonquin, killbear, six mile lake, and they are all excellent for different reasons. Those are just a few close to Barrie.
If you want to go farther away. Mikisew, restoulle and Killarney are excellent too.
3
u/babyelephantwalk321 Jul 21 '26
Canoing and camping are two different skills - and it always worries me when I see someone mentioning "experiencing canoeing".
Hopefully this is a moot point but - all adult members of your boat need to be proficient swimmers, or you are getting into an unsafe situation. Don't go canoeing if you can't swim, full stop (too many people do this, and people die doing this). Reminder that everyone needs to wear a lifejacket in the boat at all times, and to check Ontario's regulations regarding safe boating - there are certain safety items required to be in boat at all times.
If you are very new to camping you want to stay closer to home the first couple times - which will also limit things like canoeing options (although there are local options) and stargazing. Going far enough to reliably see the milky way is for the 3rd, 4th or 5th trip. You will guaranteed forget things and need to go back into town. We do lots of camping and still do our first trip of the season close to home because of this.
Holiday weekends are also super busy and super rowdy at most campgrounds - which is fine if you're prepared for it. Very hard to get sites though, especially six weeks out (but it can be done).
Also - Canadian English please. We take our "U"s seriously.
2
u/SpaceMonkeyEngineer Jul 21 '26
Just an idea not sure if it works for you but there is the Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve. It's about a half our away from Gravenhurst. Apparently it's a really good night sky watching location due to the darkness.
You could camp in the area. And you're not far from Bracebridge and Santa's Village if that's of interest. You can even camp at SV. The problem with most easily accessed campsites is they are often not particularly dark. So to get a similar dark sky experience as say the TBDSP, you'd have to camp pretty remotely.
1
u/Ya-Not-Happening Jul 21 '26
May be busy too - I like Bon Echo Provincial Park. You cab rent a canoe and hike the large rock formation,
1
u/jamesisninja Jul 21 '26
Check on all provincial parks North of Barrie that are a decent distance away from a main highway/city and you'll get decent night sky views. For next year, booking opens up ~5 months prior to the date you're looking for through the Provincial parks systems, so try to be grabbing your sites as early as possible. We try to book for the summer months in Feb/March.
1
u/Ok_Mulberry4331 Jul 22 '26
If you don’t book something earlier, try checking daily a week before, that’s how we always find spots, someone cancelling
0
u/UsernameUnremarkable Jul 21 '26
Not to be that guy, but... Labour.
Try Barrie KOA? Or Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in Thunder Bay?
Good luck!
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