Day tripping or backcountry paddle adventures, Restoule is for you!
Think about:
You place your canoe or kayak into the lake. The water is clean and reflective. The sky’s a deep, darkish blue, and the clouds are good white.
The day is sunny, cool and crisp, and the bushes that cowl the hills round you…nicely, they’re a shocking show of crimson, orange, and yellow. Don’t overlook to examine the Fall Colors Report so you may catch the height colors!
There’s one thing particular about paddling in Ontario’s provincial parks within the fall, notably secluded Restoule Provincial Park.
Lower than 3 hours north of Barrie, it’s the right park for a weekend paddling getaway – both a simple backcountry tenting journey to one of many secluded inside campsites, or day journeys primarily based out of the full-service campground.
No worries in case you don’t personal a ship. Canoe and kayak leases can be found on the park!
You received’t encounter many different canoeists or kayakers in September and October, however in case you look carefully, you’re sure to see some everlasting residents… wildlife is throughout you at Restoule!
Search for and also you would possibly spot a uncommon Peregrine Falcon (they’ve been recognized to nest within the park) or a Bald Eagle cruising over the lake.
Lake Trout, Whitefish, Walleye, pike, muskie, and Giant and Smallmouth Bass swim beneath you within the cool clear waters.
Painted Turtles bask on logs on heat sunny days, whereas River Otters are often sighted enjoying on the Restoule River.
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Day-tripping at Restoule
You possibly can plan a easy day journey. There are a number of choices on the park’s waterways:
Restoule Lake
Paddle from one of many campground seashores round Angels Level into the higher Restoule River, at all times a great place for wildlife like Blue Herons within the reeds, or White-tailed Deer alongside the shore.
Take the “Grawbarger Portage,” named for the farming household that settled right here in 1881, to succeed in Stormy Lake for an extended journey.
Restoule River
Paddle from the entry level on Stormy Lake all the way down to Scotts Dam for a picnic lunch subsequent to the rapids under.
The portage across the rapids is an historical path, travelled for 1000’s of years by the Nipissing and Dokis peoples, and later by the Métis Nation who’ve additionally walked this land.
The Bluff
A favorite route. Paddle under the 100-metre-high cliffs of “The Bluff,” a part of the Ottawa-Bonnechere Rift Valley.
Stormy Lake
This lake has many bays and channels to discover, together with The Bluff cliff face and Restoule River; on the north shore of the lake, you will discover the massive glacial boulder, generally known as an erratic, known as “The Elephant” for apparent causes.
Clear Lake
Paddlers can attain Clear Lake from Stormy and not using a portage, following the channels and islands that divide the 2 lakes.
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Backcountry at Restoule
If you happen to’re up for extra of an journey, strive base-camping on certainly one of our inside campsites for a simple backcountry paddling journey.
There are 12 backcountry campsites on Stormy Lake, Clear Lake, and a bit of the scenic Restoule River. Base-camping on certainly one of these websites places the entire day journeys talked about earlier proper at your waterfront “doorstep.”
The park presents lightweight Kevlar canoes, solely reservable for backcountry paddlers. Please name the park straight at 705-729-2010 to order.
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Want a break from paddling?
One of the crucial in style hikes is the Hearth Tower Path, which takes you excessive above Stormy Lake, and the sting of its 100 m “Bluff.”
On the prime is the historic hearth tower and a wide ranging panoramic view of the lake and the autumn colors.
Deliver your mountain bike or lease one on the park, and take a look at the Angels Level Path.
With a mixture of double and single-track trails, it’s enjoyable for anybody who likes the thought of biking via a ravishing forest.
You can too take a look at Gibs Path!
This path is mountain bike targeted with a bench on the finish beside Stormy Lake, to benefit from the views and a picnic lunch. The path has two-way site visitors and isn’t looped.
Try our park trails map for extra info.
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Planning a paddling journey at Restoule this fall?
To get extra info on paddling or backcountry tenting, take a look at our web site or name the park straight at 705-729-2010.
