plan your winter journey to Killbear
As winter will get underway, Killbear Provincial Park turns right into a snowy paradise for day-trippers and campers!
The superb Georgian Bay panorama that attracts guests every summer season is simply as superb with a blanket of snow. Snowshoeing, cross-country snowboarding and tenting are prime actions at Killbear within the winter season.
Though the snowy season is enjoyable to journey in, it does take much more preparation than tenting within the hotter months.
Listed here are some regularly requested inquiries to plan your winter journey to Killbear with ease:
- What actions can be found?
- What’s the snow like there?
- Do I want a reservation to camp and/or go to for the day?
- Do I want a allow for my automobile and/or campsite publish?
- When is the park workplace open?
- The place can I purchase firewood?
- Which campsites can be found within the winter?
- Can I drive to and park on my campsite?
- Are electrical websites obtainable?
- Will washrooms be open?
- Is the trailer dump and fill station open?
- What ought to I pack?
- Does the park have leases?
- Will the Discovery Centre and Nature Shoppe be open?
1. What actions can be found?
The park presents 15 km of groomed cross-country ski trails which can be track-set for traditional model snowboarding and 4.7 km of trails obtainable for skate snowboarding.
Considering snowshoeing as an alternative? There are 13 km of snowshoe trails obtainable, a lot of which observe the summer season climbing trails. Folks with fats bikes can experience the park roads, however there aren’t any groomed trails for fats bikes.
2. What’s the snow like there?
Verify the park’s Snow Report earlier than planning your journey.
This will provide you with probably the most up-to-date snow situations for Killbear.
3. Do I want a reservation to camp and/or go to for the day?
To keep away from disappointment, reservations for day use and tenting at Killbear are beneficial, even in the course of the winter season.
Day use permits can be found on-line as much as 5 days prematurely. Tenting reservations might be made as much as 5 months prematurely by visiting reservations.ontarioparks.ca or by calling 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275).
4. Do I want a allow for my automobile and/or campsite publish?
Killbear has now gone paperless!
Your reservation affirmation e-mail will function your allow and your license plate quantity will probably be used to confirm your legitimate allow. You’re answerable for having proof of buy whereas within the park both by having a digital or printed copy of your reservation affirmation e-mail.
Bear in mind: check-in is at 2:00 p.m. Please solely proceed to your campsite after this time.
5. When is the park workplace open?
The park workplace is open day by day from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
6. The place can I purchase firewood?
Firewood might be bought on the park workplace, open day by day from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
7. Which campsites can be found within the winter?
The campsites obtainable could change all through the season. Usually, websites 204 to 238 in Beaver Dams Campground will probably be obtainable all through the winter.
Please test the reservations web site to search out out probably the most up-to-date data on campsite availability.
8. Can I drive to and park on my campsite?
Sure, roads to campsites are plowed after every snowfall to make sure quick access to campsites!
Employees additionally plow a portion of every campsite for autos and RV parking.
Please word that after massive climate occasions, snow removing could take additional time.
9. Are electrical websites obtainable?
All websites which can be open for the winter are electrical.
10. Will washrooms be open?
Sure, the Beaver Dams consolation station is winterized and stays open. The Beaver Dams consolation station has flush bogs, heat showers, and laundry amenities.
The vault privies close to campsite 207 and 209 are additionally open.
The washrooms on the park workplace will probably be open for day customers.
11. Is the trailer dump and fill station open?
No. Because of under freezing temperatures, the trailer dump and fill stations are closed for the winter season.
12. What ought to I pack?
Having fun with winter climate requires the proper tools.
Listed here are a couple of gadgets to pack:
- headlamp/flashlight
- first support package
- water bottle
- artificial or merino wool layers (keep away from cotton — it’s no good when moist!)
- snow shovel
- snowshoes
- cross nation skis
In the event you’re tenting in a tent, bear in mind the next at minimal:
- four-season tent
- sleeping bag rated to no less than –15°C
- sleeping pad
- camp range
- lengthy tent stakes to safe your tent in deep snow
13. Does the park have leases?
No, Killbear doesn’t provide leases.
Rental tools is offered close by at Georgian Nordic (skis, snowshoes, fats bikes) and White Squall (snowshoes).
14. Will the Discovery Centre and Nature Shoppe be open?
The Discovery Centre will probably be open in the course of the Household Day weekend and March Break.
The Nature Shoppe will stay closed in the course of the winter.
Stickers and patches can be found for buy on the park workplace.
Keep protected this winter!
Security is vital when exploring in winter. Be sure to plan forward and needless to say the solar units fairly early. Path situations can change quickly as temperatures fluctuate all through the day.
Keep in mind that no ice is protected ice!
All winter campsites have electrical energy, however in case of an influence outage, you need to have an alternate supply of warmth that’s correctly vented. Don’t use propane heaters inside your tent — carbon monoxide can kill.
Snow tires are a should for winter driving within the Parry Sound space.
Different essential concerns
Parry Sound is usually 5-10oC colder than southern Ontario.
Winds off Georgian Bay might be fairly sturdy, so that you want a superb shelter to be comfy. Streamers off the Bay sometimes dump 50 cm of snow over a few days, so being ready is important.
All the time check out your whole gear in chilly climate earlier than arriving on the park. Gear that works completely in summer season could not carry out as effectively in winter. This consists of your cooler (a sizzling water bottle inside can stop your meals from freezing).
Bear in mind to share the paths along with your fellow winter appreciators, and final however not least, get pleasure from exploring the great thing about Killbear in winter!
