The Pinery -- Riverside

I've been meaning to -- and trying to! -- check out the Pinery for ages. It is an incredibly popular park. Apparently second only to Algonquin in Ontario! And I've heard very good things about it. On top of that, it's only a two-hour drive each way for me, making it one of the easier parks to get to. But somehow we just never quite made it out that way.

Last year (2020) was a complete write-off and I didn't even try to do any camping. And, looking back at 2019, it was honestly pretty jam-packed! We were at Rondeau for the Shoreline clean-up in September. In August we camped at Bronte Creek, Grundy Lake, Killbear, and Bass Lake. July didn't involve any camping because the Kidlet and I went on a trip to Bermuda with Grammie instead. June featured a trip to Rouge. And, in May, we managed to snag a yurt in Algonquin! And further back than that I was sticking to more fair-weather camping and the summers were spent either hosting friends or finding my camping groove. So, I guess it's not totally unreasonable that we didn't make it to the Pinery until now.

The Park

The Pinery is kind of incredible. We only explored a tiny portion of it and it was still pretty amazing. The diversity is pretty astounding!
We hiked the Bittersweet Trail and found ourselves walking through oak savannah, full of oak, pine, hickory, and all sorts of smaller shrubs and bits of vegetation. Later, we went down to the shore to watch the waves and explore the delicate dune ecosystem with its juniper and sedges and evergreens covering loose sand that doesn't seem like it should be able to support nearly so much life. Then, a short walk along the Sassafrass Trail took us through a completely different type of forest! It looked more Carolinian and was completely different from either of the other two areas we'd already visited. I still find it kind of amazing that there can be so many different habitats and types of environment packed into such a small area!

The weather wasn't the best for our trip, but we still had a lovely time. There wasn't much wildlife out and about due to the cold temperatures and high winds, but we still saw lots of fascinating fungus and vegetation. And we learned a lot too!

Bittersweet Trail has a really great interpretive guide available for sale in the gift shop. It talks about some of the creatures you can find in the Pinery, many of which I either knew very little about or didn't even realize we got in Canada!

I learned a tonne about the star-nosed mole (which apparently swims and can retract its little nose tentacles when not in use). And I even discovered new things about the coyote and white-tailed deer that I hadn't known before. Also, did you know that there are flying squirrels in the Pinery?! Because I sure didn't! I didn't even know they were native to Canada. Go figure!

Aside from the trails (only two of which we managed to hike during our brief stay), there's also a small, but very interesting visitor centre which features a tiny gift shop. (This gift shop is completely separate from the Park Store which is in a different location.) Sadly the visitor centre and gift shop are only open on the weekends during the off-season. Luckily we arrived early enough on Sunday that we were able to visit both before they closed for the day.

If you would like detailed trail maps, they are available for sale in the gift shop. As is a seasonal bird list that is specific to the park. There are also many park-specific buttons and badges for sale as well as more generic decor and clothing items, plus a selection of books and nature guides.

The Park Store was closed for the season, so I can't comment on exact what they sell. It looks like bike and boat rentals happen through the Park Store. They also sell ice cream and official Ontario Parks merchandise (like the park stickers and crests, park passports, etc.). I would expect to find a small selection of basic camping supplies there as well.

Bikes are a very popular and useful way to get around the Pinery. It's a fairly large park and if you don't want to be piling into the car and driving to all the trail heads, beach, etc., then a bike is going to be your best friend. There is a dedicated bike lane on the main park road (much of it wide enough to ride two or three abreast). And Savannah trail is also bike-friendly and offers a convenient connection between many points in the park. We didn't have our bikes with us this time, but I would absolutely bring (or rent) a bike next time. Especially if we end up there in warmer weather!

The Campground

We were in Riverside campground this time. It's the furthest inland. Burley and Dunes are both quite close to the beach and sit between Lake Huron and the Old Ausable Channel. Riverside is on the far side of the channel. I've been told that Burley features the best campsites. Unfortunately, as far as I know, Burley isn't bookable in the off-season. I believe that Riverside is the only campground that stays open year-round. It's optimized for trailers. It's also where all the yurts and cabins are!

I really don't have any complaints about Riverside. Sure, it might be nice to be closer to the beach in the summer, but I'm not too pushed about that in November. The sites might be a little more private in Burley, but I still felt like Riverside had enough (if not copious) trees.

The comfort station was heated (which was very welcome in the cold, blustery weather we were having) and features multi-stall gendered bathrooms as well as an accessible gender-neutral "family" bathroom/wet room, showers, and a laundry room. There's also a drinking water spigot accessible from outside the comfort station that stays on year-round.

The gendered bathrooms seemed to be pretty standard public bathroom fare: a few sinks and soap dispensers, hand dryers, a few small stalls, and one larger accessible stall. I did appreciate that they provided a step-stool by the sinks so that younger children would be able to reach to wash their hands.

I didn't peek at the showers, but I expect they were pretty standard too. Probably a shower head, a soap tray, some hooks, and maybe some sort of seat.
The family bathroom was quite nice. The whole room was tiled with relatively small tiles with a drain in the centre. (Lots of grout for grip so the floor shouldn't be too slippery when wet.) Toilet in one corner. Sink and soap dispenser in the other. The other side of the room features several grab bars and a seat/bench that can be folded down to sit on while showering. The showerhead itself is a wand style so that it can be moved around to more easily shower while seated. The only thing it's missing is a way to dry off your hands. For some reason there's neither air hand dryer or a paper towel dispenser in this washroom. Everything else is great though!

The laundry room features coin-operated washers and dryers as well as a laundry tub (with hot and cold water) and countertops that you can use for sorting, folding, whathaveyou. The machines only appear to take loonies and quarters, so be sure to come prepared.

The Campsite

We were in yurt 477. This is one of the newer style yurts. Rather than being constructed from an octagonal, aluminum frame, it's a round, wooden lattice frame. It has a front and a back door with glass windows and vinyl curtains. There's also a small, full-height window beside the front door. The peak of the roof features a domed skylight that can be opened in warmer weather.

Outside there's a large wooden deck (which connects to both the front and back doors). The deck can be accessed by either stairs or a ramp.

There are two picnic tables. One down by the fire pit and another up on the deck near the propane barbecue. (The propane is provided. The cookware and utensils are not.)

Inside the yurt, there are two bunk beds with mattresses. The beds are all double sized (including the top bunks). There's a nice wooden table and four wooden chairs, plus two more folding chairs. There are hooks by both doors for hanging your hats and coats. There's also a boot tray and a small bench near the front door. Over to one side is a small work top/kitchen island with a wash basin and drying rack. You also get a broom, mop, bucket, and fire extinguisher. And the whole thing is heated by a lovely, thermostatically controlled, propane fireplace.

There are two duplex electrical recepticles in the yurt. Although one of the outlets is used by the fireplace. That still gives you three outlets for charging your devices or plugging in nightlights or whatever else you might need!

I found it VERY challenging to get the door unlocked upon arrival. The whole handle was wobbling out of place, but the lock just wouldn't disengage. Once we finally got it unlocked, I had trouble getting to door to relinquish the key and I was somewhat reluctant to lock the door again after that. The doors on the older style aluminum-framed yurts seem much easier to operate.

The fireplace could be a bit loud when the circulation fan was going, but it wasn't too bad. If you're very sensitive to noise, you might want to bring some ear plugs though.

Overall I was really happy with our site. It was cozy and comfy. It stayed nice and warm despite the howling wind and sub-zero overnight temperatures. The mattresses, while certainly not deluxe, were pretty comfortable. Everything was neat and clean. The table was big enough for eating and playing board games on. It allowed for a very easy camping trip in what would have otherwise been very unforgiving conditions. I really like it as a way to extend the camping season into the cooler weather.

Bronte Creek -- Prairie

We had an awesome time at Bronte Creek. It's a great park and there's tonnes of stuff to see and do. It's a bit different than the other provincial parks I've been to and I was initially dubious, but it was great! I just wish we'd had another day to see a bit more of the park. The only real drawback is that there's no way to get between the day use and campground areas without leaving the park. It's one contiguous area, but there's a ravine running through the middle, so it takes a quick jaunt on the 403/QEW to get between the two halves of the park. This made getting back and forth between our campsite and the various other parts of the park a bit tedious, but it was still a great trip overall. I think, in the future, I'd actually prefer doing Bronte Creek as a day trip rather than an overnight camping destination.

Day Use Area

There's a lot to do in the day use area! We started with the Victorian farmhouse and worked our way through the park from there.

Spruce Lane Farmhouse

The farmhouse was a lot of fun to tour. The rooms are filled with all the furnishings that would've been typical of an 1899 household and there are information panels throughout to tell you about what you're seeing and why it's there. Most of the house is set up as a look-but-don't-touch exhibit to protect the many antiques from damage. There are, however, several clearly marked hands-on displays and activities. I especially liked the dumb waiter that you could send between the kitchen and the cellar. And the Kidlet loved getting the chance to try out some of the toys.

The farmhouse is also populated by several volunteers dressed in period clothing. They're on hand to answer any questions visitors have or direct them to things they might've missed. They'll also often be working on various period crafts (embroidery, sewing, woodworking, etc.). It's also these fine Victorian folks who lead many of the children's programs held at Spruce Lane Farm. TF and the Kidlet did the farm tour and got to meet most of the animals and hear about what their roles would've been on the farm and how they would've been cared for.

Nature Centre

The Nature Centre was our next stop along the way. It wasn't as large as some of the other nature centres we've visited, but it was very well done. There were lots of activities for kids to try out. The Kidlet especially liked learning about ladybug life cycles. And the salamander tank was pretty excellent as well. I also really liked the native fish tank. The staff were also incredibly enthusiastic and helpful. The Kidlet was working on the junior ranger program and the wardens were great at encouraging her and suggesting ways she could advance her progress.

Playbarn

This was probably the biggest hit with the Kidlet. It's an old barn that's been converted into a big, multi-level indoor play space. There are slides and ladders and bridges and jumping pits... And it's nice to have a play space for kids to burn off some energy that's out of the sun. There's a section on the lower level that's just for little kids (ages 1-5). The upper level is for big kids only (5-10). There are a couple benches near the entrance where parents can sit while their kids play. Adults aren't allowed in the upper level of the barn, but you can see everything pretty well from below.

There's also an outdoor playground just a few metres from the playbarn if your kids prefer playing outside. And the bird coops (chickens and a peacock), rabbit hutch, and cow pasture are within a few steps of the play areas as well.

Picnic Shelters

Normally I wouldn't bother writing about picnic shelters. Lots of parks have picnic shelters. It's a nice option to have if you want a place to eat that's out of the sun and/or rain, but I wouldn't feel the need to say too much about them. Bronte's picnic shelters are special though. They're not just your standard open-sided shelter that gives you a small roof over a picnic bench or two. Bronte Creek takes their picnic shelters seriously!

Their picnic shelters are very large and sturdy. And, while they're not completely enclosed, they're not completely open either. But, more importantly (and impressively), they're actually equipped for cooking as well as eating. The ones I saw had stainless steel work surfaces, a sink, and what appeared to be a brick oven! Now I understand why you need to reserve the shelters in advance. All the ones we saw while we were there were reserved and being used to host everything from sweet sixteen birthday parties to family reunions.

Pool

The pool was one of the things we didn't have time to check out during our visit. I'm sure it would've been a lot of fun if we'd gone though. Bronte Creek has a huge pool: 1.8 acres! It ranges from a few centimetres deep around the edges to ~2m deep in the centre. Hopefully if we head out that way again we'll get a chance to go for a swim.

Trails

We didn't get a chance to hike all the day use trails, but we did a couple of them. I really enjoyed the scenery and flora. And we saw a tonne of caterpillars along the way. I think the biggest disappointment for me was that there were no interpretive guides at the trail heads. TF managed to find an mp3 audio guide for one of the trails and I really enjoyed listening to the info about the area. But, I think, on the whole, I prefer the written guides.

Half Moon Valley Trail

This was a pretty little 2km trail with sections of boardwalk (always a hit with the Kidlet). The trailhead is just a short walk from the farmhouse so, although we didn't do it this way, it would make for an easy add-on after the tour. The Trillium Trail also picks up here. We didn't do that one, but it looks like it'd be a good choice if you want something a little shorter and easier than Half Moon Valley. It's a 1km loop and the website says it's wheelchair and stroller friendly.

The Half Moon Valley Trail also hooks up with the Ravine Lookout Trail, so if you're feeling up for a longer walk, you can combine the two (which is what we did). I remember one of the two including a very steep climb and I think it was Half Moon. It took some doing to get to the top and you definitely needed hand holds for parts of it, but it was actually pretty fun. There were also stairs along the way. So, definitely not wheelchair or stroller friendly. Fun if you're looking for something to shake things up a bit though.

Ravine Lookout Trail

As the name implies, this trail gives you some cool views and the creek and the ravine. I was a little disappointed that the lookout didn't include telescopes like some of the other park lookouts we've visited, but it was still a very pretty view. This is a linear trail, so you'll either want to be prepared to walk it in both directions or have someone who's willing to bring the car around to pick you up at the other end. (Thanks, TF!) It's ~2.7km each way.

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Campgrounds

The campgrounds are across the ravine from the day use area. There are no bridges or paths across the ravine in the park, so you can only get from one to the other by exiting the park and driving around to the opposite side. This involves a quick trip on the 403 and usually takes 10-15 minutes by car. There campsites are arranged in four loops: Ravine, Woodland, Savannah, and Prairie. We stayed in the Prairie loop which is the one nearest the entrance to the park.

Field and Forest Trail

This is a nice 3.5km loop over relatively level terrain and easily accessed from the campgrounds. The field section was full of pretty wildflowers and a huge number of swallows swooping busily about. And the forest section was pleasantly cool and shady and full of interesting trees and fungus. I think I preferred the day use trails overall, but it's nice to have the option of a trail that can be used without having to leave the campground side of the park.

Prairie Loop

Most of the Prairie loop seemed to be fairly open with fewer trees and less shade than I generally prefer. Luckily we managed to nab one of the pleasingly well-treed and reasonably shady sites. There's a mini comfort station (featuring two gender neutral flush toilets) in the centre of the loop. And they have a playground located between the Prairie and Savannah loops. Bronte Creek does have yurts, but none of them are on the Paririe loop.

The Campsite -- 121

This turned out to be a great site. One side gets shade in the morning, the other gets shade in the afternoon. There's a water spigot right at the entrance to the site. And there's a path straight to the comfort station going off one side. It's also reasonably well-treed and private. I was quite happy with it.

As is pretty standard for most parks I've visited, the site included a picnic table and a fire pit. The fire pit on this site had a metal ring with a hinged grate than could be swung across to cover ~1/2 the top. Pretty standard campsite stuff. Only worth noting because I've stay at some campsites that have been frustratingly lacking in the firepit/fire ring department. So I like to make note of the specifics offered.

Algonquin Park -- Mew Lake

I've stayed at Mew Lake twice now. I don't have super strong feelings about it either way, but it has yurts, so that's very nice when you're camping with non-campers, small children, and/or during the shoulder seasons when it's cooler and you want to make use of the heater.

The Campground

I think there are ~100 sites in all at Mew Lake, including two accessible sites with direct access to the comfort station and seven yurt sites.

The comfort station has gendered bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks. There is also a unisex accessible bathroom and individual (gender-neutral) showers. There are also, apparently, laundry facilities, but I've never really paid enough attention to see where.

Firewood (and kindling) is sold at the camp office although fires may be restricted at certain times depending on weather conditions, so it's good to have a back-up method of cooking just in case. Outside firewood is not allowed due to risk of spreading Emerald Ash Borer and other invasive species.

From the campground you have easy access to the eponymous Mew Lake as well as the Old Railway Bike Trail (which may be hiked or biked in the warmer months and skied, fat biked, or snowshoed in the winter). The trail connects Mew Lake to several other campgrounds as well as the Two Rivers Store a short distance to the east.

The Sites

The sites seem pretty "standard" based on what I'm used to when camping. Small relatively flat, clearings with a few trees on two or three sides and one side open to the road/vehicle path through the campground. There's not a huge amount of privacy, but there are enough trees that they don't feel completely open either. Each site has a picnic table and a fire pit (with ring and grate).

The Yurts

I've stayed in yurt 36 both times I've been there. As far as I can tell, it is identical to the other yurts on the campground... except Yurt 39. Yurt 39 is fancy!

The basic yurt set-up is an 8-sided vinyl structure with a sturdy aluminum frame. The door is the same aluminum frame + vinyl as the rest of the structure with a simple lock. You get a key on a lanyard when you check in.

There are mesh windows that can be covered with clear vinyl on one side and opaque vinyl on the other. (So you can have open window, closed window, and "drawn curtains".) The "curtains" are quite effective at blocking the light and the yurt stays pretty dark when you've got everything closed up.

There is a basic electric heater mounted on one wall and a fluorescent shop light that can be turned on with a rather industrial looking switch. The light is plugged into one of the two outlets in the yurt's receptacle and the switch controls the whole receptacle so if you want to have something plugged in (and powered) while the lights are out, you'll have to unplug the lights.

The yurt is also furnished with a very simple table -- looks like a folding card table -- and six white plastic stacking patio chairs. You can't actually fit all six chairs around the table. Even four would be a struggle. But you do get six chairs. There's also a plain aluminum shelf above the table.

The beds are arranged as two sets of double/twin bunk beds against opposite walls. Double bed on the bottom with a twin above. They come with vinyl-covered mattresses, but you're responsible for supplying your own bedding/linens and pillows.

The yurt is slightly elevated, so there are (two) wooden steps up to the door. There is also a separate open-sided wooden shelter off to one side for the barbecue. (Barbecues are only furnished May-Thanksgiving.) Propane is provided for the barbecue. As is a grill cleaning brush. If you ask at the camp office (between May and Thanksgiving) they will also deliver a Rubbermaid tub full of other cookware and utensils to your campsite. If I recall correctly, it comes with a pot, a pan, a kettle, lifter, tongs, knife, cutting board, plates, bowls, mugs, and cutlery.

Yurt 39

I have not actually stayed in Yurt 39 yet. It is definitely an upgrade from the other Mew Lake yurts though!

Yurt 39 has a full deck built onto it with a couple of deck chairs and a ramp (for full wheelchair access). The barbecue shelter on this site is built right into the deck. The doors and windows appear to have much more structure to them and use actual glass and frames like you might see in a house. Rather than an electric heater, this yurt has a fireplace! (I believe the fireplace uses either propane or natural gas.)

I'm sure there are further upgrades and luxuries inside, but as I have not actually managed to stay in this yurt yet, I don't have the full details.