Killarney Provincial Park

Backcountry Camping

1. The Experience:

Killarney Provincial Park provides a wilderness experience like no other in Ontario. Suitable for all skill levels, there are two ways to explore Killarney’s backcountry: the canoe routes network and the backpacking trail network.

Paddling across clear topaz coloured lakes is one of the highlights of the backcountry. The park is home to the LaCloche mountain range, which offers one of the most breathtaking and challenging hikes in the country on the La Cloche Silhouette Trail.

While camping in Killarney’s backcountry, visitors will find basic amenities on most campsites including a designated fire pit and box privy. The backcountry trails, portages and campsites are well-marked, however, understanding and utilizing map navigation is essential.

2. Reservations and Interior Camping Permits

Paddling: Campsite specific reservations are available online or by phone up to five months in advance of your arrival date. Reservations are recommended to secure your campsite.

Hiking: Campsite specific reservations are available online or by phone up to five months in advance of your arrival date for the La Cloche Silhouette hiking trail.

Reservations are recommended to secure your campsite

Interior camping permits are required for backcountry camping at Killarney Provincial Park.

Visitors can obtain permits upon arrival at the following locations:

George Lake campground and Killarney backcountry access – George Lake campground office
Bell Lake backcountry access – Bell Lake access point
Highway 6 access point – All permits for the west end of the park interior can be picked up at the Highway 6 access point
The Crack day use hike – Day use permits can be purchased at the Crack Trail access point
Chickanishing Creek Trail assess point, Georgian Bay access point – Day use Permits can be purchased at the Chickanishing Creek Trail access point.

3. Trip Planning

Maps are available for purchase online through the Friends of Killarney or at the park.

It is recommended that you obtain a copy of the official park map before heading out into the backcountry. If you have any questions about reading or understanding a map, please ask the park staff for assistance upon your arrival. The Friends of Killarney also produce guides that can assist in trip planning.

Killarney works closely with a number of organizations and outfitters that can assist you in planning and securing equipment for your trip.

There is a ban on cans, glass bottles, and chainsaws in Killarney’s backcountry.

Please be respectful of the natural environment and other visitors. Practice leave-no-trace camping, camp only on designated campsites within your lake/zone, and be aware of your surrounding neighbours, ecology, and wildlife. We appreciate your efforts to maintain this pristine environment.

Backcountry campsite number changes

This table lists changes to the campsite numbers in Killarney backcountry campsites
Lake Name	Old Site Number	New Site Number	Lake Name	Old Site Number	New Site Number	Lake Name	Old Site Number	New Site Number
George	2	1	Three Mile	77	145	Van Winkle	162	231
	3	2		75	146		145	232
	4	3	Grey	239	141		146	233
	5	4		238	142	Van	160	234
	6	5		237	143	Grow	161	235
Killarney	20	11		236	144	Rocky	163	236
	19	12	Balsam	115	151	Fish	153	237
	21	13		114	152		154	238
	18	14		116	153	Great Mountain	158	241
	17	15		113	154		155	242
	16	16		118	155		157	243
	15	17		117	156	Gail	159	244
	14	18		120	157	Howry	151	245
	24	19	Little Bell	111	158		150	246
	22	20	Deacon	123	161	McGregor Bay	135	301
	23	21		122	162		136	302
Norway	13	31	Fox	121	163		137	303
	11	32	Peter	240	164	Three Narrows	48	311
	12	33		241	165		47	312
Sandy	10	41	Hideaway	230	166		46	313
Kakakise	7	51	Harry	128	171		50	314
	9	52		129	172		52	315
OSA	28	61		130	173		45	316
	29	62		132	174		44	317
	30	63	David	91	181		43	318
	31	65		92	182		51	319
	32	64		93	183		42	320
Murial	34	71		109	184		39	321
	35	72		94	185		41	323
Baie Fine	36	81		97	186		40	324
	37	82		98	187	Boundary	110	325
	38	83		99	188	Panage	227	401
Collins Inlet	184	91		100	189		226	402
	185	92		101	190		245	403
Carlyle	57	101		106	191		246	404
	62	102		104	192		247	405
	56	103		103	193		248	406
	55	104		102	194		249	407
	61	105	Clear Silver	70	195	Walker	209	411
	60	106	Grace	180	201		208	412
Johnnie	67	111		179	202	Little Bear	206	413
	68	112		181	203		205	414
	69	113	Nellie	142	204		202	415
	66	114		143	205		203	416
	65	115		144	206		204	417
	63	116	Helen	139	211	Bear	216	421
	64	117		138	212		217	422
Ruth Roy	72	118		173	213		218	423
	73	119	Ishmael	172	214		219	424
Turbid	235	121		171	215		220	425
	234	122		170	216		221	426
Bell	83	131	Low	138	217	High Lake	225	427
	74	132	McGregor Bay NC	134	218	Horseshoe	214	428
	82	133					87	137
	81	134	Murray	149	221		88	138
	86	135		148	222		89	139
	80	136		156	223		79	140
	133	219	Leech	200	224
				201	225
			Hanwood	183	226
				182	227

Car Camping

George Lake Campground is open for camping all year. The main gates are closed during the snowy season and the campground and yurts become “walk in” from approximately the end of November to the beginning of May. Guests get toboggans to carry their gear.

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

Radio-Free Camping

Campground “D” – sites #82 to #113 including the East Beach are radio-free.

Roofed Accommodation

Rustic Cabins

Number at Park: 2

Site Number(s) / Name: 137, 138

The camp cabin is a rustic one room cabin with wood interior and a screened in front porch. The cabin sleeps five on a queen bed and double/single bunk bed.

Check-in/Check-out:

4pm/10am

Sleeps:

Amenities:

The cabin features a kitchenette with a microwave, mini fridge, coffee maker, kettle and counter space. There is a dining table and chairs for inside meals. Outside you will find a gas barbeque and picnic table. A propane fireplace provides a cozy temperature and atmosphere inside.

The camp cabin is within approximately 300m from the park office. Outside the office there are two heated washrooms with a tap for potable water. There is also a privy toilet located approximately 100m from the cabin.

What to Bring:

Visitors should bring their own bedding, food, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery and other personal items.

Restrictions:

There is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Please note that pets are not permitted in the camp cabin and smoking is prohibited.

Smoking is prohibited.

Pets are permitted in cabin 138 and yurt 2, all other roofed accommodations pets are not permitted.

Parking:

Parking for one vehicle is included in your rental fee. In the winter month visitors will leave their vehicles at the park office and take all gear down to the cabin using a toboggan. Toboggans are provided by the park.

Special Notes:

Summer (July-August): 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Shoulder Season: 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Winter Season (November-April): 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In the winter season, campers must book at least three days in advance.

If you arrive after office hours or on days when staff are not available, an incoming yurt reservation package will be left for you in the Self Serve Reservation Kiosk.

Reservations:

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

Soft Sided Shelters

Number at Park: 6

Site Number(s) / Name: Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6

Killarney’s six yurts are located in the George Lake Campground in their own site away from other campers. A short walk of 70m to 200m will take you to your accommodation.

Check-in/Check-out

4pm/10am

Sleeps:

Amenities:

All six yurts are available year round. Each yurt sleep six people on two sets of bunk beds; each a double lower mattress and twin upper mattress. Inside, your yurt has lighting, electric heat and a power outlet.

Outside you will find a propane barbecue, two picnic tables and a fire pit. Yurts 3, 4, 5, and 6 also have an outdoor dining area with roof. A metal bear proof food storage locker is available at each yurt.

Parking is available nearby but not on the yurt site. A wagon is available to transport your gear to the yurt. Vault privies are located very close to the yurts and a comfort station is a short distance away.

What to Bring:

Campers should bring their own bedding, cookstove, cookware, dishes, food and other personal items.

Restrictions:

There is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Please note dogs are permitted in Yurt 6. Pets are not permitted in any other Yurts. Smoking is prohibited in all facilities. Cooking in yurts is not permitted.

Parking:

Parking is available nearby but not on the yurt site. A wagon is available to transport your gear to the yurt. Parking for one vehicle is included in your rental fee.

Winter:

Winter campers should note that the campground gates are locked and access to the yurt is by ski/snowshoe only – a distance of approximately 500m from the main park office to the six yurt sites. One toboggan is available to help move your gear. The comfort station is closed from Thanksgiving until Victoria Day weekend. Potable water, sinks and flush toilets are available in the heated bathrooms that are attached to the main park office.

Special Notes:

Summer (July-August): 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Shoulder Season: 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Winter Season (November-April): 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
In the winter season, campers must book at least three days in advance.

If you arrive after office hours or on days when staff are not available, an incoming yurt reservation package will be left for you in the Self Serve Reservation Kiosk.

Reservations:

Reservations can be made online or through our call centre by calling 1-888-ONT-PARK.