Login | March 09, 2026
Killarey Provincial Park, Ontario
PETE GLADDEN
Published: March 9, 2026
I don’t know about you, but having just made it through one of the coldest Northeastern Ohio winters in years I’ve already begun daydreaming of a spring trip or two so that I can kind of sooth my soul a bit while waiting for that wonderful springtime weather to creep ever closer.
And when I think of springtime trips one of the places my mind almost always drifts back to is a place that I’d visited on more than several early season occasions over the past several decades.
It’s a place that requires a bit of a drive, about ten-hours, and at least four to five days of vacation time, but I promise that once you arrive and hop out of your car you’re going to be awestruck.
Because there in the hinterlands of Ontario you’d swear you were gazing out at Colorado’s fabulous Front Range what with the beautiful snow-covered mountains gleaming in the distance.
And as I’ve often told friends, “If you were somehow instantly transported to this destination you’d more than likely guess you were somewhere in the Rockies.”
So the place I’ve been raving about is Ontario’s Killarney Provincial Park up on the northern shore of the Georgian Bay.
And those so-called snowy mountains, they’re the La Cloche Mountain Range whose white color isn’t from snow, it’s white quartzite, a beautifully reflective mineral which glistens like new fallen snow when the sun hits it.
So the La Cloche Mountain Range is easily the centerpiece of this 645-square-kilometer provincial park, and what’s so interesting is the fact that it’s the remnant of an ancient, 1.8-billion-year-old plate collision, the outcome of which was a mountain range so vast in size and height that way back then it could easily have rivaled today’s towering Himalayan Range.
Today all that remains of this once magnificent mountain system are merely its rugged and eroded roots.
Now what with its lofty white quartzite cliffs, its vast mix of maple, birch and pine forest, its stunning plethora of interconnected lakes and its rugged northern Georgian Bay coastline, Killarney's considered a pretty special place, so much so that it’s often referred to as one of the “crown jewels” of the Ontario parks system.
Indeed, for the park is considered by many to be one of the best backcountry paddling destinations in the world, containing 184 backcountry canoe-in sites along it’s vast system of over 50 interconnected, crystal-clear lakes - all surrounded by white quartzite ridges.
And then for the hikers and backpackers there’s 34 backcountry hike-in sites situated across its nearly 50 miles of backcountry trails.
Now I’ve experienced Killarney from a hiker’s perspective, and I can tell you that my several trips to backpack throughout Killarney have been spectacular with respect to the hiking scenery and the photo opportunities.
And though some of the more spectacular sights are found deep in the park along the famous La Cloche Silhouette loop backpacking trail, you don’t have to be a backpacker or canoeist/kayaker to access all the park’s otherworldly sights.
There are a slew of day hiking opportunities with various degrees of difficulty which will provide you with some stunning scenery.
For instance there’s the four-mile Crack Trail, the one-and-a-half mile Granite Ridge Trail and the two-and-a-half mile Cranberry Bog trail to name but a few.
And for those who are car campers, be it trailer or tenting, there’s approximately 100 sites which are all located a short distance from George Lake’s main beach.
And although none of the car camp sites offer full hookups, the campground does have an RV blackwater dumping station along with heated washrooms and potable water.
What’s more, if you’re a bit more into the “glamping” side of camping you can reserve one of the park’s many camping cabins, each equipped with a kitchenette, propane fireplace, microwave, fridge, coffee maker and kettle, dining table and chairs, and a gas barbeque and picnic table.
But…there’s a really big BUT here. You must reserve the cabins early in the year - like right now - because they book out extremely fast for the entire season.
For more information about Killarney Provincial Park in Ontario Canada go to: https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/killarney