Scenic Views · Camping & Hiking · Fishing · Water Sports · Ontario
A large Ontario Parks campground on Balsam Lake in the Kawarthas, with a sandy beach, boat launch and walleye and bass fishing. Facilities are dated in places and the gravel roads get dusty.
Balsam Lake Provincial Park sits on the shore of Balsam Lake near Kirkfield, at the top of the Kawartha Lakes and on the Trent-Severn Waterway. The draw is the open water: a long beach, big lake views and, in autumn, a band of fall colour around the shoreline. It's a big park, with more than 600 sites, and regulars say it still feels peaceful.
There's plenty to do on and off the water. Ontario Parks lists walleye, muskellunge and largemouth and smallmouth bass in the lake, and there's a boat launch with trailer parking. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards can be rented at the south end of the beach. On land, four short trails run from about 1.7 km to 4.2 km, including a Lookout Trail, and the campground roads are good for cycling.
Campers mostly like how the park runs. Several mention clean comfort stations, friendly staff and quiet zones where the no-radio rule is actually enforced. One camper found good privacy and fast-draining ground on their site, and dog owners appreciate the on-leash dog beach. The park store is small but covers the basics. Its closeness to the GTA makes it an easy weekend trip, and some families have been coming back for decades.
The complaints are practical. Facilities are showing their age, the gravel roads kick up a lot of dust when cars pass, and the swimming beach is rocky underfoot. One recent camper found the showers had no warm water. Water shoes for the beach and a slow drive through the loops both help.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 2,778 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.
