Site Number

Lake

Over-all ranking

Picturesque Ranking

Privacy Ranking

Swimming Ranking

Comments

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Kakakise

C

D

C

I am not sure about the swimming at this site. The site faces an island so the view is not great.  There is a cabin on the island but it does not face the campsite so you can not see it from the site.

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Killarney

Killarney is smaller than site with two good tent sites and another a bit further back in the bush.

17

Killarney

B+

B+

C+

 Swimming was excellent and the fire area nice but exposed or facing north. Thunderbox was private. View to the North and east was great but you were blocked from the southern and western sky.  One K bushwack to the crack.

18

Killarney

B+

A

B

B

This site is very pretty with great views on the Blue South La Cloche Range. A bit of a climb to get up to it, from the water, but there are lots of tent pads and a great fire pit. Water access is a little hard but doable. Thunderbox is about perfect. Very clean when we were there.

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

OSA

A

A fantastic site although a bit open. Absolutely great swimming, views , private thunderbox, blueberries. Island site and a clean fire area. A five in my book.

30

31

32

B-

A little open witha  real outhouse. Good view.

33

34

Muriel

B+

A

B

This would be my favourite site but for the fact that it is pretty close to site 35.  Pitch your tent on the ridge to the right for a great morning view. Watch your step up there though.

35

Muriel

B+

A

B

Decent enough site if you can not get 34.

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

Three Narrows

D

D

D

Have only camped here once. Site is fine but weirdly dark and ominous under the trees. No great tent pads. We camped on the hill up to the left out of fear of unstable trees low down by the fire pit.

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

Clearsilver

C

D

C

B

Nice enough site but, despite it's size, there are very few tent pads. It faces the low hills to the east so the view is marginal. There is a marsh behind the site so it would be terrible in bug season. I am also told bears frequent the area in the fall for the berries behind the site. There is very little firewood. Privacy rating would be better but there is quite a lot of through traffic right past the site. 1 tent pad for 8x8 tent, 1 for 3 man tent, both sloped.  1 in view of thunderbox could take a 4 man tent (flat).  Nice fire pit, with ledge to sit on, but exposed to win.  Good swimming (deep aqua water, can dive right in).  2 fabulous unloading/loading spots.  Site is dark in cedars.  Can hang a tarp, and clothes line.  Lots of wood available off site, on the lake.

71

72

Ruth Roy

B+

B

B

A

There is little traffic on the lake. The swimming is deep right off the rocks. View is great. The site is tiny. One tent only.

73

Ruth Roy

A

B

A

B

Ruth Roy is a beautiful little lake. This site is private because there is no traffic. View is good but not spectacular. 

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

Bell

D-

B

B

Good lake views on both sides. Steep rocks to swim but not steep enough to dive off of.  Technically an island but connected to mainland by a swamp. Good tree cover to tie off tarp. Large site.

90

91

92

David

C+

D

B

C+

This is a great site away from the traffic of David. Low to the water but large rocky area to relax etc near the water. You have a sight line to Silver Peak but not really a great view.

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

David

C+

C

D

D+

This is a pretty nice site with a good view down the lake and towards Silver Peak. The last time I was here (summer of 2005) the site was closed for regeneration. You have a wonderful view of the cottage compound to the south otherwise the picturesque rating would be higher. Not sure of the swimming but it looked OK.

102

103

104

105

106

David

B+

A

C+

B

I think that this is the best site on David Lake. A great view of Silver Peak. Site is high off of the water. Lots of tent pads. I would rate this a 5 if it were on any lake other than David.

107

108

109

110

Boundary

B

C

B+

C+

A good view but not as good as you'd expect by looking at the map.

111

Little Bell

B-

D

A

Smallish flat site very low to the water. Nice little lake but no view of the mountains. If this were in Algonquin, it would be beautiful.

112

113

114

115

116

Balsam

B-

B

C

B

  3 Good tent pads. Situated on a lovely little island.  Lots of open rock for sunbathing, star gazing.  Great fire pit/kitchen area.  Huge beautiful pines on site.  Lots of traffic past the site.  Average view.

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134

135

136

D+

Long hall to thunderbox. Too close to uber-big USA cruisers

137

138

Low

C

B+

C

B

Huge open rock area comprises the campsite. Great view of Low Lake. No shelter around fire/kitchen area. Lots of flat rock area to set up tents. The campsite IS the portage from Low to Helen Lakes. Not a busy area but you might have people portage through camp.

139

Helen

D

C

B

B

 4 good tent pads.  Little used site, spread out over a rough vegetated point.  No central area to the site.  Lots of shade.  The view is obscured by trees.

140

141

142

Nellie Lake

143

Nellie Lake

A-

B+

B+

A

I like this site. Not as good as 144 for the view but a great 2nd choice on this lake. There is a great hike up the hill behind the site. Go back and to the right in order to avoid having to climb a cliff.

144

Nellie Lake

A+

A+

A

The easternmost site on Nellie. I did not swim here (actually just paddled by so if you have a better description please let me know) but it would be my first choice the next time I am on this lake.

145

146

147

Cat Lake

B

B

A+

C+

This campsite looks like it hasn't been used in over two years. No Thunderbox. Small firepit. There is one suitable tent spot which was made by means of clearing several ferns. there could be another potential spot if one cleared some more ferns. The site sign is on a rotten birch tree which is hidden by new growth pines. No prime place to hang food, but any tree will do. Very open site with New Growth and very Overgrown though we made efforts to make it more user friendly. We constructed a small fireside bench. Decent swiming, and decent swiming, and decent fishing. Private, only site on the lake.

148

149

Murray Lake

B

B

B

B

I did not actually swim at this site as I went in October but it looked good. Site is quite nice with a good view looking east.  There is only one OK tent pad. The thunderbox is WAY up a steep hill. The fire pit is exposed and is on a slope so is a little awkward to sit around.

150

Howry

D

A

D

C

Ok, the view is good but this site is wierd. Wide open, new growth forest behind that. Despite it's size, there is only one OK small tent pad. Right next to the portage. No good trees to hang your food. Swimming looks OK, deep pretty close to shore but crap rocks etc for the first 6 feet or so.

151

152

153

154

155

156

Murray Lake

C+

C+

C+

D

Not a great site. Close to portage. Few level tent pads. If you choose to swim, it would be among lillypads.

157

Great Mountain

A

Paddled by only. Great view.  Got a better description? Please send it to me.

158

Great Mountain

B

C

A

A

Nice big site. Looks to be under-used. OK view - you get to see cabins in two different directions. Thunderbox is way the hell up the hill. You are probably in OK shape just to get to this lake so the walk up won't be terrible for you but still. Check out the sad face near the top of the hill.

159

B+

Secluded. Lots of room.

160

161

162

C-

small island with little protection from the wind. No Thunderbox but one very loud whippoorwill who sang all night.

163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

Ishmael Lake

C

B

B

C

2 good tent pads. Little used site. Tons of firewood. Heavy shade all day. Excellent view obscured by trees.

172

173

Helen

B

B+

B

B

Very nice site overall. 3 tend pads that are a bit rough but serviceable. Fire pit is out on teh rock point. View is excellent and panoramic. Large open rock area for sunbathing, stargazing etc. Best site on the lake by far.

174

175

176

177

178

179

Grace Lake

A

A

B

B

I love this camesite and this lake. The firepit is near the lake so in any type of weather it would be hard to sit around it. Great hiking on the opposite shore. Walk around the hill to the left to get to the top.

180

B

A

Great view, especially on a foggy morning. No Thunderbox?!! So where do people sh*t? Close to Willisville etc. So people can hike/bike in for a party (NOT that we are advocating this - more a warning.)

181

182

183

Hamwood

E+

E

A

E-

This campsite is terrible. No Thunderbox. Small unused firepit. Steep and hidden on a ridge. At a glance you wouldn't recognize it as a campsite. Looks like it was last used 5 years ago. Overgrown, weedy for swiming, hidden. Who in their right mind would put a site here!!! Didn't stay but looked out of need for a thunderbox. Possible site for several tents. Very open at top of ridge.

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

Rocky Channel

C

B

C

C

 A newer campsite, not heavily used so far, somewhat overgrown with juniper.  Room for two small tents.  Exposed to motorboat traffic along Rocky Channel.

217

Rocky Channel

B

B

C

B

A newer campsite.  Has room for 3 - 4 small tents.  Exposed to motorboat traffic along Rocky Channel. A beaver lodge is nearby.

218

219

220

221

222

223

224

225

226

Panache / Sawmill Bay

B

B

B

B

 Has room for 3 - 4 small tents.  Set high on a rocky point with slightly awkward access by canoe.

227

228

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

243

244

245

246

247

Panache

B

B

B

B

Has room for several tents.  Located on a small point of land.  Exposed to motorboat traffic on the lake, but also has exposure to a smaller, quiet bay.

H1

Lumsden

B+

B+

B-

B+

Some day-hikers came to swim. 2 tent pads. Quite protected. Short hike on the nearby hill will let you see Georgian Bay with Manitoulin

H2

H3

Acid Lake

C

C

C

C

One tent pad, another small tent can be set up in the middle of the site but totally unprotected from storms, open site. Beaver residing on the pond (actually a beaver dammed pond). Not afraid of humans.

H4

Acid Lake

C

C

A

C

Very large secluded tent site, fireplace up a different area. Enough wood around.

H5

Cave Lake

B

C+

B

C+

close to trail yet well separated from H6 also on Cave lake. Lots of space, partly treed, one good tent pad, nice fire pit area facing lake with western view, good firewood supply. Camp area set back about 25m from lake edge, but good access to water once you get there.

H6

Cave Lake

B+

b+

B

B

Very good water access,large rock close to the water.  One tent pad,another small tent can be set up in the middle of the site but totally unprotected.

H7

Topaz

B

A

A

C

close to trail yet well separated from H6 also on Cave lake. Lots of space, partly treed, one good tent pad, nice fire pit area facing lake with western view, good firewood supply. Camp area set back about 25m from lake edge, but good access to water once you get there.

H8

D

D

D

D

Not even on the water. Ds all around.

H9

H10

H11

H12

H13

H14

H15

H16

H17

C-

B-

B

D

Very steep cliff down to the water

H18

Steep water access

H19

H20

H21

Three Narrows

A

A

B

B

close to trail yet well separated from H6 also on Cave lake. Lots of space, partly treed, one good tent pad, nice fire pit area facing lake with western view, good firewood supply. Camp area set back about 25m from lake edge, but good access to water once you get there.  There is a building to the south.

H22

C

C=

C

C-

Right by the side of the trail. Steep water access. Nice lunch spot.

H23

D

Only stop here if you need to for the route. I think they just needed a site around here to break up the route. Water access is a stream.

H24

H25

H26

H27

H28

H29

H30

H31

Shigaug

C

C+

C+

C-

Meh. I would not voluntarily camp on this site if I could avoid it.  Hikers going to H32 walk right past.

H32

Shigaug

A

B+

A+

A+

I have 2 diametrically different reports on this site. I have chosen the most recent one but note that the other reviews had terrible things to say about the site. A third opinion would be most welcome.
My favorite site on the whole trail.  Complete privacy, beautiful ledge of rock that you can sit on that drops into deep water.  Neat firepit built into a ledge of rock.

H33

Little Mountain

B

B

A

B

Pretty good all and all. There might be some traffic - day hikers from Great Mountain but I do not think there would be much.

H34

B

B

B-

A+

 I love this site, but it has some negatives.  Absolutely gorgeous site, nice sloping rock into the water, beautiful tent site.  Negatives are that David Lake allows small outboard motors and even the odd float plane.  After the peace and quiet of the trail, an outboard motor drowning out the loons can be depressing!  Also you’ll see and hear paddlers.  This area is also prone to bears.  During blueberry season the bears hit the slopes behind the site.  I’ve been there on two separate occasions where the canoe-access sites on either side have been closed due to bear activity, but H34 was still open – makes a cperson nervous!  Nevertheless, still one of my favorite sites.

H35

Boundary

C+

D

D

C

If you have a better description that would be great. I have only visited this site. Nice enough if H34 is taken.

H36

H37

C+

I have no other info on this other than a vague rating from one person. If you've got more info, please let me know.

H38

Silver

C

B

C

D

Conveniently located right by the trail, nice flat tent area in a small pine grove, fairly nice fire pit area overlooking the lake. Privacy is fair as there is no direct view of nearby site H37 but it is very close. This site has the worst water access I have ever seen, over slick rock at about 20-30 percent grade, and it is actually somewhat dangerous unless you are very surefooted.  Firewood supply is less than ideal.

H39

H40

H41

H42

H43

H44

H45

C+

My only description on this was 'mediocre" so I gave it a C+.

H46

B+

A-

B-

B-

Unique site on the trail.  Nothing but pines, deep layer of pine needles everywhere, the only site that has a view of Silver Peak, which is quite beautiful.  But steep slope to the water and within view of H45

H47

B

A

D

B

Right on the trail, neat site because very high and you can see all the way to Georgian Bay.  Great lunch spot.

H48

A

A

A

B-

Fabulous site.  Have stayed here all four times on the trail.  Won’t do the trail if this site isn’t open.  The water has a special colour on this lake, completely private.  Steep access to the water.  A special site.

H49

H50

H51

Buggy

H52

Buggy

H53

Nice but really an interior car camping site

H54

Nice but really an interior car camping site