Embedded Files
Using the Map
Using the Map
When you open the CLUPA map, it starts you off in Northwestern Ontario near Thunder Bay for a reason, about 99% of Ontario’s Crown Land lies north of Highway 7 and the Muskoka region. While you may spot areas labeled as Crown Land further south, these are often overseen by local Conservation Authorities. These authorities manage the land under the guidance and regulations of the MNR, and public access or camping may be completely restricted or require special permissions, reservations and fees.
👉The Most Important Tool - Get Land Use Information 👈
👉The Most Important Tool - Get Land Use Information 👈
Using a computer
Using a computer
Located at the top of the window in the Find Information tab
Then click the little blue circle tool, in the Left Panel
Using a phone
Using a phone
Located after tapping the Tools icon in the upper right.
Then click the little blue circle tool.
This is probably the most difficult part if you have never used the CLUPA before. This is the tool that will pull up the Land Use Policy for the area you select.
For this guide we will focus on the area around Big Wind Lake Provincial Park just east of Bracebridge.
Maps Link
This area showcases many of the different colours on the map, below is a brief guide on those colours.
Map Colour Legend
Map Colour Legend
General Use Area
General Use Area
Colour: Light Yellow
Labeled: G362
Camping Allowed? 95% Yes
Conservation Reserve
Conservation Reserve
Colour: Light Green
Labeled: C98
Camping Allowed? Maybe, maybe not, maybe for a fee.
Enhanced Management Area
Enhanced Management Area
Colour: Light Orange
Labeled: E19A
Camping Allowed? Likely, but maybe not.
Provincial Park
Provincial Park
Private
Private
Colour: Grey
Labeled: n/a Other labels may appear under these layers but they are still private land.
Camping Allowed? No, unless its a private campground
Water
Water
Colour: Blue
Labeled: n/a
Most bodies of water will not show any information as it is not land. Click closer to the land.
Camping Allowed Areas
Camping Allowed Areas
We will focus only on the areas that may allow camping; they are General Use, Conservation Reserve, and Enhanced Management Area.
Camping may also be available at some Non-operating Provincial Parks more information can be found here: Non-Operating Parks.
Zoom in on a General Use area, if you are following my example look for Tea Pot Lake , North East of Big Wind Park, use the Get Land Use Information button and select part of the land around the lake, note the Private Property along the road circled black in the image.
Open the report
Open the report
On the left hand panel (bottom of screen for mobile) it will show the land use policies that apply to this area.
We have selected G362 which is designated General Use Area(Crown Land), to find out if camping is possibly allowed we need to open the report.
Name - Some areas the name will be important for further research.
Districts - As in the disclaimer when you opened the CLUPA if you were to phone the MNR to confirm you are able to camp here you would phone the Parry Sound Office for this location.
Report
Reading The Report
Reading The Report
Generally what we are looking for is if Crown Land Recreation is allowed, you can find this near the bottom of the policy, in this case it is a Yes.
Do not neglect to read the other sections of the report though, there could be amendments or special rules for certain areas.
This report references a few additional policies, but for our example these additional policies do not affect our location. There is also a reference to the Bracebridge District Land Use Guidelines, this area seems to be out of town limits so this also does not apply.
So from this report Yes you are allowed to camp here. But there still may be restrictions you can contact the MNR to confirm camping is allowed in the area.
Conservation Reserve
Conservation Reserve
Conservation Reserves fall under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. There will be separate Management Statements that you will need to search for. The easiest way to locate these is to google the name of the conservation reserve followed by “management statement”.
A full list of Management Statements/Plans can be found here: Conservation reserve management direction | ontario.ca
A full list of Conservation reserves can be found here: Locate Conservation Reserves in Ontario
Here is the management statement for C69 and C398: Clear Lake and Plastic Lake and Dawson Ponds Conservation Reserve Management Statement (2013)
The document will contain a lot of interesting information regarding the area, cultural, historical, and ecological, it can honestly be an interesting read through. It may also contain details about sensitive areas in the Conservation Reserve that you should avoid.
The management statements will usually contain very detailed topographical maps that may show additional trails and established camp sites.
Do a Ctrl+F (Or “find in page” for mobile) for Camping and read any references to Camping at this location.
Authorized Sites?
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the map of the area that shows authorized sites. Further reading you will see that this area is under the management of Haliburton Highlands Water Trails (HHWT) which requires booking sites and paying fees.
Enhanced Management Area
Enhanced Management Area
These are the reddish orange areas on the map. There is one nearby the areas we have been looking at, just South of HWY 118 labeled E19a. Here is the Policy Report for it.
Again use your due diligence, search the name of this area E19a: Anson to see if there are any additional restrictions. And contact the MNR to confirm camping is allowed in the area.
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