Site Details
Closest Access Point: Opeongo Lake (Algonquin Park Access Point #11)
Distance to Access Point: 27 KM (1 Day with the water taxi, 2 days by canoe)
Difficulty of Travel From Access Point: Easy/Medium – lots of paddling but only one portage between the access point and campsite.
Maintenance Level: Regular
Date Visited: August 2022
I’m a big fan of this site (others might have different opinions). While it’s got a couple of warts (it’s built into a slope and level ground is at a premium) the beach, view and other amenities more than make up for it. It’s also nicely located at the mouth of the Crow River, meaning you’ve got a good start the next morning if your route is taking you to Lavielle and beyond.
Terrain: This is a slanted site. The entire thing is built into the side of a gradual rise. While there are level-ish spots for tents and the fire pit, it’s not the flattest place I’ve ever been. There are a couple of steps up and down as you’re coming up from the beach, so watch out, because they can trip you up if you’re not paying attention.
Fire Pit: I liked the fire pit area. It’s off to the corner of the site in the only area that has any kind of tree cover. Usually that’d be a negative for me, but it helps cut the wind. As does the massive log windbreak someone has built nearby. While protected from the wind, there’s still a decent view of the water north on Big Crow, so it’s not totally blocked. The pit itself was big and well built.
Tent Sites: The biggest issue with this site is that it’s pretty uneven. The entire thing is built on a slant. There are a couple of tent spots, but I wouldn’t say there’s a perfect pad. We had a medium sized tent and a solo tent and that about maxed it out. That said, you could put a couple of tents on the beach as well if you don’t mind sand in your sleeping bag.
Swimmability: I mean, this site won the Best Swimming award at 2022’s Moosie Awards Gala, so you know the swimming is decent. The beach is shallow, and stays shallow for a long way. I was 100 meters offshore and the water was still only waist deep. Awesome swimming.
Notes: This site won my Best Site of 2022 prize at the annual Moosie Awards. That doesn’t mean it’s the best site there is, like I said off the top its got a couple of warts, but it was the best campsite experience I had that summer. I would 100% go back. That said. It might be a different story in late fall or early spring. It’s a very exposed site, so if the wind is up and the air is cold you might struggle to warm up.
Related Trip Report: Crow River Loop(ish)