Site Details
Closest Access Point: Honestly? “Closest” access point is a bit of a lie. This is about as remote as you can get in the Park. Tim Access Point (#2) is your best bet.
Distance to Access Point: 33 KM (2 Days, minimum)
Difficulty of Travel From Access Point: Hard
Maintenance Level: Low
Date Visited: May 2023
This site is a bit deceptive. From the water, I was pretty excited about it. It’s on a small point at the western end of the lake that looks like it’s got great views. It does indeed have great views, but the site itself is a bit of a challenge. It’s built on a hill, and it wants you to know it.
Terrain: Did I mention that this is a hilly site? Flat ground is at a premium here. You’re going to be climbing up from the water, and it’s not a gentle slope. There are also plenty of places to step wrong and catch an ankle. Walk carefully.
Canoe Landing: This is where we landed our canoe, but I don’t think it’s the intended canoe landing. This is a relatively accessible spot on the eastern side of the point. Accessible, that is, if you don’t mind trampling some undergrowth (and some leave no trace principles). There’s another spot at the tip of the point that looks like it’s meant to be a canoe landing, but when we were there it was quite windy, and that spot is quite exposed. It’s also a pretty steep climb directly up from that spot, so lugging bags and gear would be a pain.
Fire Pit: A+ for fire pit location on this one. Great view north and west and well located in the middle of the site. The pit itself is pretty basic, and you might want to find some rocks to build up the water side on a windy day, as it is quite exposed.
Tent Sites: There were two tent pads that I found. On a very unlevel site, these were actually decently level. One was also extremely soft as it was covered in a thick bed of moss. You could do worse than these spots (although if it’s been raining that moss is going to be like sleeping on a sponge).
Swimmability: Apart from the challenges in accessing the water, the swimming here looked pretty decent. Slipping in off the front of that point would be relatively easy, and Gibson looks like a great lake to swim in. There are a few underwater rocks, so be careful.
Thunderbox: The box is towards the top of the site area on the hill. It’s about 75 feet back from the fire pit and only 25 feet above the last tent pad. It’s also pretty exposed. So, on the plus side you’ve got a nice view. On the unplus side everyone has a nice view of you too.
Accessories: None, really. There was a single 2x…6? lying beside the fire pit that looks more like it was put there to remind you that there is no real seating area than it was to be an actual seating area.
Views: As a point site this spot has a really nice 270 degree view of Gibson, albeit an obstructed one in some directions. There is tree coverage on the site, but that coverage does not provide much protection from the elements. We were there on a windy day in May and the only place we could find that wasn’t freezing was hunkered down behind a clump of brush near one of the tent pads.
Notes: I thought I’d like this site more than I did. I’d still consider staying here if it were July or August, but only if Site 4 was already taken.
Related Trip Report: Birchcliffe, The Nip and Some Hills