Frontenac Provincial Park

August 14-16, 2009 (Cluster 2, Sites B and C map description)

This was an excellent trip -- great weather, low overhead, superb division of labour. We camped with Mike & Karen and Riz & Sabrina. They hiked in from the Arab lake parking lot, and found it not very difficult. We rented a canoe from Frontenac Outfitters, parked at the trail center parking lot and launched from the dock at the trail centre which is about 25m from the parking lot. It took about 1.5 hours, but most of the time was the portage, for which we had to take two trips. It's described as a 341m easy-to-moderate portage (with 1 two-stage hill) from South Otter Lake to Doe Lake. The entire portage is basically one big hill. You spend half the time climbing up and half climbing down. It's not too bad but unless you're really tough you'll take two trips like us which makes it more like a kilometer of hiking over rough terrain.

Doe Lake isn't very big. I swam across it in the long direction without too much difficulty. We had a great time. The sites are very nice, and you don't have to go too far to find downed dead wood. There was a heron, a very big turtle, two loons, many sunfish that liked to nibble at your fingers and toes, and a fairly big pike. The swimming was good. The shore wasn't too mucky and you only had to swim out about 5m to get past the weeds. The mosquitoes weren't too bad. We had perfect weather and there were zero bugs except for about an hour at dusk when they came on pretty strong, but were easily deterred with DEET. I would definitely go here again, but maybe not in bug season. On the other side of the cluster is a wetland which is great for wildlife but would be hell at the peak of mosquito season. The portage is a pain but cluster 2 is fairly out of the way so you have good privacy. Other than the other campers on site A, we only saw two sets of canoeists and on set of hikers.

August 1st, 2006 (Cluster 4, Site C map description)

This was our first time camping at Frontenac. We had booked at cluster 12 because that's all that was available. It turns out that cluster 12 is very hard to get to and is basically a swamp. Luckily someone had canceled at cluster 4. We'd assumed that we could rent a canoe from the park. Not true. They sent us to Frontenac Outfitters. Again we were lucky. There had been a cancellation, otherwise there wouldn't normally have been anything available.

Cluster 4 is a beautiful site halfway down Big Salmon Lake. You can drive right down to the lake to unload your gear, but may have to backtrack a considerable distance to find parking. Only small electric motors are allowed on this lake, so it's quite peaceful. We had a great time and saw a meteor shower.

Booking

Frontenac Provincial Park is not car camping. They call it a "back country" park. Download the Park Tabloid from the Friends of Frontenac Provincial Park to see the sites available. Call the park for advice at 613-376-3489, or read the descriptions online. Once you have a plan, call 1-888-668-7275 to book your site.

You will need:
- Point of access: Trail Centre / Park Office (on Big Salmon Lake Road) (even if you eventually leave your car elsewhere, you must register here, and this is your official point of entry).
- Arrival / Departure dates.
- Site(s) wanted.
- A different name/phone/address for each site booked.

At the time of booking, you pay for the site only. At the time of arrival you pay additionally $9.90/person/night.

Getting There

Click on the Trail Centre on the Google Map and ask for directions. If you want a canoe, book in advance with Frontenac Outfitters. They will provide you with advice and the equipment necessary to attach the canoe to your car. First pick up your canoe, then register at the Trail Centre (before 8pm). They will provide you with a parking permit. For most sites, you drive to the Big Salmon Lake and unload your gear. For cluster 2 you launch from the Trail Centre on South Otter Lake. Your parking lot of choice may be full, so after unloading your gear you may have to backtrack with the car.

Parking

All vehicles and vessels (boats and canoes) entering the Park must have a valid permit. Vehicles must have the permit clearly displayed on the dashboard. Vehicles must be parked in the available parking lots (Big Salmon Lake Parking Lot, Arab Lake Parking Lot, Trail Centre Parking Lot) - not along the roads. Vehicles without permits may be ticketed and/or towed. Be sure to display your permit for the wardens to see.

For overnight camping you must obtain an Interior Camping Permit which includes parking for vehicles. The permit must be obtained at the Trail Centre during normal business hours (i.e. before 8pm) prior to entry to the interior.

Gear

Sites generally have a fire pit and a flat pad that can accomodate two small tents. Most clusters have an enclosed privy near by.

To avoid Giardiasis, be sure to carry treated water from domestic sources or boil untreated water for 10 minutes prior to use. Chemical purifiers alone will not always kill the giardia parasite. Dogs can pick up Giardia as well, so provide them with treated water also.

Animals, such as raccoons and bears should not be a problem, if you take the following precautions:
- Put all your food and garbage in seperate packs and hang them 4m off the ground, and away from the vicinity of your tent.
- To help eliminate food odours, wash your dishes immediately after each meal (preferably 25m away from your campsite and from the lake).
- Do not take food into your tent.

Campfires

From page 5 of the Park Tabloid:
- Campfires are allowed only at designated campsite clusters, in the fireplaces.
- Shore and trailside fires are not permitted.
- Stripping bark, cutting branches from trees or cutting any standing tree is unlawful
- The gathering of downed dead wood is permitted.
- Drown your campfire when you leave your campsite.
- In the event of a fire ban, no fires are permitted. Use a camp stove instead.
Also they make a huge fuss of not bringing infected wood from other areas. So if you're going to bring any wood into the park, it's best to buy it at the park office.

Dogs

From page 5 of the Park Tabloid:
- Pets must be kept on a leash, not exceeding 2 metres.
- Pets must not disturb other park visitors or make excessive noise.
- Pets must not chase any wild animals or damage any property.
- Pets are not permitted on any beach or in any swimming area.
- Dispose of "doggie bags" in a garbage can, not down the privy.
- Please advise the gate staff of your pet and register the name and breed on your camping permit.

Checklist

- Must book well in advance to get a good site.
- If booked with Frontenac Outfitters, must pickup by 5pm (actually they'll stay a bit late for you, we got there at 5:20pm).
- Must checkin at Park Office before 8pm (regardless of your planned point of entry), sites are paid, but must pay an additional ~$10/person/night at checkin-time. You get one permit for your car and one for your site.
- At checkin-time ask if there is a fire ban. Ask if there will be downed dead wood within a reasonable distance from your cluster.
- Bring a food bag and garbage bag and gear to hang them from a tree.
- Bring a water filter pump, a folding saw, a small camp stove, and DEET.
- It's best to plan group meals. If your going deep, consider taking all dehydrated camp food.


Michael Chalkboards Notepads Blogs Punchclocks Life Counters Trackers Photos Travel Camping Frontenac Bon Echo Presqu'lle Group Camping Maps Video Knitting Manulife Ottawa Services Member Login Visitor Login	Frontenac Provincial Park Go To Google Maps August 14-16, 2009 (Cluster 2, Sites B and C map description) This was an excellent trip -- great weather, low overhead, superb division of labour. We camped with Mike & Karen and Riz & Sabrina. They hiked in from the Arab lake parking lot, and found it not very difficult. We rented a canoe from Frontenac Outfitters, parked at the trail center parking lot and launched from the dock at the trail centre which is about 25m from the parking lot. It took about 1.5 hours, but most of the time was the portage, for which we had to take two trips. It's described as a 341m easy-to-moderate portage (with 1 two-stage hill) from South Otter Lake to Doe Lake. The entire portage is basically one big hill. You spend half the time climbing up and half climbing down. It's not too bad but unless you're really tough you'll take two trips like us which makes it more like a kilometer of hiking over rough terrain. Doe Lake isn't very big. I swam across it in the long direction without too much difficulty. We had a great time. The sites are very nice, and you don't have to go too far to find downed dead wood. There was a heron, a very big turtle, two loons, many sunfish that liked to nibble at your fingers and toes, and a fairly big pike. The swimming was good. The shore wasn't too mucky and you only had to swim out about 5m to get past the weeds. The mosquitoes weren't too bad. We had perfect weather and there were zero bugs except for about an hour at dusk when they came on pretty strong, but were easily deterred with DEET. I would definitely go here again, but maybe not in bug season. On the other side of the cluster is a wetland which is great for wildlife but would be hell at the peak of mosquito season. The portage is a pain but cluster 2 is fairly out of the way so you have good privacy. Other than the other campers on site A, we only saw two sets of canoeists and on set of hikers. August 1st, 2006 (Cluster 4, Site C map description) This was our first time camping at Frontenac. We had booked at cluster 12 because that's all that was available. It turns out that cluster 12 is very hard to get to and is basically a swamp. Luckily someone had canceled at cluster 4. We'd assumed that we could rent a canoe from the park. Not true. They sent us to Frontenac Outfitters. Again we were lucky. There had been a cancellation, otherwise there wouldn't normally have been anything available. Cluster 4 is a beautiful site halfway down Big Salmon Lake. You can drive right down to the lake to unload your gear, but may have to backtrack a considerable distance to find parking. Only small electric motors are allowed on this lake, so it's quite peaceful. We had a great time and saw a meteor shower. Booking Frontenac Provincial Park is not car camping. They call it a "back country" park. Download the Park Tabloid from the Friends of Frontenac Provincial Park to see the sites available. Call the park for advice at 613-376-3489, or read the descriptions online. Once you have a plan, call 1-888-668-7275 to book your site. You will need: - Point of access: Trail Centre / Park Office (on Big Salmon Lake Road) (even if you eventually leave your car elsewhere, you must register here, and this is your official point of entry). - Arrival / Departure dates. - Site(s) wanted. - A different name/phone/address for each site booked. At the time of booking, you pay for the site only. At the time of arrival you pay additionally $9.90/person/night. Getting There Click on the Trail Centre on the Google Map and ask for directions. If you want a canoe, book in advance with Frontenac Outfitters. They will provide you with advice and the equipment necessary to attach the canoe to your car. First pick up your canoe, then register at the Trail Centre (before 8pm). They will provide you with a parking permit. For most sites, you drive to the Big Salmon Lake and unload your gear. For cluster 2 you launch from the Trail Centre on South Otter Lake. Your parking lot of choice may be full, so after unloading your gear you may have to backtrack with the car. Parking All vehicles and vessels (boats and canoes) entering the Park must have a valid permit. Vehicles must have the permit clearly displayed on the dashboard. Vehicles must be parked in the available parking lots (Big Salmon Lake Parking Lot, Arab Lake Parking Lot, Trail Centre Parking Lot) - not along the roads. Vehicles without permits may be ticketed and/or towed. Be sure to display your permit for the wardens to see. For overnight camping you must obtain an Interior Camping Permit which includes parking for vehicles. The permit must be obtained at the Trail Centre during normal business hours (i.e. before 8pm) prior to entry to the interior. Gear Sites generally have a fire pit and a flat pad that can accomodate two small tents. Most clusters have an enclosed privy near by. To avoid Giardiasis, be sure to carry treated water from domestic sources or boil untreated water for 10 minutes prior to use. Chemical purifiers alone will not always kill the giardia parasite. Dogs can pick up Giardia as well, so provide them with treated water also. Animals, such as raccoons and bears should not be a problem, if you take the following precautions: - Put all your food and garbage in seperate packs and hang them 4m off the ground, and away from the vicinity of your tent. - To help eliminate food odours, wash your dishes immediately after each meal (preferably 25m away from your campsite and from the lake). - Do not take food into your tent. Campfires From page 5 of the Park Tabloid: - Campfires are allowed only at designated campsite clusters, in the fireplaces. - Shore and trailside fires are not permitted. - Stripping bark, cutting branches from trees or cutting any standing tree is unlawful - The gathering of downed dead wood is permitted. - Drown your campfire when you leave your campsite. - In the event of a fire ban, no fires are permitted. Use a camp stove instead. Also they make a huge fuss of not bringing infected wood from other areas. So if you're going to bring any wood into the park, it's best to buy it at the park office. Dogs From page 5 of the Park Tabloid: - Pets must be kept on a leash, not exceeding 2 metres. - Pets must not disturb other park visitors or make excessive noise. - Pets must not chase any wild animals or damage any property. - Pets are not permitted on any beach or in any swimming area. - Dispose of "doggie bags" in a garbage can, not down the privy. - Please advise the gate staff of your pet and register the name and breed on your camping permit. Checklist - Must book well in advance to get a good site. - If booked with Frontenac Outfitters, must pickup by 5pm (actually they'll stay a bit late for you, we got there at 5:20pm). - Must checkin at Park Office before 8pm (regardless of your planned point of entry), sites are paid, but must pay an additional ~$10/person/night at checkin-time. You get one permit for your car and one for your site. - At checkin-time ask if there is a fire ban. Ask if there will be downed dead wood within a reasonable distance from your cluster. - Bring a food bag and garbage bag and gear to hang them from a tree. - Bring a water filter pump, a folding saw, a small camp stove, and DEET. - It's best to plan group meals. If your going deep, consider taking all dehydrated camp food.
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