[one_fifth]

Address:

GPS:

Telephone:

Website:

Operating Dates:

Our last visit:

[/one_fifth]

[four_fifth_last]

4998 Concession #7, Tosorontio Township, ON, L9R 1W1

Latitude: 44.150159 Longitude: -79.898905

(705)-435-2498

http://www.ontarioparks.com/park/craigleith

Camping Dates – May 8, 2015 to October 13, 2015

Opening and Closing (Day Use) – May 8, 2015 to October 13, 2015

2015

[/four_fifth_last]

Earl Rowe Provincial Park was founded in 1964 and covers 312 hectares in the Boyne River area in the Township of Tosorontio. There are 400 campsites – 163 of which are electrical. The park has a boat launch, picnic shelter, Visitor Centre, canoe and paddleboat rentals, a park store and a day-use area. Swimming is available at their two large, sandy beaches, or you can pay a nominal fee to swim at their one acre swimming pool. Pets are not allowed on any of the beaches but can swim at the boat launch. There is a leash free area / trail near the swimming pool.

What Makes The Park Special?

Earl Rowe was a great stopping point on our trip up north. The park has 5 different camping areas, 1 of which is on the other side of road from the entry point.  The park is close enough to urban areas while still feeling like you are in nature. The fish ladder is a great educational opportunity to teach your kids about migrating fish and the environmental impacts of diverting waterways. Be sure to check out the Leash Free Trail and the non-operating Provincial parks in the area!

Earl Rowe was a pleasant surprise. We weren’t expecting the park or our site to be so pleasing.  We had a large, well shaded site that was close enough to the newer comfort stations. It was a bit louder in the campground than we like, but that isn’t surprising considering it was a weekend. There are 6 different trails in the park that range from 0.5 km to 11 km. The sandy beach looked very well groomed but unfortunately, due to poor water quality, the beaches were closed. Our idea of camping doesn’t usually include swimming in a pool, but I’m sure those of you with kids would find it an appealing, activity,  especially if it is the only available swimming option. Like many other Provincial parks, Earl Rowe is very close to a busy, multi-lane highway, which you can hear from the park.

The river and wetlands are a great place for birding. We saw kingfishers and other shorebirds while we were on the Hiking Earl Rowe’s Resource Trail. There were also a variety of beautiful wildflowers that were in bloom along the trails. The Lookout Trail is said to have beautiful panoramic views of the park and surrounding area, but we didn’t have the chance to check it out ourselves. We were disappointed with the closed beach and the fact that there were no specific pet swimming areas. Earl Rowe manages a cluster of other  parks in the area that offer a variety of hiking trails and your campground permit will give you free parking at all of them during your stay: Boyne Valley, Mono Cliffs, Hockley Valley and Forks of the Credit. We hiked the Lookout Trail at Mono Cliffs and the views were pretty spectacular. If hiking is your thing, the other local Provincial parks are probably a better bet.

— Check out our 2015 Earl Rowe Campsite: Heydon Way Site# 132 —

Earl Rowe Trail Map

Bruce Trail • entry points can be found at Forks of the Credit Provincial Park and Mono Cliffs Provincial Park • Trail maps and information are available at the park store.

Fletcher’s Pond Trail • Barrier free trail • Starts at the Dam at Earl Rowe • Crosses 2 foot bridges • Trail takes you to the pool.

Forks of the Credit Trails • 5 trails, not including the Bruce Trail • Forks of the Credit Trail Map

Little Trail • Located near the fish ladder • Shoreline views of Earl Rowe Lake • 0.5 km.

Mono Cliffs Trails • 7 trails, not including the Bruce Trail or the Link Trail • Mono Cliffs Trail Map

Rainbow Run Trail • Many access points throughout the park • Shared-use trail for walking, hiking and biking • 11 km

Resource Trail • Starts at the Greenbush Picnic area • Experience a variety of wetlands and a hardwood forest • Part of the trail goes through the Meadowbrook Campground • 1.5 km.

Riverside Campground Trail • Starts at the Riverside Campground to give campers access to the main side of the park.

[one_third_last]

Boating

Hiking

Natural Heritage Education

Other

[/one_third_last]

[one_third_last]

Boat Launch

Day Use Area

French

Non-Electrical Sites

Pet Swimming Area

Rentals

[/one_third_last]

Barrie Waterfront Festival – last weekend in May – at Centennial Park & Beach – food, bands and kids’ play area – free admission – More information here.

Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championships – beginning of August in Shelburne – Shelburne Fiddle Contest website

Natural Heritage Education – offered once a week in the summer at the park. Check the Park Tabloid, online or the Park Store for details.

Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival – held annually in June – 5 stages, 80 acts and it’s completely free!  Get all the information here.

Orangeville Ribfest – 3rd weekend in July – barbeques ribs and live entertainment. Check out their website.

Beaches – public beaches along the shores of Lake Simcoe

Base Borden Military Museum – 27 Ram Street in Borden – Free Admission – Largest collection of WWI, WWII and post-war vehicles in Canada – Interesting Borden Air Force artifacts – Museum Hours and Info.

Conservation Areas – Albion Hills, Glencairn, New Lowell, Scanlon Creek, Tiffen Centre and Tottenham Conservation Areas are all within a 25 kilometre radius from Earl Rowe.

Dufferin County Museum – located at the intersection of Airport Road and Highway 89, between Shelburne and Alliston – Children under 5 are free – See historic buildings, Corn Flower glassware, rotating exhibits, artwork and other interesting artifacts. For hours, prices and current exhibits, visit their website.

Museum on the Boyne – located at 250 Fletcher Crescent in Alliston – Their collection depicts life in the area from settlement to present day – features a 1914 Agricultural Fair Building, an 1851 log cabin and an 1858 English barn – Admission by donation – More information and museum hours.

Provincial Parks (non-operating) – Beattie Pinery (Latitude: 44.12392123 Longitude: -79.85934419), Boyne Valley (Latitude: 44.10816838 Longitude: -80.12751137), Forks of the Credit (Latitude: 43.81636964 Longitude: -80.01141257), Hockley Valley (Latitude: 43.98649436 Longitude: -80.0626269),  and Mono Cliffs (Latitude: 44.0477951 Longitude: -80.07415366).

Sources:

(n.d.): n. pag. Earl Rowe Provincial Park Management Plan. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Mar. 2002. Web. 31 Aug. 2015. <http://files.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/parks-and-protected-areas/mnr_bpp0254.pdf>.