[one_fifth]

Address:

GPS:

Telephone:

Website:

Operating Dates:

Our last visit:

[/one_fifth]

[four_fifth_last]

8818 Highway 534 Restoule, ON, P0H 2R0

Latitude: 46.06529 Longitude: -79.76884

(705)-729-2010

https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/restoule

Camping Dates – May 15, 2015 to October 13, 2015

Opening and Closing (Day Use) – April 10, 2015 to November 22, 2015

2015

[/four_fifth_last]

Restoule Provincial Park was officially designated as a provincial park in 1963. The park covers almost 2800 hectares in the Parry Sound District in Central Ontario, and is about 10 kilometres northwest of the town of Restoule. There are 287 campsites – 97 of which are electrical. They also currently have 12 backcountry campsites and 3 group camping sites. The park has a picnic shelter, canoe, kayak and bicycle rentals, a Visitor’s Centre and a day-use area. Swimming is available at their three designated, sandy beaches. Pets have a dedicated pet exercise area and beach that they can enjoy.

What Makes The Park Special?

Restoule is a beautiful, out of the way, park with large, mature trees and nice sized campsites. There are many activities that you and your family can do at Arrowhead, with beautiful sandy beaches, 10+ kilometres of trails, and canoeing/ kayaking the lakes and rivers. If you have a motor boat, it is allowed on various lakes in the arrow, including Restoule Lake.

The park is surrounded by waterways and beautiful second growth mixed hardwood forests . The 300 foot rocky bluffs are beautiful from either the Stormy Lake rocky shores or on top of the bluffs along the Fire Tower Trail. The park boosts a rich mixed forest containing sugar maples, red oaks, american beech and eastern hemlock trees.

There are 3 trails, along which you may spot coyotes, bears, wolves, otters, pine martens, moose or one of many of the park’s white-tailed deer. Keep your binoculars close at hand while at Restoule because the park is home to over 90 species of birds, including the peregrine falcon and the Great Blue Heron.

Restoule is a hidden gem, off the beaten track with wonderfully shaded campsites and diverse landscapes. Our site was in Kettle Point campground and it was a very large, well shaded site with a beautiful large tree situated in the middle and a trail down to the beach. It wasn’t especially close to the comfort stations but the walk was very pleasant. The comfort stations in our campground were newer with good showers and laundry attached.

The park was in the middle of building a brand new, much larger park office. I’m not sure what else it will be but it’s possible they might have an appropriate park store for next season. Except for souvenirs, wood and ice, there were no supplies available at the park. The closest store was back up the extremely rough and winding road that lead to Restoule, some 10 kilometres away.

The park has 3 different trails, not including Gibs Trail, that range from a short 1 km walk to a challenging 7 km hike. We had time during our 3 days to hike all three of the trails.. The River Trail had a variety of ferns and mushrooms along the trail but was very buggy when we hiked it. The Ranger’s Point Trail was only 1 km long but it was a very enjoyable evening walk and it had fantastic views of the 300 foot bluffs. Our favourite, and most difficult, hike was the Fire Tower Trail. We weren’t sure we’d be able to do the whole trail with Maya but she surprised us with her endurance and enthusiasm. The Angel’s Point Trail had some nice lake views and a variety of ferns to see but we didn’t hike the inner loop because the trail seemed so narrow and overgrown.

The sandy beaches were very nice and the water wasn’t too cold. I snorkeled from the beach in front of our site and I saw fresh water clam beds and a variety of fish. The second day I snorkeled wasn’t as good because the water was cloudy, maybe from the number of speed boats on the lake that day.

Restoule has a designated pet exercise area and beach where you can have your dog off leash, as long as it is well behaved. The pet area is near the walk-in campsites and was a long drive from our campsite. If you want to be closer to it, you will need to camp in the Putts Point Campground or one of the walk-in sites. The pet beach was very sandy, it had no rocks and even has shade in the late afternoon. There are no facilities close-by though.

The lakes, river and wetlands are a wonderful place for spotting wildlife at Restoule. We saw a variety a birds right at our campsite, loons on the lake, deer and grouse along several trails and a raccoon at the garbage area. There were also a variety of wildflowers, mushrooms and ferns along the trails and a clam bed just off shore from our site.

— Check out our 2015 Arrowhead Campsite: Kettle Point Campground Site# 438 —

Restoule Park Map and Trails (Mikisew included)

• Fire Tower Trail 7 km • River Trail 2 km • Ranger’s Point Trail 1 km • Angel’s Point Trail Outside Loop 2 km

• Angel’s Point Trail Inside Loop 2.5 km • Gibs Trail **linear trail

[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]

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

Board’s Honey Farm • 6866 Hwy 534 • Natural honey, beeswax products, natural cosmetics, savory & sweet condiments, apitherapy products, gifts & books •  Organized educational programs & tours • More information

Beaches • 3 beaches at Restoule Provincial Park

Provincial Parks (non-operating) – Noganosh Lake (Latitude: 45.82302229 Longitude: -80.23363013 ), South Bay (Latitude: 46.12679752 Longitude: -79.61245679 ), West Sandy Island (Latitude: 46.2381409 Longitude: -79.91442663 )

Provincial Parks (operating) – Mikisew (Latitude: 45.82142 Longitude: -79.51400 )

Rockcliffe Pottery & Craft Shop • 599 Commanda Lake Road • Handmade pottery, raku, metal work, clothing, blown glass, stained glass, books, weaving, jewellry, artwork and more • Check their website for hours

Stonethrow Pottery • 790 Commanda Lake Road • Variety of handmade pottery: dinner sets, tea pots, clocks, sinks, mirrors, etc. • Silver jewellry, specialty glass and maple syrup • Buy online or go to their studio

Sources:

(n.d.): n. pag. Arrowhead Management Plan. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, July. 2000. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <http://files.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/parks-and-protected-areas/mnr_bpp0213.pdf>.