What To Know About Visiting Killarney Provincial Park This Winter

Starting November 1, 2025, Ontario Parks will begin constructing 22 new frontcountry campsites at Killarney Provincial Park, located about 100 kilometres south of Sudbury. The project means the Park’s popular George Lake campground, which is usually open year-round, will be closed for overnight camping in the winter season. But Killarney Superintendent Jeremy Pawson says roofed accommodations at George Lake, including two rustic cabins featuring indoor kitchens and cozy propane fireplaces, and six walk-in heated yurts, will remain open to visitors looking to stay overnight at Ontario’s “Crown Jewel” park in the snowy season.

“The campground expansion project at Killarney Provincial Park will provide additional camping opportunities for one of the busiest campgrounds in Northern Ontario,” explains Pawson. “The project will also include upgrades to some restroom facilities to help enhance the enjoyment of Park visitors.”

The Killarney campground expansion is part of Ontario’s three-year, $59-million investment in building and upgrading drive-in campsites across the province. Ontario will add up to 300 new campsites in places like Driftwood (on the Ottawa River, west of the nation’s capital), Bon Echo (northeast of Peterborough) and MacGregor Point (on Lake Huron, southwest of Port Elgin) provincial parks, with more projects to be announced. Campers at Sandbanks (with spectacular Lake Ontario beaches in Prince Edward County), Arrowhead (a popular year-round destination north of Huntsville) and Bon Echo will benefit from more electrical sites. The Ontario government announced “the largest expansion of Ontario Parks in 50 years” as part of broader efforts to “protect and expand the province’s tourism sector” in September.

Despite the campground closure, there are still plenty of reasons to visit Killarney this winter. Backcountry camping on the La Cloche Silhouette Trail and elsewhere in Killarney’s interior will still be permitted, Pawson says. All of the Park’s day-use hiking trails, with the exception of Cranberry Bog, remain open during construction.

“Visitors during this period may encounter construction zones and noise from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday,” adds Pawson. “For this winter, the Park will have modified cross-country ski trails still available for use (approximately 15 kilometres’ worth) accessed through our Granite Ridge day use area. Any updates will be posted on the Killarney Provincial Park alerts page.”

The expanded and improved George Lake campground is slated to reopen on April 1, 2026.

Ontario Parks Spokesperson Dave Hunt says more than 30 Ontario Parks across the province remain open during the winter season for day-use visitors, with 12 open for overnight camping. Among Northern Ontario highlights, “Windy Lake Provincial Park near Sudbury offers skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing in winter,” says Hunt. “Killbear Provincial Park [north of Parry Sound] has also offered winter camping for the past couple of winters. In Northwestern Ontario, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park [near Thunder Bay] will be opening some campsites for winter for the first time this year.”

Get a full synopsis of all winter activities in Ontario Parks and up-to-the-minute snow reports online.

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