Camping and RVing in Restoule Provincial Park

Nestled off-the-beaten-path on Lake Nipissing’s south shore in Ontario’s “Near North” country, is Restoule Provincial Park. This lesser-known locale truly is a hidden gem. If you're new to camping in Ontario, you can learn more about how to book a campsite in Ontario here.

Restoule Provincial Park is part of the traditional fur trade routes of the Ojibwe. Explorer Samuel de Champlain made his first visit to this region in 1651 marking an era of European settlement. The park is known for its magnificent hiking and biking trails that transect the waterways including Stormy Lake, Clear Lake, and the Restoule River. It also boasts a rich array of Boreal flora and fauna.

Restoule Provincial Park Campground Amenities

Restoule Provincial Park has three designated camping areas for RVers:

• Putts Point
• Bells Point
• Kettle Point

Both Putts and Bells Point offer sites without electricity.

Flush and vault toilets, laundry facilities and showers are available in Putts Campgrounds.

Kettle Point Campground includes Restoule Park’s 97 electrical hookup campsites, which are popular among RVers. The sites here are beautifully wooded and private with room for small and medium-sized rigs. Because of the campground’s snug corners and plentiful trees, I would not recommend the use of trailers/RVs over 26-28 feet. Kettle Point also has clean flush and vault toilets, laundry facilities and showers.

Boating docks are available onsite in Putts, Kettle, and Bells Campgrounds, should you decide to bring your own boat.

A Memorable Camping Trip at Restoule

My visit to this beautiful out-of-the-way gem dates back to the late 90s during my “tenting phase.”  Though we did own an RV at the time, tent camping trips were more about getting closer to nature. My wife Cheryl and I spent three glorious days here tenting on one of the park’s water view sites. The facilities were perfect for what we needed, and we were impressed with the diverse flora, and nature trail opportunities Restoule had to offer. And getting back to nature is exactly what we did!

Restoule Provincial Park's Seasonal Camping Program

Restoule Provincial Park is one of the chosen parks included in Ontario’s Seasonal Campsite Program, offering visitors the opportunity to book a campsite for an entire summer or winter. Booking for an entire season offers many conveniences over having to book sites daily. I was a seasonal camper at a park for ten years when our children were little, and it was a wonderful experience. Reservations for summer seasonal campsites must be made between October 1 and March 31 for the upcoming operating season. Any designated seasonal campsites that have not been reserved by the end of the seasonal reservation period, will automatically convert to regular reservable campsites. Seasonal rates vary from $1200/season for non-electric sites to $2900/season depending on the park. Busy camping families who are not transient and enjoy a particular park would benefit from a seasonal site. Seasonal campsites can be reserved online at reservations.ontarioparks.com

Hiking Trails in Restoule Provincial Park

Hiking is the most popular activity here and something my wife and I really embraced. The first hike we tried was the Fire Tower Trail, which is also the most popular. This 4.2-km loop is a moderately challenging route which takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and walking, so we saw many other visitors do the same as us along this trail.

Grawbarger Trail is another great trail option that connects the campground to the day-use area, main hiking trails, and Stormy Lake. Grawbarger transitions into a double-track trail and runs alongside the beautiful Restoule River ending at the Rangers Point trailhead, offering a nice casual stroll along the way.

The River Trail is located on the west side of the Restoule River. It is an easy-going path that takes visitors along the river and through some beautiful forests. The trail is primarily used as a hiking path but can also be enjoyed as a mountain bike trail.

Ranger’s Point Trail is a quick jaunt and a super way to take a morning stroll. This trail offers access to two waterfront picnic areas with awesome views of the Stormy Lake Bluff and the Fire Tower. Be sure to pack a lunch for this one! Check out this map of the hiking trails in Restoule Park to plan your visit.

Restoule Provincial Park's Biodiversity

From an ecosystem standpoint, Restoule offers tons of diversity. The park boasts a mixed hardwood forest with oaks, maples, and ash. In the lowland areas, hemlock, cedar and pine are present along with a variety of wetlands. The southwestern part provides a good representation of mature beech and maple forests, as well as my favourite fen/bog environments. A large section of the Restoule River supports a variety of mature wetland communities. Several plant species in the park occur in or near the northern limits of their continuous range. Naturalists will appreciate this diverse Northeastern Ontario ecosystem.

The Final Word on Restoule Provincial Park

My camping trip to Restoule with my wife is one we will not soon forget. The peaceful serenity of this park and its wonderful wilderness trails and nature watching, is something I long for. My next visit to Restoule, hopefully this summer, will be with my trailer and provide an opportunity for fishing in Stormy Lake! I’ve heard there are some big ones lurking! For more information on camping at beautiful Restoule Provincial Park, visit the Ontario Parks website.

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