Lost in Ontario: Camping at Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve

I respectfully acknowledge that the campground I visited is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg, specifically the Chippewa, Ojibwa and Potawatomi peoples, under the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850 and the Williams Treaties of 1923.

This past weekend we went on our second camping trip of the summer and it was nothing short of amazing. I have really enjoyed being outdoors this summer. Finding a great camping spots isn't easy, especially after this year when everyone is looking to get outdoors more than ever. Most camp sites have been booked for months. Luckily, after hours of searching, I discovered the camp sites at Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve. To be honest, it was a mix of doing lots of searching and a little bit of luck. I happened to find a cluster of camp sites that were newly available for the first time. Not only were they beautiful and private, but they were lakeside camp sites.

Jackpot!

Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve is located near Huntsville and is a publicly accessible but privately owned property. The property is remote and includes several lakes and hiking trails.

Because we were right on the beautiful Lee Lake, we decided to rent a canoe from Algonquin Outfitters in Huntsville and picked it up on our way to the camp site. I never thought putting a canoe on the roof of my car was something I would do, but the process was very smooth and the employees help you place the canoe as well as strap it carefully without damaging your car. The entire process only took about 10-15 minutes.

You can find all of the Lee Lake Camp Sites here. We chose N4 campsite simply because of the proximity to the lake. The camp site cost $40 per person, per night. While this is a little more expensive than other camp grounds, the location is well worth it. All sites allow a maximum of 6 people and include a picnic table, a bench and a private (and clean!) outhouse. The sites have the proper spacing between them so you still feel like you are alone in nature. The lake is pretty clean and you can definitely swim in it. With that said, I recommend water shoes to avoid some of the murky areas. We got ours from Amazon.

I partnered with one of my favourite grocery stores, Farm Boy for some delicious barbeque favourites as part of a campaign they have to encourage people to #SavourTheSummer. We settled on the poutine burgers with some Farm Boy label condiments as well as artisan sausages and their family kale caesar salad. It was the perfect meal (and reward) after setting up the camp site.

Rikki and I definitely wanted to take advantage of the lake and went on several canoe rides. It was so calm and peaceful. When you're on the lake, you would never guess that it was surrounded by camp sites. They are all perfectly tucked away and hidden in the trees. It almost feels like you have the lake to yourself.

We also went for a few swims in the lake. The water was warm and inviting and we agreed that the next time we visited, we would bring floaties to float around in.

One of the setbacks we experienced was the rain. It rained heavily on two different occasions during our two night stay and we weren't properly equipped with a tarp over our picnic table. With that being said, when I look back at it now, it was actually quite enjoyable. Watching the rain fall on the lake from under the hood of the trunk of the car was actually quite peaceful. Afterwards, the mist developed on the water's surface as the sun started to set, making this otherwise wet moment quite beautiful. Sometimes you just have to vibe with Mother Nature’s moods.

One of the main things this camping trip taught me is that camping (similar to life) is not always peaceful and enjoyable. There might be moments where things may not go as planned, where you realize you may have forgotten something super important, or when Mother Nature tests your patience. In those moments, you almost have to take them for what they are, move past them and enjoy all the beautiful moments in between. It's all part of the camping experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, we’re already booking our next trip at the same spot.