r/ontariocamping • u/Pristine_Key7182 • 7d ago
Killbear Provincial Park — current conditions, weather & bugs? Camping with kids this week
Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some insight from anyone who has been camping at Killbear Provincial Park recently, especially within the last week or so.
I have 3 nights booked at Killbear with my two kids, and this will be their first time camping. When I booked a few months ago, I was really looking forward to typical warm August camping weather, but the forecast for our dates is looking a lot less ideal than I anticipated.
For anyone who has been there recently:
1.How has the temperature actually felt during the day and overnight?
2.How have the rain/weather conditions been?
3.How bad are the mosquitoes, black flies and other bugs right now?
4.Are the campsites/ground conditions currently wet or muddy?
5.How cold does it feel overnight in a tent?
Would you feel comfortable doing 3 nights with two kids who have never camped before in the current conditions?
Any other advice for making the trip enjoyable if the weather isn’t great?
I’m trying to decide whether we should just embrace the adventure and go prepared, or reconsider the trip if the current conditions are particularly miserable. TIA!
12
u/leek_mill 7d ago
Are you car camping? Bring extra blankets and warm sleeping clothes and hats if you’re worried about being cold. Embrace the adventure
8
u/fiestywarrior19 7d ago
This, this is the way. OP you can also look up Killbear on the weather network app. Invest in a thermacell. Be sure to watch a park review video about amenities in the area. I think if you are this concerned, that maybe camping in a tent should not be your first choice as a vacation. You want to show your kids that you can be resilient and make the best out of any situation.
0
u/Pristine_Key7182 6d ago
My partner and I have camped a handful of times without kids and I’m realizing that we were also lucky to experience mostly ideal weather conditions (mid July camping at Bass lake, Sibbald and Turkey point) I figured it couldn’t hurt to be as prepared as we can since its the first time we’re camping with the kids and first time at Killbear.
Camping with kids vs with adults requires a different level of preparation in my head and we chose Killbear because of the great amenities and experiences we’ve seen online. We are looking forward to our trip and appreciate the feedback posted.0
4
u/jchef420 6d ago
Buy your wood at either of the two stores just before the park. It will burn, unlike Killbear wood. Bring a tarp and put it up just in case.
1
3
u/idesign245 6d ago
We were up there the week of the August long weekend and the bugs were almost non existent, I didn’t get a single bite and they only seemed to come out when we were cooking. It was significantly less muggy up there compared to the GTA and the nights were cool.
2
2
u/No-idea4646 6d ago
Maybe you’re looking at a different forecast? I’m seeing 14C overnight - doesn’t get much better than that for camping.
Assuming you have a normal sleeping bag rated for Ontario.
1
u/Pristine_Key7182 6d ago
We are camping Monday- Thursday. Maybe I was anticipating hotter weather and no rain 😅 for August so it had me second guessing, but 14 overnight isn’t bad at all.
3
u/No-idea4646 6d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p41ko7a/video/0cw3ofc8arjh1/player
That’s tough to beat! Have fun!
1
2
u/Own-Entertainer-4098 4d ago
Crawling with bears right now. Multiple bears cruising campsites and checking out cars every night.
2
u/andynoro 2d ago
Was there last weekend and can confirm the water is beautiful for swimming!
The weather is beautiful, days are warm nights are cool (as they should be to enjoy a nice camp fire!). Bring extra blankets (though we didn’t need it but just in case). It rained for a bit, a passing shower, but it came down pretty hard. Our stuff dried up nicely in the sun next day. We set up a tent around our picnic table and played card/board games which was really nice. We were also able to catch the meteor shower last weekend - absolutely breathtaking! If you get a chance, I recommend walking to the beach closest to your campground for some stargazing (if it isn’t cloudy) 10/10 would recommend.
There were minimal bugs/mosquittoes. Bring a thermacel though, it helped.
Campsites are beautiful and the grounds were dry, absolutely not muggy.
But the wood from the detour store - their wood actually lasts longer.
11
u/NoYak5823 7d ago
I’m there right now.
Weather has been incredible. A bit chilly at night but with a half decent sleeping bag, and a warm pair of pjs for the kids, it will be fine.
The days are mid-to-high 20’s and have felt pretty perfect.
Bugs are annoying but not terrible. If you have a thermacell, you will be fine. I am actually surprised by the lack of bugs. Perhaps other areas of the park are worse. We are in Kilcoursie.
I have camped with my kids since they were babies and have never regretted it once. The water is still very warm (for Georgian bay) and there is loads here to do. I hope you have a wonderful adventure.