There have been trip reports from people camping at Little McCauley while parked at the Brewer lake parking lot... can't remember the exact details but that won't be far from the highway and you'll probably be able to base camp there and walk out to the highway on day trips.

About 15 years ago, I spent some time walking the logging roads near the Shall lake access and had a nice walk along an old logging road to a campsite on Booth near the dam. The road is shown on Jeff's map running along the north shore of Farm and Booth.... the snow wasn't deep and hiking boots were enough to get there. There are other possibilities here, Billy, Oram, Shirley, but I don't think this is the sort of place you're looking for.

Some time could be spent checking out other places near the highway, eg. Bluff, Pinetree, Sunday and others along roads and ports that cross Hwy 60, with time you'll probably find something that you can return to year after year without having to pay those high campground fees... good luck.

You could probably get to Little McCauley without trekking over the ridge by following the old rail bed there from where it branches off of Highway 60 north of Brewer Lake. It's quite overgrown but might be okay to walk in the winter.

But remember that you're not allowed to camp on the shore of a lake in the winter. (The OP on the linked thread from 2005 wasn't aware of the rule.) So I don't really know if it makes sense to think of destinations in terms of lakes, unless you want to be near a lake for photography purposes? Some lakes might make for good exploring, but even if there is good snow cover by mid December I wouldn't count on safe ice.

So what exactly constitutes a "decent spot" for backcountry winter camping?

You could be serious winter-camping, or you could be frozen-ground-no-snow camping.  I'm betting the lakes will be frozen, though.

If there is no snow, then your options are limitless. 

If there has been snow, then the options get narrowed down a lot.  Parking is the main problem once the snow falls.

If you start your trip when there is no snow, the scenario could change quickly with a good dusting of snow.

I think you would need to make your destination decision the week before you want to leave.


Barbara
 

Thanks guys.  Sorry DanPM I get what you are saying now.  You are correct in that pretty much any flat area would work, preferably in a stand of trees somewhere.  I'd just need enough space for my hot tent etc.  So ya pretty much any spot in the forest would work.  Not super concerned about it being "scenic" as I spend most of the day away from the site.  A trail would be nice to make access easier and like Barbara mentioned, having a place to park the truck is a must.  I know it's pretty hard to find a spot like that which is why I usually just end up staying in the airfield.  Perhaps this trip Ill have to devote some time to scoping out some new spots!

Steve, have you considered the Sunday Lake Trail? Snowshoeing is allowed, and does not cross lakes. There is a pretty good report by Cousin Pete on Wintertrekking.com from last year...

That is my plan for Dec 19-21. Anyone have experience with this trail?

Cheers,
Marko

PS. Link:
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/recreational_activites/dog-sledding.php

Last edited by Marko_Mrko (11/18/2015 9:06 pm)

Have you checked out the trip reports in the "winter" section?

http://www.algonquinadventures.com/winter/WinterIndex.htm


Barbara

Steve, if you are trying to find a new place to winter camp, Killarney PP might be a good alternative. IIRC they have several yurts in a walk-in area but bringing in your own tent and toboggan is probably OK somewhere near there... check with park staff where you can set up. Again IIRC, there are washrooms.and running water.

Winter scenery in Killarney should be great in Dec before the lakes freeze totally solid.... trail to Lumsden lake and the peak there, Tar Vat trail near town, and the Chikanishing trail overlooking Georgian Bay.... none of these include water crossings.



 

I think it's going to have to come down to conditions and what's plowed/closed when you go. What you're looking for in a campsite is fairly generic, your best bet is probably just to walk an easy trail until you see a stand of trees that meets your preference for thick enough to provide shelter but open and flat enough to make camp; then you just have to bushwhack 30 m off the trail. But you'll need a trail you can get to and park at.

A logging road might be better than a trail, if you can confirm through the AFA operations map ( http://algonquinforestry.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/AWS_Webmap.pdf ) that it won't be in use, in that it would give you more privacy than a hiking trail, it's not going to be very rugged/steep, and you probably don't have to worry about the 30 m rule (or at least not the unofficial "out of sight" rule). The issue then becomes parking, since unlike day hiking trails there are no parking lots for logging roads.

One good bet might be the logging road that forms the first part of the Costello Creek lookout trail. In past winters the Opeongo Road has been plowed up to and including the parking lot from where it starts. If people are hiking to the lookout, the snow will even be packed down for you, though for privacy sake you might want to continue along the road beyond the turnoff to the lookout (about 900m in).

Of course if it turns out snow cover is thin and lakes aren't frozen, you might want to go frozentripper's way and camp near a lake for water.