Winter camping destinations | Destination Ontario

Drive-in winter camping

Many of Ontario’s best drive-in (also called “frontcountry”) campgrounds remain open in the winter months.

This is a great way to sample winter camping and practice new skills without having to haul your gear into a backcountry location.

As a beginner, you may choose to rent a four-season tent and sleeping bags from a local outfitter. But in mild temperatures and the controlled environment of a campground, you can get by with a three-season tent and multiple layers of summer-weight sleeping bags.

Some campgrounds offer firewood sales and maintain comfort stations, as well as provide access to great snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails to keep you busy during the day.

Backcountry winter camping

Those looking for a bigger challenge and more adventure will find backcountry opportunities in many of the same locations that make Ontario an iconic destination for wilderness camping in the summer months—only with far more silence and solitude.

Winter camping in Ontario’s backcountry should only be done by experienced campers.

Cold-weather backcountry camping demands specialized equipment, such as windproof four-season shelters or canvas tents with compact woodstoves, as well as winter-rated sleeping bags, advanced outdoor skills and careful judgment and decision management to stay safe.

Backcountry locations have spotty cell service so it’s a good idea to buy or rent a satellite communication device for safety. It’s critical to be modest with your travel plans, keeping in mind the chance of inclement weather along with the shorter daylight hours of the winter months.

Special rules may apply for backcountry winter camping. In parks like Killarney and Algonquin, for example, camping on summer campsites is not permitted, to minimize environmental impacts. Summer campsites are often more exposed to the wind whereas winter camping is more comfortable in sheltered locations.

Learn more about the gear and skills you’ll need for winter camping and check out these amazing places in Ontario for an adventure of a lifetime.