From my 2019 review: This is one of my favourite parks, and as a veteran camper, who has many…read morepleasant memories of Killbear, I cannot reduce it's rating.
I say this, because we had few unfortunate experiences on our last trip.
First, the positives of Killbear:
- beautiful, unspoiled, Canadian Shield scenery
- spectacular rocky shores, which you can use as a swimming platform, and then you don't get sand in your tent
- not one, but two, dog beaches; they love the doggos!
- large campsites
The downsides
- the campsites are large, but choose carefully, as many lack privacy and are very exposed. The old growth forest means that there is little bushy undergrowth to hide you from your neighbours (I like privacy! My dogs need it or they just bark. Then we get in trouble, sometimes)
- you can't buy ice in the park, but you have to drive out to get it
Update 2020: Killbear is such a beautiful park, AND now you can buy ice there!! This time, we were in Lighthouse A, which I would highly recommend. Close to the beach and nice hiking trails, but choose your site wisely and pay attention to the descriptions on the website when you reserve. If it rates privacy as "poor", then be prepared for a fully exposed site.
That said, there are many beautiful sites, and TWO dog beaches. This year, the Anti-Fun, Anti-Noise Police-like Neighbors did not appear (do I sound resentful? You bet I am. Last year we had to leave a day early because of these noise fanatics. Really, they should have gone on a yoga retreat. This is family camping, people, not a monastery. We paid a fee when we reserved; we did not take a vow of silence).
OK, I'm done the rant. Now, back to how great this park is. It is simply beautiful. The lake is wonderful: not the Muskoka soggy bottom lake, but nice, hard granite of Georgian Bay. The granite itself is beautiful. We had such a great vacation! Go off the grid! Try it!