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A Two-Day Friends’ Camping Escape at Balsam Lake Provincial Park

Plan for a 24-hour overnight camping stay with friends. Bring a tent, camping chairs, portable BBQ, camping stove, cookware, air mattresses, pillows, blankets, cooler, extension cord, charging equipment, fan, heater, ca…

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Travel inspiration for A Two-Day Friends’ Camping Escape at Balsam Lake Provincial Park

Source videos

Travel inspiration behind this plan

Balsam Lake Provincial Park Camping Vlog | BBQ, Bonfire, Beach & Swimming Watch on YouTube

Plan notes

Useful context before you go

Plan for a 24-hour overnight camping stay with friends. Bring a tent, camping chairs, portable BBQ, camping stove, cookware, air mattresses, pillows, blankets, cooler, extension cord, charging equipment, fan, heater, camping light, mosquito coils, food, drinking supplies, and garbage bags. The demonstrated menu includes burgers with cheese, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, garlic sauce, mayonnaise, lettuce, Sriracha and toasted buns; corn; chicken karahi; Pakistani milk tea with croissants; grilled tomatoes; chicken; eggs; toast; salt and black pepper. Campsite 335 has an electrical hookup and good privacy. Keep food and garbage secured inside the vehicle overnight because raccoons may tear into unattended supplies. Night temperatures can drop, so pack warm clothing even if the day is hot. Clean the campsite before departure and take rubbish to the designated garbage and recycling area.

Itinerary highlights

What is in this plan

Day 1 — Arrival, Campsite 335 Setup & Lakeside Afternoon

Arrive with supplies already purchased, collect a park map, and settle into Site 335. The campsite has electricity, tree cover and good privacy. Build the kitchen shelter before cooking, then use the afternoon for the short hike, beach visit and swimming. The boating area is worth checking early because rental boats may sell out.

  1. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Ask for a park map on arrival and use it to locate Site 335. The campsite is an electric site and serves as the base for the overnight stay.

  2. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Set up the tent, beds and extra mattress, securing the tent against wind. Site 335 is surrounded by trees and offers better privacy than the more open lower row.

  3. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Use the second shelter as the kitchen. The campsite setup includes a camping table, hand-washing area and electricity for charging phones, running a fan and potentially using a heater.

  4. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Cook the first meal at Site 335 on a steel griddle over the camping stove. Toast the buns and assemble burgers with cheese, tomatoes, onions, ketchup, garlic sauce, mayonnaise, lettuce and Sriracha. Corn and chicken karahi are also part of the prepared camp food.

  5. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Follow the park trail for a short nature walk, but keep the map available: the route shown became confusing and led toward a road before reaching the beach.

  6. Balsam Lake Provincial Park Boat LaunchBalsam Lake Provincial Park Boat Launch, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Check the boat launch and rental area before swimming. Canoes and single boats were sold out in the example, so boating availability may depend on arriving early or booking ahead if reservations are offered.

  7. Balsam Lake Provincial Park Main BeachBalsam Lake Provincial Park Main Beach, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Spend the afternoon at the main beach. The area includes shaded picnic spaces and a playground, and the water is described as exceptionally clear. Campsites farther away may require a short drive.

  8. Balsam Lake Provincial Park Main BeachBalsam Lake Provincial Park Main Beach, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Swim, play Frisbee and enjoy the lake, then use the nearby shower facilities for a hot shower. Leave the phone secured in the vehicle rather than unattended in a beach bag.

Day 2 — Camp Breakfast, Lakeside Dip & Departure

Start with a hot breakfast at Site 335, pack carefully, and leave the campsite clean. Before departing, return to the beach for one final swim and use the clearer water near the boating side. The park’s lake-view electrical sites are an alternative for a future stay, while Site 335 remains the better choice for privacy.

  1. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Make Pakistani milk tea with croissants in the evening, then prepare breakfast with eggs, toasted bread, salt, black pepper and fresh tea the next morning.

  2. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Use the hammock at Site 335 for a relaxed lakeside break, then prepare the evening campfire area. The campsite was described as having very few mosquitoes during the day, but mosquito coils were placed around the seating area and tent entrance after dark.

  3. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    For the barbecue dinner, roast corn first, then grill chicken, tomatoes and other prepared food. A camping light is essential after dark, and the rotating grill shown made cooking easier.

  4. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Extinguish the campfire completely and pack all food into the car before sleeping. Do not leave food or garbage outside because raccoons may tear into it. The temperature can fall overnight, so keep warm clothing ready.

  5. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Site 335Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Site 335, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    When taking down the tent, keep the windows open so trapped air can escape. Fold from the correct side and leave the corner with the air valve until last so the tent folds more easily.

  6. Balsam Lake Provincial Park Garbage and Recycling AreaBalsam Lake Provincial Park, Garbage and Recycling Area, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Leave the site as clean as it was found. Take garbage and recycling to the designated disposal and recycling area before leaving the park.

  7. Balsam Lake Provincial Park Boat LaunchBalsam Lake Provincial Park Boat Launch, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    Return to the main beach for one last dip before departure. The water near the boating side was described as cleaner and clearer, while another section had more rocks underwater.

  8. Balsam Lake Provincial Park - Sites 205, 206 and 207Balsam Lake Provincial Park, Sites 205, 206 and 207, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada

    For a future visit, consider the electrical Sites 205, 206 or 207 for lake views. These sites were described as more open with less privacy and not suitable for swimming directly from the campsite, unlike the more private Site 335 row.