Looking for May camping ideas in Ontario without the blackflies

[Icanoe2fish]

We have always been late season campers (Aug-Sept) as we cant stand the swarms of biting bugs. We have Killarney and The Pinery booked for August so we're looking for something different for the last weekend in May. The only "must have" is a somewhat scenic park and a nice body of water for canoing. I do realize there will be bugs regardless, I'm just hoping for less if possible

[Oz and Us]

The only "must have" is a somewhat scenic park and a nice body of water for canoing.

Awenda PP would certainly meet both of these requirements.

[baldy]

Bruce County would provide plenty of opportunities for many activities.  Sauble Falls PP would be good if you like lazy river travel.

[Geodude]

I think you just described Algonquin Park.  One of the best canoing/kayaing parks on the planet.

If it's not too much of a drive (I like it because it's out of the range of the Toronto crowds) try Achray campground.  An absolutely beautiful spot with all sorts of different day paddling trips available.  For example, you could paddle the Barron River Canyon one day, then go hike the top for a few hours the next.

As I say, the drive is a bit challenging - you go essentially to Pembroke the turn left.  After a few miles the pavement ends.  You keep going another 40kms on the dirt road.  It's worth it.

A few of us will be doing a kayak trip up there this summer.

[Oz and Us]

I think you just described Algonquin Park.  One of the best canoing/kayaing parks on the planet.

And in the spring / early summer probably one of the largest collections on the planet of "biting bugs" the OP says he just can't stand.

[Icanoe2fish]

Thanks again for the suggestions
Oz; I forgot about Awenda - that one is close too. Wasn't sure if it fell in the balckfly zone
Baldy; I never really ever considered Sauble Falls as I "assumed" it was similar to Wasaga - AKA "party town". Maybe a midweek jaunt would be quiet and the lazy river sounds ideal
Geo; I agree that Algonquin is the place for canoe/kayak trips - it is not the place to avoid blackflies in May

[Oz and Us]

Oz; I forgot about Awenda - that one is close too. Wasn't sure if it fell in the balckfly zone

Unless you stick to parks along the north shore of Lake Erie, perhaps Lake Ontario, and places like Pinery, Inverhuron, MacGregor, etc, you're going to run into some level of spring black fly activity in most Ontario parks.  That said, we've camped at Awenda a number of times in late May and can't say it's ever been enough of a problem to dissuade us from going as it does from going further north at that time of year, keeping in mind of course that there are no guarantees anyway as the bug intensity is easily affected by type of winter / spring weather we get.  In general, my simple solution for the spring is to stick to places I know aren't largely affected by bugs and leave those areas further north for later in the season once the massive bug infestation has died off.

[Geodude]

Having grown up there and paddled Algonquin extensively, I can say it can be the best or the worst for blackflies.  It really depends on the kind of season that year.  Check out the bug reports.

In our case, this year, to be on the safe side, we're taking a 38' big grey tent.  That and we're all getting too "mature" to be wanting to sleep on the ground every night. 

[Oz and Us]

That and we're all getting too "mature" to be wanting to sleep on the ground every night. 

Ha Ha! Mature ... my boys would simply call it what it is ... OLD!

[Geodude]

Oh my poor, delicate disposition!  Actually, back in my formative years, had I had the choice of accommodations that I do now I'd still pick the big grey tent.  Of course portaging and fitting it onto back country campsites might be a tad challenging. 

[baldy]

Baldy; I never really ever considered Sauble Falls as I "assumed" it was similar to Wasaga - AKA "party town". 

Not really.  Sauble tends to be a younger crowd.  More families with younger teen type kids.  It used to be like Wasaga but it seems to have changed.  The went through a spell where one campground was a major cause to the trouble and it has either been shutdown or policed to the point of non existence.  I haven't heard of troubles there in ten years or so.  There are some great private family camps that are strictly for families.  Sauble Falls is like any PP and is a great experience with the river right there.  I haven't had any issues. 

I think you try it at least once.  Not many blackflies but can have mosquitoes.

[TyroneWoods]

Second Geodude with the Achray and Barron River Canyon in my mind it is one of the coolest places to paddle. Bugs isn't it after you hit a certain age they don't bother you. Remember as a kid camping with my dad bugs are wild and he is just paddling along with a bug having a meal on his head like nothing is there.

Know it is reversed they don't seem to bug me much anymore, but also think it is because they like my wife and son more.

not a park for trailer camping but frontenac provincial park has some great paddling, fishing and hiking.

[Icanoe2fish]

yeah, i hate em. Where we live is treed but has always got a nice breeze so we dont even get many mosquitoes. We can be outside all day at any time of year without the bugs. When we go to buggy areas, it drives me nuts because I'm not used to it. We usually camp from July to Oct for this reason alone but We're off for a week in may - thought of heading out for a short jaunt