Sitting on the shore of Charleston Lake is the 23.5 sq. km (9 sq. mi) Charleston Lake Provincial Park, an ideal RV camping getaway. Located 7 km (4.3 miles) southeast of Lyndhurst, off Highway 3, Ontario, this provincial park is a great family camping destination offering amazing recreational opportunities such as hiking, boating, paddling, birding, wildlife viewing, flora observation, fishing, swimming, biking, hunting, as well as a variety of park programs. RV camping in Charleston Lake Provincial Park is just awesome!
Facilities and amenities in Charleston Lake Provincial Park include RV campgrounds with electric hookups, amphitheater, boat launch/ramp, Visitor Center, dump station, pit and vault toilets, yurts and cabins, roofed accommodations, canoe and kayak rental facilities, playground, picnic shelters, laundry facilities, fish cleaning stations, restrooms with showers, and parking lots.
Established in 1976, Charleston Lake Provincial Park is located in a forest landscape that is an extension of the Canadian Shield. The hiking trails in the park offers campers the opportunity to take a walk to the highest peak in the county and enjoy beautiful vantage point views of the entire area.
Charleston Lake Provincial Park is located 7 km (4.3 miles) southeast of Lyndhurst, off Highway 3, Ontario. Woodvale Road links to Charleston Road that leads to the park, hence the park is easily accessible by RVs, trailers, and other motorized vehicles. Paved roads within the park lead to the campgrounds, day use area, boat launch area, and other sites of interest in the park. There are no driving restrictions within the park.
There are 25 parking areas in Charleston Lake Provincial Park, indicating that finding a parking space for your rigs in the park is very easy. Each of the three campgrounds in the park has seven parking lots for RVs and trailers, and there are parking areas located in the day use area and Visitor Center. What’s more, overnight parking is available in the park.
There are no public transportation facilities within Charleston Lake Provincial Park.
Shady Ridge Campground in Charleston Lake Provincial Park features 58 campsites available for RVs. Electric RV hookups are available in the campsites in the campground. RV length limit at the campground is 32 feet (10 m), however RV vacationers with larger rigs can call the park ahead to find out if space is available. Amenities in the campground include amphitheater, water taps, pit/vault toilets, access to day use area, restrooms with showers, access to swimming beach with changing rooms, and parking lots.
Bayside Campground in Charleston Lake Provincial Park features 83 campsites available for RVs and tents. Electric RV hookups are available in the campsites in the campground. RV length limit at the campground is 32 feet (10 m), however RV vacationers with larger rigs can call the park ahead to find out if space is available. Amenities at the campground include Visitor Center, campfire circle, water tap, restrooms with showers, playground, access to day use area and swimming beach, and parking lots.
Meadowlands Campground in Charleston Lake Provincial Park features 87 pet-friendly campsites available for RVs and tents. Electric RV hookups are available in the campsites in the campground. RV length limit at the campground is 32 feet (10 m), however RV vacationers with larger rigs can call the park ahead to find out if space is available. Amenities available in the campground include restroom with showers, water tap, pit/vault toilets, and parking lots.
Charleston Lake Provincial Park runs an amazing Natural Heritage Education program for RV campers of all ages, consisting of various interactive programs. They include guided hikes, Discovery Center children’s programs, evening programs, as well as special events like Star Gazing with Terrence Dickinson and Settler’s Weekend.
Charleston Lake is home to abundant fish species, making Charleston Lake Provincial Park a popular destination for RV campers that enjoy angling. Some of the fish species in the park include lake trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, northern pike, yellow perch and panfish species.
There are two designated swimming beaches in Charleston Lake Provincial Park for RV campers of all ages to take a dip and enjoy swimming. These beaches are located in the day use area and in the Shady Ridge Campground. Both beaches in the park are marked with buoys, and lifeguards are not on duty at both beaches. Also, the lake shoreline and lake bed are gently sloping.
There are excellent birding opportunities for RV campers at Charleston Lake Provincial Park as a variety of birds are present in the park. Bird species that you can see in the park include bald eagles, yellow-throated vireos, cerulean warblers, red-shouldered hawks, and black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos.
Charleston Lake Provincial Park is home to nine endangered wildlife species, including the red-shouldered hawk, black ratsnake, and the southern flying squirrel. The park is popular for its reptiles and amphibians, as well as the 35 species of mammals present in the park. Examples include white-tailed deer, beaver, fisher, mink, northern map turtles and eastern ribbon snakes.
Amazing boating opportunities await RV campers on Charleston Lake in Charleston Lake Provincial park. The park features boat launches on Charleston Lake and Running’s Bay. Powerboats are allowed on Charleston Lake; however, they are not permitted in designated areas in Slim Bay and Running’s Bay.
Paddling opportunities also abound on Charleston Lake, particularly on the 75 km (47 miles) of shorelines and bays/coves in the park. The motor-boat free parts of Running’s Bay and Slim Bay are open to paddling and kayaking for RV campers. Two portages are available for paddlers in the park.
Charleston Lake Provincial Park features seven scenic hiking trails for RV campers to enjoy while on vacation at the park, each with its own uniquely memorable experience. These trails include the Sandstone Island Trail, Shoreline Centennial Trail, Beech Woods Trail, Hemlock Ridge Trail, Quiddity Trail, Tallow Rock Bay Trail, and Blue Mountain Trail. These trails, which vary in difficulty from easy to strenuous, add up to more than 26 km (16 miles) of fun hiking experience for RV campers in the park. Whether your wish is to see the geological features and ancient landmarks of human history in the park, enjoy the scenic shorelines, view the resplendent flora in the park, or enjoy the view of the park’s landscapes, you’ll find these and more when hiking on the park’s trails. So, pack your best hiking boots and get going!
