Silver Lake Provincial Park is one of Ontario’s hidden treasures. The park, though one of the smaller provincial parks in the area at 106 acres (43 hectares), offers a wide variety of activities for guests and campers to enjoy.
Silver Lake is a picturesque backdrop for water activities like canoeing, kayaking, and boating. Canoes are available for rent in the park.
The park features two swimming beaches with ample room for sunbathing and picnicking. The park playground is also a favorite for younger visitors.
Fishermen can enjoy the lake’s rich offering of Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Lake Trout, Yellow Perch, and Sunfish. Hikers can hit the trails or take a leisurely stroll on the park boardwalk to view the marshes, wetlands, and upland forest.
Stop by the park store for ice, firewood, fishing bait, and park souvenirs.
Silver Lake Provincial Park features three campgrounds with sites for RV camping: Dawson, Wesley, and Algonquin. Camping is open mid-May through mid-September. A number of the sites have electrical hookups. Guests have access to a comfort station with showers, flush toilets, and drinking water, as well as coin-operated laundry.
Silver Lake Provincial Park is located in Maberly, Ontario. The park is 19 miles (30 km) outside of the major city of Perth, Ontario.
Driving into the park is easy. Just hop on Highway 7. Drive time is approximately three hours from Toronto, two hours from Peterborough, and an hour and a half from Ottawa.
Some park roads are paved, while others are gravel. The gravel roads are well-maintained, so dust does not become an issue. All roads are accessible for RVs and vehicles towing trailers or boats.
The park’s small size makes it easy to navigate on foot. Guests who park in the main parking lot will find all the major amenities within easy walking distance. Parking is also available for overnight guests at the campgrounds.
Bicycles are welcome at Silver Lake Provincial Park. There are no designated biking trails, but biking is allowed on all park and campground roads. All bicyclists under the age of 18 must wear a helmet.
Dawson Campground has 42 campsites for RV or trailer camping, six of which offer electrical hookups. One of those six sites is ADA accessible and reserved for campers with special needs. The Dawson Campground sites are near the smaller swimming beach. Some sites are lake front, while others are set back near the treeline and closer to Highway 7. Campers have access to a comfort station with showers, flush toilets, drinking water, and coin-operated laundry. Campers should also be aware of special consideration for trash disposal within Silver Lake Provincial Park: All trash must be disposed of in clear garbage bags and be separated out into recyclables and non-recyclables. The campground is open mid-May through mid-September.
Wesley Campground has 62 campsites for RV or trailer camping, 27 of which offer electrical hookups. The Wesley Campground sites are near the marshland at the eastern end of the park. Be prepared to hear a chorus of frogs and toads at night. Campers have access to a comfort station with showers, flush toilets, drinking water, and coin-operated laundry. Campers should also be aware of special consideration for trash disposal within Silver Lake Provincial Park: All trash must be disposed of in clear garbage bags and be separated out into recyclables and non-recyclables. The campground is open mid-May through mid-September.
Algonquin Campground has 44 campsites for RV or trailer camping. The campground sits on a hill, with some sites offering lake front access. Campers are within walking distance to a comfort station with showers, flush toilets, drinking water, and coin-operated laundry. Campers should also be aware of special consideration for trash disposal within Silver Lake Provincial Park: All trash must be disposed of in clear garbage bags and be separated out into recyclables and non-recyclables. The campground is open mid-May through mid-September.
Silver Lake Provincial Park features two swimming beaches that are popular with guests and locals. Both beaches are sand and meticulously groomed. Visitors can access restrooms and changing rooms. The main crescent beach is the largest in the park and is centrally located near the boat launch and canoe rentals. A second smaller beach is positioned near the covered picnic area. Lifeguards are not on duty, so guests should swim with caution and never swim alone.
Though smaller than many other provincial lakes, Silver Lake still clocks in at 5.5 miles (9 km) long. It is large enough for all forms of boating. Guest are often found on motorboats, sailboats, paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks. Canoes are available for day rentals in the park. If you’re bringing your own boat, there is ample parking next to the public boat ramp near the main beach. Also located near the boat launch are three floating docks for moorage.
Silver Lake is surrounded by scenic marshes, wetlands, and forest. Hiking trails weave through the rich variety of plants and give campers an up close and personal look at the natural ecosystem. The Marsh Trail is an easy hike and welcomes all skill and endurance levels at 0.3 miles (0.5 km) long. Most guests can hike the trail in about 30 minutes. The park also features a boardwalk at the lake’s eastern end that crosses over the marsh, through the wetland, and into the upland forest.
Silver Lake Provincial Park gives local wildlife a preserved area to safely call home. Birdwatchers can catch a glimpse of the Eastern Kingbird, mallards, Common Loons, Great Blue Herons, Red-winged Blackbirds, and American Bitterns. In the surrounding marshes and forests, campers and hikers might stumble upon raccoons, rabbits, skunks, woodchucks, and chipmunks. The wetland is home to non-poisonous snakes, leopard frogs, bullfrogs, toads, and painted turtles. Please keep your distance and respect the native wildlife.
The calm waters of Silver Lake are popular with sportsman. Fishermen of all ages can cast a line in search of Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Yellow Perch, and Lake Trout. Spend the day fishing on the water by motorboat, sailboat, or canoe, or hike along the lakeshore to find a secluded spot. Worms can be purchased at the park store, and canoes can be rented in the park as well. All fishermen must have a valid fishing license.
Silver Lake Provincial Park offers ample day-use amenities to make a picnic in the park an enjoyable event. Picnic tables are located near the main swimming beach, with an additional shaded picnic shelter that can be rented on a daily basis for events. When not reserved, it is open to guests on a first come, first served policy. Near the picnic area is a playground for the park’s younger visitors with an adjacent open field for sports and games. Restrooms are available.
