Oastler Lake P.P. is located on 380 Oastler Park Dr, Parry Sound, ON. The park is situated on the lake of the same name. Oastler Lake is notable for having beautiful beachfront sunsets and the Canadian Shield rock formations that define the area. We most recently visited on the 14th of June, 2024.
The park was designated and developed in 1967, as a "gateway to the north". The original park land was entirely swampland with a river (Boyne River) running through. After the addition of gravel, sand, facilities, and campsites, it introduced Oastler Lake P.P. as we know it today.
Although disputed, the name Oastler probably comes from Richard Oastler, an activist and social reform worker from 18th century England. Anyone with a better history please let me know.
Oastler Lake offers a few amenities:
- boating from the boat launch into the greater depths of the Parry Sound system
- fishing from the docks
- swimming on the fine sand beach
- family get-togethers at the pavilion
There are no hiking trails at Oastler Lake P.P.
You'll enter past the park entrance sign and past the pavilion before arriving at the newly renovated park store and office. Continue and you'll eventually see Beachside Campground on the left and new bridge on the right. Turn right at the newly redesigned bridge and you'll find Riverside and Hardwood Hill Campground, along with the boat launch and dog beach. Continue straight from before the bridge and you'll arrive at Lakeview Campground. Park your car and walk to the Point Campground, the final one in the park.
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
Seagulls
Trilliums (in-season)
Various panfish
Large coniferous trees atop beautiful rock formations.
It is a very small provincial park with little amenities, so bring some friends to keep company.
If you have a boat, bring it. It is more of a boating/fishing park.
Some of the best walk-in (not backcountry) sites in Ontario can be found at Oastler Lake P.P. After driving through Lakeview Campground, you park your car and hike up to the Point Campground. There are 10 walk-in sites here, all of which have waterfront access (the point viewed from the dog beach on the right). The sites are relatively flat, with rocky outcrops surrounding, and great views of the area. There are plenty of hills around, so lots of opportunities for lookouts. I would recommending booking one of these as it is a very short walk to gorgeous natural beauty.
This park is pretty nice. It is small, quiet (unless the nearby train comes), and has everything you need for a short weekend trip. The park is just that, though - a short weekend and stop-in only. It's a 6.2/10.
