Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

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Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Reservations – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Making a reservation to camp at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park is pretty easy.

Just like all the other Ontario Park campsites, you can book your campsite up to five months in advance of your arrival date through the Ontario Parks reservation system.

In order to make a reservation online, you will first need to have an Ontario Parks account.

Registrations begin at 7 am EST.

We booked our stay at Lake St. Peter for July and had a relatively easy time getting an awesome site.

Most of the sites at this park were pretty nice! So I really don’t think you can go wrong.

☑️ Expert Tip – Be sure to pre-register and check in online before arriving at the park. It definitely expedites the process once you arrive. This can easily be done by logging into your Ontario Parks account and heading to your reservation.

The park is open for camping from the beginning of May until after the Canadian Thanksgiving in mid-October.

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Address:
356 Lake St. Peter Road, Lake St. Peter, ON, K0L 2K0
https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/lakestpeter

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Arriving at the Park

When you pull into the park entrance, the gatehouse is right there.

The entrance is quite small, so there really isn’t parking available, especially for trailers.

I did notice a parking lot across the street, which would be easy to access if you are driving a vehicle.

But because we arrived pretty late in the evening, there was no one around. So we just pulled up in front of the gatehouse to check in.

The gatehouse also works as the park store. We picked up a printed map and a park patch to add to my collection. You can also purchase ice and firewood at the gatehouse.

As I mentioned, we arrived at 8 pm, so once we were done at the gatehouse, we could head straight to our campsite.

And even though we had checked in online, we never really head straight to our site, as I like having a physical map to look at.

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Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

Lake St. Peter is a pretty small park. As such, we found it incredibly easy to find our way around.

There are plenty of clear signs pointing you toward the campground, day-use area, and other spots of interest throughout the park.

The main park road was not paved and quite uneven, but we have definitely seen worse.

The campground roads are one-way, on the narrow side, and also not paved. Still, they were in good shape during our visit and easy enough to manage.

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Parking

The parking lots we came across around the park were a good size. While our vehicle stayed parked at our site during our entire visit, there were always spots available in the various lots around the park.

There was a parking lot at the gatehouse, one at the comfort station, and two at the main beach/day-use area.

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Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Camping

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park supports a range of camping options.

You can book sites for car camping, tenting, and RVs up to 32 feet (9.7 metres).

You can also choose between electric and non-electric campsites.

Just note that not every campground section fits every style of camping, so pay close attention to the site details when you book.

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park is home to only one campground, which offers a mix of electrical and non-electrical sites.

All in all, Lake St. Peter is home to only 64 campsites, making it the smallest Ontario Park that we have visited thus far.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Lake St. Peter, we stayed in a powered site near to the entrance of the park.

Our campsite was cozy, but with more than enough room for us to set up our dining tent had we chosen to do so.

While the sites were not completely private (I could still see my neighbours), there was more than enough shrubbery between sites to provide a good buffer.

Our site was a fair distance from the comfort station, which meant that we had at least a 5 minute walk uphill to get there.

It really wasn’t a big deal! And we did not have to wait to use the showers, even though there was only one comfort station for the whole park.

Our closest water tap was across the street, so that was pretty convenient.

We were also just a five minute walk to the beach, which was a huge bonus. As I mentioned, we never moved our vehicle during our entire stay.

John even carried our paddleboards back and forth with no issues.

I think the only real negative that we experienced while camping at Lake St. Peter was that our site was close to the main road leading to the park.

As a result, we often heard cars speeding down the road. But to be perfectly honest, we have experienced louder traffic at parks like Sharbot Lake or Craigleith, so it really wasn’t something that would prevent us from coming back!

Of course, the sounds of the Loons on the lake more than made up for any traffic we could hear at our site.

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What Amenities Does Lake St. Peter Offer?

Comfort Station

As I mentioned before, there is only one comfort station at Lake St. Peter, and it is located centrally in the park.

The comfort station had showers, a laundry, and a garbage /recycling area out front.

John and I chose to shower later in the evening, so we no wait.

Vault toilets were located near the beaches, as well as in several areas of the campground.

We found the comfort stations to be really clean and well-kept. The water was hot, and the pressure in the showers was decent.

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Laundry

As I mentioned above, a coin laundry is available in the comfort station.

The laundry room was clean and in great condition.

Inside, you will find two washers, two dryers, as well as a large laundry sink and folding counter.

All machines were in working order during our visit.

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Park Store

As I mentioned earlier, the Park Store is located inside the gatehouse.

Inside, you will find a variety of Ontario Parks merch, including hoodies, t-shirts, hats, stickers, water bottles, camping cups, and more.

While the Park Store is not very big, it did have a cooler filled with novelty ice cream as well as a coffee station with Keurig machine.

You could also rent canoes and kayaks from the Park Store.

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Visitor’s Centre

There is no Visitor’s Centre at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park.

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Day Use Area

The day-use area at Lake St. Peter is located right across the street from the gatehouse.

There, you will find a beach volleyball court, picnic tables, vault toilets, and access to Lake St. Peter.

There were 2 large parking lots located adjacent to the main beach, which were more than enough considering the size of the park.

With plenty of trees for shade, the day use area was the perfect spot for a picnic and a swim in the gorgeous lake.

And unlike a few beaches we have been to, Lake St. Peter has plenty of soft sand in the day use area for the kids to play in.

If you want to visit the park for the day-use area only, you can reserve your daily vehicle permit to guarantee your day-use spot.

Permits can be obtained up to five days in advance.

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Boat Launch

There is one boat launch at Lake St. Peter located at the far end of the park near the Camper’s Beach.

Just be warned, it’s a little out of the way, and there was no place to park a vehicle or boat trailer at the launch.

And as a quick note, you will find a boat wash station just past the gatehouse on the main road.

Since you need to pass here both on your way to the boat launch and again when heading out of the park, it’s quite convenient. It even has a power-washer, which is something we haven’t seen in other parks!

However, if you are only looking for a place to launch your canoe or kayak, there is a smaller launch in the day use area.

This is here you will also find the canoe racks containing Ontario Parks rentals.

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Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Beaches

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park is home to two sandy beaches located on opposite sides of the park.

The Main Beach is located in the day use area and is marked with buoy lines. This is where we hung out.

The water was tea coloured and pretty warm during our visit in July.

And while the beach is not huge, it is nice and sandy with plenty of big trees for shade.

The roped off swimming area is nice and sandy with a pretty gradual drop-off.

We were able to easily launch our paddleboards into the lake from either side of the swimming area.

The Camper’s Beach was located near the boat launch, furthest from the park entrance.

This beach was tiny, with not as much sandy area to enjoy. You will still find a roped off area, but it was nowhere near as nice as the main beach.

We also found that this beach was shaded for quite a bit of the day (which may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your preference).

You will also find a canoe rack with rentals, picnic tables, and a scenic lookout with a bench there. What you won’t find is a parking lot!

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What Services Does Lake St. Peter Offer?

You will find all the usual Ontario Provincial Parks services at Lake St. Peter.

Water

There are two water fill stations at Lake St. Peter, which is not surprising given the small size of the park.

You will find them in the narrow sanitation lane, located off the main road just past the gatehouse.

The fill stations are located on either side of the single loop. This means that while you can access the water from either side, only one trailer can fill at a time.

You will find water taps located throughout the campgrounds, as well as in the day-use area.

There are no water hookups at the individual campsites.

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Dump Station

There is only one sanitation station at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park.

The dump station is located in the same loop as the water fill station, off the main road just past the gatehouse.

The dump station is located on the driver’s side of the single lane loop, before the water fill stations.

Because the sanitation loop is not very long, two trailers max can fit before you end up on the main road.

And just like at other parks, expect the sanitation area to be busy around check-out time.

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Garbage and Recycling

You will find a central garbage and recycling area adjacent to the comfort station in the centre of the park.

I found this to be a little out of the way, as I had to drag my garbage in the opposite direction on foot, rather than just drop it off on the way out of the park.

In this area, you’ll find multiple garbage containers, individual recycling bins for sorted items (glass, plastic, paper), and designated spots for small empty propane canisters and firewood/kindling bags.

This was actually a first time seeing this for us! Not sure what happens to the firewood bags from there, but if they can be reused or recycled, that would make me really happy!

You will also find a trailer where you can dump bags of unsorted recycling. This was convenient for us, as we don’t usually remember to sort our recycling.

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Wi-Fi

If you need to stay connected during your time at Lake St. Peter, then you will be happy to know that cell service is excellent.

Because there is a cell tower not far from the park, I was able to get full bars of 5G no matter where I was in the park.

John was even able to live stream a friend’s wedding from in the middle of the lake!

I, on the other hand, made use of the strong cell service (NOT while in the middle of the lake!!) to get some work done and to write this very blog post!

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Things to Do at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park

Don’t let the size of the park fool you! Lake St. Peter Provincial Park is an awesome place for outdoor recreation.

No matter what you like to do while camping, you can do it here!

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1. Go for a Paddle

Paddleboarding is a favourite activity for John and I to do whenever we go camping. And Lake St. Peter was definitely a great spot for it.

There are so many kilometres of Lake St. Peter’s shoreline to explore with your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.

We spent the better part of the day paddling the ENTIRE perimeter of the lake. It was awesome! So many beautiful cottages and greenspaces to see.

The water was relatively calm in the more sheltered areas of the lake. In fact, it was like a sheet of glass both days that we were there.

It did get a little choppy when you headed too far from shore, but nothing too crazy.

And as I mentioned before, if you didn’t bring along your own, the park rents out canoes and kayaks along with lifejackets.

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2. Enjoy a Dip in the Lake

Lake St. Peter was a terrific spot to go swimming for the whole family.

The tea-coloured water is clean and warm enough for a comfortable dip.

The entire roped off area is also nice and sandy underfoot, with only a few spots of greenery.

It stays fairly shallow, even past the roped swimming area, which makes it a good option if you’re visiting with younger kids.

Just keep in mind that the water can get a bit rough once you head farther out.

We also liked that most of the campground has access to a beach, usually just a short walk from your campsite.

John and I quite enjoyed the easy walk to the beach for a quick dip after dinner.

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3. Go for a Bike Ride

As I mentioned earlier, the roads at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park were not paved and did have some rough areas filled with potholes.

That said, we saw tons of kids and families riding their bikes around the campgound. Because the park is so small, the amount of cars on the roads was minimal, making it pretty safe for even younger riders.

Just a heads up, there are plenty of hills, so prepare for a workout! There are also no bike trails, so the campground roads are your only option.

If you head just outside of the park, the main road is paved and quite smooth. This would also be a good option for a ride.

Unfortunately, John and I were too busy hiking and paddling in this park, that we did not have time to go for a ride.

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4. Take Part in the Discovery Program

During the summer months, the park runs a full schedule of educational programs.

The programs are all based on the flora and fauna that can be found in the park and the surrounding area.

Schedules are posted throughout the park. If you are interested in attending one of the programs, head to the gatehouse which is where you will find the park staff and guides.

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5. Try Your Hand at Fishing

For anyone who loves fishing, Lake St. Peter Provincial Park is a great place to indulge in this hobby.

Lake Trout and Bass are commonly found in the lake.

In fact, we saw people fishing from boats and even from the water’s edge.

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6. Do Some Birdwatching

While John and I are no bird experts, we do appreciate some of the amazing birds that we see while camping.

And while there were plenty of birds to see, our favourite was listening to the sounds of the Loons on the lake. We could even hear them from our campsite!

Some of the birds that make their home at Lake St. Peter include the Common Loon, Warblers, thrushes, chickadees, woodpeckers and Great Blue Herons.

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7. Enjoy a Hike

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park is home to 2 hiking trails. The trails were definitely challenging compared to other parks we have visited.

John and I ended up combining both trails into one longer hike (approximately 6km), which was fine for us, but may be a lot for beginners.

The trailhead for both trails is located across the street from the park and is clearly marked with a large sign, so it is easy to find.

One thing to note is that there is not a parking lot adjacent to the trailhead.

Your best bet is to park at the gatehouse and just take the short walk across the street to the trails.

Combined, the two trails actually only took us an hour and fifteen minutes. But we were motivated to move fast!

Read on to find out why!! 😯

This trail crosses rough terrain, passes close to a kettle lake and leads to an awesome lookout over the lake.

Make no mistake, it really is a difficult hike. While we usually don’t agree with many trail classifications, this one definitely earns its title!

The first part of the hike is up a steep hill that is covered in roots, rocks, and every kind of difficult terrain that you can imagine!

I was especially not impressed with the log ‘bridges’ placed over muddy sections.

The middle section which takes you to the lookout was a bit flatter and easier to manage.

That said, it was also very overgrown in some areas, which had us second-guessing whether or not we were on the trail at all!

The lookout was quite nice… for the 4 seconds we were able to stay.

John and I were quickly swarmed by mosquitos and other flying insects that were buzzing in our ears and treating us like a buffet meal, despite the thick layer of insect repellent we had applied prior to heading out on the trail.

I am NOT exaggerating!

The downward portion of the hike was tricky, with the same uneven terrain, muddy areas, and overgrown sections.

Aside from the bugs and needing to safari through brush, this hike was a great workout without a huge time commitment.

Bring hiking poles!

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Named after an abandoned log cabin, the Cabin Trail branches off the Lookout Trail after the lookout.

So in effect, you need to combine the two trails in order to hike the Cabin Trail. You can’t get to it any other way.

The Cabin Trail is very much like the Lookout Trail with regards to the terrain.

Expect steep hills, rocks, roots, muddy sections with teetering log bridges, and sections that are very overgrown to the point were you will question what happened to the path!

Be sure to wear bug spray, bug nets, long sleeves and pants, or whatever you need to protect yourself. The amount of bugs was not fun!

And as I mentioned earlier, the combined trails only took us about an hour and fifteen minutes. But we are experienced hikers and were taking it at a bit of a sprint to try and outrun the bugs!

Hiking poles are an asset on this hike!

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Is Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Lake St. Peter to be very accessible.

The comfort station allowed for barrier-free access to both flush toilets and showers.

The Park Store and Gatehouse were also barrier-free.

That said, there were no accessibility mats at the beach.

However, we did notice that site #28 offered barrier-free access.

The Park Store and Gatehouse were also barrier-free.

That said, there were no accessibility mats at the beach.

However, we did notice that site #28 offered barrier-free access.

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Are Pets Allowed at Lake St. Peter?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Lake St. Peter Provincial Park.

Pets are allowed at the campground and in the day-use area, but must be leashed at all times.

There are no pet exercise areas in the park, nor are there any areas of the beach that are pet-friendly.

In other words, dogs are not allowed at the main beach or at the camper’s beach.

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Is There Winter Camping at Lake St. Peter?

Lake St. Peter does not offer winter camping.

In fact, the park closes fully for the winter season. That means you will not even find access for hiking or snowshoeing once it shuts down.

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Our Park Rating

We give this park 5 out of 5 stars for having:

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Final Thoughts

We had such a great visit to Lake St. Peter and wouldn’t hesitate to make the drive again. It definitely set the bar high as the first stop on our road trip!

We loved getting out on the lake and spending time in a park that wasn’t overcrowded.

So, if you enjoy being outside and like the slower pace of a small park, then I would recommend Lake St. Peter as the perfect spot for a family camping trip.

Our only regret was not booking more than 2 days!

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Pin This Post for Later!

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• Lake St. Peter Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide