Oastler Lake Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

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Oastler Lake Provincial Park Reservations – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Making a reservation to camp at Oastler Lake 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 Oastler Lake for August and did not have too difficult of a time getting a site for the days we wanted.

Keep in mind that the park is on the small side. So if you are looking to book a coveted waterfront site, then you really need to book your site as soon as the date opens up.

On the plus side, 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.

Oastler Lake Provincial Park Address:
380 Oastler Park Drive, Seguin, ON P2A 2W8
https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/oastlerlake

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Arriving at the Park

When you pull into the park entrance, it’s just a quick drive to the gatehouse.

There’s regular vehicle parking there, plus a large empty lot perfect for parking RVs just behind the gatehouse.

The gatehouse also doubles as the park store. We picked up a printed map, grabbed some firewood, and I added a park patch to my collection.

You can also buy ice and firewood from the gatehouse.

We arrived after the 2:00 p.m. check-in, so once we were done at the gatehouse, we could head straight to our campsite.

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Oastler Lake Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

Oastler Lake is a small park, so it’s pretty hard to get lost.

That said, there were plenty of signs to help you find your way to the campground, day-use areas, and other spots of interest throughout the park.

The main park road was paved, and in great condition.

The campground roads are one-way, fairly narrow, and made of packed dirt. Still, they were in good shape during our visit and easy enough to manage with a small trailer.

Just be warned, the campground roads are narrow and hilly and have some pretty tight turns. Not sure how really large RVs would manage.

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Parking

The parking lots we came across around the park were a good size.

And while we did not need to move our vehicle once during our stay, you probably won’t have any trouble finding space to park.

There were parking lots at the gatehouse, one at the comfort stations, one at the beach and of course, at the day use area.

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Oastler Lake Provincial Park Camping

Oastler Lake Provincial Park supports a wide range of camping options.

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

Of course, you can choose between electric and non-electric campsites as well.

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

Oastler Lake Provincial Park is home to 4 main campgrounds: Beachside, Lakeview, The Point, and Riverside & Hardwood Hill Campgrounds.

Beachside Campground offers only electric sites, with the majority of them being pull-through sites, while the Lakeview Campground only offers non-electric sites.

The Riverside & Hardwood Hill Campground offers a mix of electric and non-electric sites, while the Point Campground only offers 10 non-electric walk-in sites.

All in all, Oastler Lake is home to 148 campsites.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Walk-in Camping

Oastler Lake Provincial Park offers a semi-wilderness experience with walk-in campsites.

In The Point Campground, you will find 10 walk-in sites (Sites #200-209).

If you have never camped in a walk-in site, it is just that.

Campers park their vehicles in the designated walk-in parking lots (one vehicle per site) and then walk their gear a short distance into the campsite.

At Oastler Lake, the walk to your site will only range from 100 to 300 m. So it really is worth it for the awesome waterfront sites that you get!

All walk-in sites have access to water taps and vault toilets, which are located right by the parking area.

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Oastler Lake, we stayed in the Beachside Campground.

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

We did not have a pull-through site, which is fine with a small teardrop trailer. But, we had plenty of privacy on the sides and back of our site.

Out front, there was no privacy as the entire width of our site was open to the road.

And while we were a good 5-minute walk to the only Comfort Station in the park, we were less than a minute to the beach!

This was awesome, as it made it easy for us to head out with our paddleboards, or head to the beach to sip our morning coffee!

Now for the downside… The train noise!!

Holy canoli! And it wasn’t just the sound of the train running across the tracks that was the problem. It was the train whistle!!

I am not kidding when I say that the noise was so loud I couldn’t hear someone talking to me if they were standing in front of me!

It sounded like the train was coming right through our campsite!! And it really wasn’t that close!

Unfortunately, the trains ran all day and quite frequently at night. I was woken several times by the noise and found it hard to get back to sleep.

The Ontario Parks website for Oastler Lake mentions that the railway tracks near the park are used frequently (this is the park site NOT the reservation area).

But honestly, tons of parks are near tracks.

That said, we have NEVER experienced this level of train noise before.

Definitely something to think about before booking here!

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What Amenities Does Oastler Lake Offer?

Comfort Stations

There is only one comfort station with showers in Oastler Lake Provincial Park.

The comfort station is centrally located by the Lakeview Campground and just next to the boat launch area.

Even though John and I chose to shower early in the evening, we did not have to wait even once for the showers to be free.

While on the older side, we found the comfort stations to be clean and well-kept. The water was hot, and the pressure in the showers was decent.

Vault toilets were also located near the beach, as well as in most of the campground areas.

The Beachside Campground did not have a vault toilet, but we were close enough to both the comfort station as well as the washrooms located at the gatehouse.

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Laundry

Unfortunately, there are no laundry facilities at Oastler Lake Provincial Park.

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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.

You will also find a small variety of snacks, an ice cream freezer full of novelty ice cream, a coffee station, as well as some camping essentials that you may have forgotten.

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Visitor’s Centre

There is no Visitor Centre at Oastler Lake Provincial Park.

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Day Use Area

The day-use area at Oastler Lake is home to the main beach.

There, you will find a beach volleyball court, picnic tables, and a picnic shelter.

There was a large parking lot located adjacent to the main beach, as well as a vault toilets.

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 small boat launch at Oastler Lake. It is located right by the Lakeside Campground.

The boat launch takes you into a sheltered part of Oastler Lake, which is perfect if you are launching kayaks or small boats.

In fact, Oastler Lake is only suitable for small boats less than 20 feet long.

There is a small parking lot nearby and limited docking facilities which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Picnic Pavilion

There is a decent sized picnic pavilion at Oastler Lake. You will find it at the far end of the day use area, closest to the gatehouse and the vault toilets.

If you are interested in renting the pavilion, reservations can be made online or by phone.

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Oastler Lake Provincial Park Beach

Oastler Lake Provincial Park is home to one awesome stretch of sandy beach.

The beach is located in the day use area and has a good sized swimming area marked with buoy lines. The beach is huge, especially considering how small the park is.

The swimming area was clean and did not get very deep, making it perfect for families with young children.

The beach has plenty soft sand that gets groomed daily.

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

Once you cross the buoyed line, you will find some plant growth. It wasn’t too bad, especially in the middle of the lake.

John was able to dive off his paddleboard with no issues.

Because we were so close to the beach, we enjoyed lunch there, our morning coffee, as well as just lazy time with a book.

Of course, you could actually see and hear the train from the beach as well. There was no escaping it!

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What Services Does Oastler Lake Offer?

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

Water

The water fill station at Oastler Lake Provincial Park is pretty small.

You will find it located right off the parking lot behind the gatehouse. The water fill consists of a small, single lane loop with two fills.

This makes it easy because no matter what side your tank is on, you have a fill option.

What is not so good, is that the fills are located right across from each other. This means that only one rig can fill at a time.

You will also find a second fill station in the sanitation loop located directly across the street from the gatehouse.

This is also a single lane loop with the water fill station located after the dump station.

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 Oastler Lake Provincial Park.

As I mentioned above, the dump station is located directly across from the gatehouse.

The sanitation area consists of a single-lane loop with one dump station. The dump station is located on the driver’s side, which is where most rigs have their tanks.

Realistically, you could go through the loop in the opposite direct and use the dump station on the right if your tank is on that side.

I just wouldn’t recommend doing this during the busy check in/check out time.

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

One feature that I found really great at this sanitation loop, was the addition of a small handwash station.

There was a small sink with soap and paper towels, perfect for washing up after dumping your tanks.

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Garbage and Recycling

You will find a central garbage and recycling area adjacent to the gatehouse and the beach.

In this area, you’ll find multiple recycling containers, a bin for fibres only (like cardboard), several garbage containers, and designated spots for small empty propane canisters.

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Cell Service

If you need to stay connected during your time at Oastler Lake, we found the cell service to be really decent.

I was able to make calls, answer emails, send texts, and even stream my TV shows from almost anywhere in the campground.

There is nothing I like better, than writing my blog posts while sitting at the beach and enjoying the view. It’s pretty inspiring!

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Things to Do at Oastler Lake Provincial Park

Oastler Lake Provincial Park is an awesome place for outdoor recreation, especially if you love being in or on the water!

1. Go for a Paddle

One thing John and I always look forward to when we’re camping is paddleboarding. And Oastler Lake was definitely a great spot for it.

There are so many kilometres of shoreline to explore with your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. And while we didn’t cover every inch, we made a good attempt!

It was so much fun. We found one part of the lake to be so calm, that we were able to tie our boards together and just drift… slowly… back to our starting point.

Next time we visit (and there will be a next time), we plan on exploring the parts of the lake that we missed.

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2. Enjoy a Refreshing Swim

Oastler Lake is a great spot for swimming.

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

It stays fairly shallow, even past the roped swimming area, which is perfect if you are visiting with younger kids.

I did notice that once you pass the ropes, the water gets a little ‘weedy.’

However, given the size of the swimming area, you really don’t need to go beyond the ropes for a dip.

During our visit, we also saw people swimming in the cove by the boat launch.

I can’t speak for the condition of the water in those areas, especially given that we noticed plenty of weeds at the dog beach.

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3. Take Part in the Discovery Program

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

Check the weekly events calendars posted throughout the park for details on upcoming opportunities.

You can also pick up a Discovery Book at the gatehouse and explore the park on your own.

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4. Try Your Hand at Fishing

For anyone who loves fishing, Oastler Lake Provincial Park is a wonderful spot to spend the morning out on the lake.

Oastler Lake is home to Rainbow Trout, pike and bass.

Just keep in mind, if you are between 18 and 64 years of age, you will need a valid Outdoors card and fishing license.

We saw people fishing from boats, from the water’s edge, and even from paddleboards and kayaks!

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5. Do Some Birdwatching

John and I are slowly starting to acknowledge our inner birders! And with that, comes a greater appreciation of many of the amazing birds that we see while camping.

And Oastler Lake Provincial Park had plenty to see!

Some of the birds that you are most likely to see include the Common Loon, Evening Grosbeak, Yellow-throated Vireo, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Black-capped Chickadee, Barred Owl and the Great-horned Owl.

We personally enjoyed listening to the loons on the lake!

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6. Go for a Boat Ride

Going for a boat ride would be a great way to experience Oastler Lake.

During or visit, the water was relatively calm and the lake is large enough to spend a few hours cruising around.

John and I love looking at all the interesting cottages and properties that surround the lakes that we visit.

As I mentioned earlier, only boats smaller than 20 feet long are allowed on Oastler Lake. And keep in mind that there is limited space to dock your boat at the park’s launch.

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Is Oastler Lake Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Oastler Lake to be very accessible.

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

The Gatehouse was also barrier-free.

There was also an accessibility mat at the beach, and a beach wheelchair available to rent from the Park Store.

That said, i do not recall seeing any designated barrier-free campsites during our walks through the campground.

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Are Pets Allowed at Oastler Lake?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Oastler Lake Provincial Park.

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

You will even find a small dog beach and exercise area adjacent to the boat launch.

Just keep in mind, that it is on the opposite side of the river. You will need to access the pet area from the Hardwood Hill & Riverside Campground.

Just a reminder, dogs are not allowed at the main beach.

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Is There Winter Camping at Oastler Lake?

No. Oastler Lake Provincial Park does not offer winter camping.

The park closes for the season after the Canadian Thanksgiving (mid-October), at which point the entire park shuts down.

This also means that there are no winter activities like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing available in this park.

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Our Park Rating

We give this park 4 out of 5 stars for having:

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Final Thoughts

Our visit to Oastler Lake definitely exceeded our expectations.

The combination of awesome paddling, a gorgeous beach, and really nice campsites made it a memorable camping trip.

We left already talking about when we could come back!

This is one Ontario park we’ll definitely visit again.

Only next time, we will bring earplugs!

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