Restoule Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

---

Restoule Provincial Park Reservations – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Making a reservation to camp at Restoule 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 Restoule for August and had a pretty easy time getting an awesome site.

I don’t think you could go wrong with most of the sites at this park! They were pretty nice!

☑️ 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.

Restoule Provincial Park Address:
8818 Highway 534, Restoule, ON P0H 2R0
https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/restoule

---

Arriving at the Park

Once you arrive at the main entrance to the park, there is a short drive to the gatehouse.

There, you will find some vehicle parking, as well as several long RV parking spots outside the gatehouse.

These long parking spots make it so much easier when you have a trailer! I don’t understand why not all provincial parks have them!

The gatehouse doubles as a park store, so we were able to grab a printed map as well as purchase firewood, ice and my park patch there.

We arrived right at the 2 o’clock check-in time, so we were able to head straight to our site.

---

Restoule Provincial Park Map

---

Navigating the Park

Restoule is a pretty large park. That being said, we had no problem navigating our way around.

There were enough large signs to help you find your way around the park, the campgrounds, and the day-use areas.

The main park road was not paved in many areas, but was in decent shape.

The one-way campground roads were narrow and unpaved, but were in relatively good condition.

---

Parking

The parking lots that we saw throughout the park were more than sufficient in size.

There were parking lots at the beaches, at the Rental and Discovery Centre, the day-use area, the boat launches, and at the trailheads.

You will also find a smaller parking lot near the gatehouse, one at the comfort stations, and one at the pet exercise area.

---

Restoule Provincial Park Camping

Restoule Provincial Park accommodates a variety of camping styles.

From car camping to tenting, group camping, and RVs up to 32 feet (9.7 metres), you will find it all. They even have some seasonal sites!

Restoule also offers backcountry, walk-in, and paddle-in sites if you are looking for a more rustic experience.

You will also have the choice between electric and non-electric sites.

Just keep in mind that not all types of camping can be accommodated at all sites. So you will need to watch for this when making your reservations.

Restoule Provincial Park has three main campgrounds – Kettle Point, Putts Point, and Bells Point Campground.

All in all, Restoule is home to 289 campsites.

Kettle Point is the only campground that offers electric sites.

Putts Point and Bells Point both offer only non-electric sites.

---

Campgrounds at a Glance

---

Group Camping

Restoule Provincial Park also offers two large group camping sites that are located adjacent to the day-use area.

The sites have access to water taps, picnic tables and vault toilets. However, if you need to use the comfort stations, it will be about a 15-minute walk.

The larger of the group sites (#601) can accommodate both trailers and tents, has a vault toilet onsite and can hold between 25 and 60 people.

The smaller of the group sites (#602) can accommodate only tents, has a 2-minute walk to the vault toilet, and can hold between 12 and 25 people.

---

Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Restoule, we stayed in the Kettle Point Campground.

Our campsite was really nice! And as a bonus, it was only a short walk to the beach.

While we didn’t have a ton of privacy, the sites in our section had a good amount of space between them (filled with shrubs), so that you were not on top of your neighbours.

Our site was also on a ledge of sorts. While it looked like it may be a drive-through spot on the map, it was actually level with the access road, but much higher than the road behind us!

That meant being very careful when backing in the trailer!

We found the entire campground to be pretty quiet. You could not hear the motor boats on the lake nor the traffic on the roads outside the park.

Unfortunately, our site was located across the street from the vault toilets. While we didn’t really smell them from our site (like I thought we would), we did get quite a bit more foot traffic.

We were also a good distance from the comfort station. And since the showers were quite busy, we ended up driving there at about 10 pm to avoid a long wait.

Our closest water tap was about a 2-minute walk, so that was just fine.

At the end of the day, we had zero complaints (aside from these weird little bugs that seemed to be EVERYWHERE).

---

What Amenities Does Restoule Offer?

Comfort Stations

Comfort stations with showers are centrally located in 2 out of the three campgrounds.

Bells Point is the only campground without a comfort station.

Vault toilets were located near the largest beach, as well as in each of the campground areas.

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

As in the case of most parks during the summer, the showers got busy around dinner time.

As I mentioned earlier, we just chose to go later in the evening and had a much shorter wait.

---

Laundry

A coin laundry is available in both comfort stations in the park.

The laundry room was clean and in great condition. It was actually one of the nicest that I have seen in Ontario Parks!

The one we checked out in our campground had two washers, two dryers, a stacking washer/dryer combo, as well as a large laundry sink and folding counter.

All but one dryer was in working order during our visit.

---

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, totes, and more.

You will also find a variety of camping essentials, as well as a small Nespresso coffee station.

I immediately noticed Kip sitting up on a shelf and asked about his pins. Unfortunately, neither Kip nor the pins were for sale!

You can buy ice and firewood here, but I didn’t see much in the way of small grocery items like many other parks carry.

---

Visitor’s Centre

There is no Visitor’s Centre at Restoule Provincial Park.

---

Rental & Discovery Centre

So while there is no true Visitor’s Centre at Restoule, there is a small building where you can go to rent mountain bikes, kayaks, canoes, and even paddleboards.

If you have forgotten your lifejackets, they will even loan them out to you here.

But aside from therental desk, you will also find a few small educational displays inside the centre.

There are colouring pages available, as well as sheets to help you identify some of the snakes, turtles and other small creatures that you may come across in the park.

I found the “tree” filled with bird stuffies that make realistic sounds quite funny. Of course, these are also available for purchase!

---

Day Use Area

The day-use area at Restoule was pretty nice.

It’s located away from the campgrounds and nearest to Stormy Lake.

Unfortunately, the day-use area does not have beach access. You are close to the river and one of the boat launches, but there is no actual beach.

There was a large parking lot located adjacent to the day-use area, as well as vault toilets.

You will also find the only picnic shelters in the park, as well as some picnic tables in the day-use area.

And while there was plenty of grassy area to play and run around for the kids, we did not see a playground, which we found pretty surprising.

You will also find the trailheads for four of the park’s hiking trails accessible from the day-use area parking lot – River Trail, Gibbs Trail, Fire Tower Trail, and Ranger’s Point Trail.

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.

---

Boat Launch

There are 2 boat launches at Restoule Provincial Park.

The first boat launch is located nearest to the Fire Tower Trailhead at the Stormy Lake access point.

The second launch is located by the walk-in sites at Bells Point Campground and accesses Restoule Lake.

---

Picnic Shelters

There are two picnic shelters at Restoule.

Both are located in the Day Use area and are pretty basic compared to the ones we have seen at other parks like Bass Lake (they have a built-in fireplace).

As we mentioned earlier, you will find a large parking lot nearby, as well as picnic tables, vault toilets, and even an electrical pedestal for power.

We thought it was quite interesting that there were picnic tables in the area, but none under the picnic shelters! 🤔🤔

---

Restoule Provincial Park Beaches

Restoule Provincial Park is home to two sandy beaches along the shores of Restoule Lake.

The largest of the two beaches, Kettle Beach, is located between the Kettle Point and Putts Point Campgrounds. This is where we hung out.

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

And while the beach is pretty narrow, it is nice and sandy with a beach volleyball net and some pretty big trees for shade.

This is also where you will find the accessibility mat that goes from the campground to the water’s edge.

The roped off swimming area is nice and sandy and stays really shallow (not even to my waist!) throughout the roped area.

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

The second beach, Putts Beach, is located at the far end of the Putts Point Campground.

This beach is much smaller, but still has a roped-off swimming area. We did not see too many people at this beach.

Both beaches have access to vault toilets that are within a 5-minute walk.

---

What Services Does Restoule Offer?

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

Water

There is one sanitation station at Restoule Provincial Park. It is located off the main road between the gatehouse and the campgrounds.

There, you will find a loop equipped with two fill stations, one on either side of the road.

And while the loop is one way, it is wide enough for two trailers to be filling their tanks at once.

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.

---

Dump Station

As we mentioned above, there is only one sanitation station at Restoule Provincial Park.

Unlike with the fill stations, there is only one dump station.

The dump station is located on the driver’s side of the lane.

The fill stations come first in the sanitation loop, so if you want to dump your trailer, you may have to wait behind someone filling their tank if you can’t get around them.

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

---

Garbage and Recycling

You will find a large garbage and recycling areaadjacent to the sanitation loop.

There, you could find several garbage bins and mixed recycling bins, as well as places to drop off small empty propane tanks and alcohol bottles.

We did not see small garbage areas within each campground as we did at Killbear Provincial Park.

---

Wi-Fi

If you need to stay connected during your time at Restoule, you will be happy to know that there is pretty decent cell service in the park.

While it wasn’t great in all areas (very little at our campsite), I could make calls with no problems and even check emails.

You will find the best service nearest to Restoule Lake. However, there is little to no service near Stormy Lake.

---

Things to Do at Restoule Provincial Park

John and I love to get out and explore as much of the park as we can during our camping trips.

That said, Restoule has plenty of activities to keep everyone busy, no matter what your interests!

1. Enjoy a Bike Ride

If biking is your jam, then you will be thrilled to note that several of the trails at Restoule are mixed-use.

Mountain biking is available on the Angels Point, Rangers Point, Grawbarger, River, and Gibs Trails.

This means that you have over 8km of mixed single and double track trails!

The difficulty level ranges from beginner to intermediate/advanced.

John and I rode the outer double track on the Angels Point Trail, and it was easy enough for us. It was actually a lot of fun!

He also rode the single-track inner loop, which was a little more difficult, but not by much.

Mountain Bike rentals are available at the Rental and Discovery Centre. 

For more of a laid-back ride, you can also ride on all of the campground roads, which are in decent shape.

---

2. Go for a Paddle

One of the activities that John and I love to do while camping is paddleboarding. And Restoule did not disappoint!

The park provides access to Restoule Lake, the Restoule River, and Stormy Lake.

There are so many kilometres of lakes and river to explore with your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard.

We spent an entire morning exploring the shorelines beyond the park boundary, filled with fabulous cottages.

The water was pretty calm that morning, but later that evening it did get a little choppy. Just keep that in mind when heading out!

And if you didn’t bring along your own, Restoule rents out canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards along with lifejackets at their Rental and Discovery Centre.

---

3. Take the Plunge

As I mentioned earlier, Restoule Lake is a pretty decent place to go for a swim.

The tea-coloured water is clean and warm enough to splash around in.

And the fact that it stays very shallow, even past the roped-off swimming area, is great if you have younger kids with you.

Our only advice is to keep in mind that the water can get rough on this lake when you go a little further out.

We also loved the fact that each campground has access to a beach, usually with just a short walk.

---

4. Take Part in the Discovery Program

According to the website, Restoule Provincial Park offers a pretty good Discovery Program for kids.

During July and August, kids can pick up a Discovery Activity Book from the Park Store and use the equipment and materials provided to explore the park.

Several awesome programs are held daily during the summer months. These usually focus on the flora and fauna that can be found in the area.

During our visit, park staff had a tent set up in the day-use area for kids to come and pick up some colouring pages.

I went over to check things out and to grab a “Kip” sticker for my daughter. Kip the frog is the Ontario Parks mascot.

My youngest daughter has carried around a Kip stuffy since we visited Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park in 2020! Apparently, the stuffy is pretty rare nowadays!

---

5. Go for a Boat Ride

Restoule Lake and Stormy Lake are both awesome places to go for a boat ride.

Both lakes have boat launches, making it super convenient to get out on the water.

You will also find docks located at all three campgrounds where you can tie up your boat.

And did I mention how awesome the sunsets are at Restoule?? That would be the perfect time to head out for a nice ride!

---

6. Try Your Hand at Fishing

For anyone who loves fishing, Restoule Lake and Stormy Lake are awesome places to try your hand at fishing.

Lake Trout, Walleye, Pike, Musky, Large and Smallmouth Bass, and Whitefish are commonly caught in the lakes around the park.

We saw people fishing from boats and even from the water’s edge.

And if you don’t have your own fishing gear, Restoule is part of Ontario Parks’ Tackle Share program.

---

7. Enjoy a Hike

Restoule Provincial Park is home to 6 hiking trails. The trails were quite nice, and most were pretty easy to manage.

While we didn’t have a chance to hike all of them (3 out of 6 isn’t bad), we really enjoyed the ones we did do.

The trailheads are located throughout the park, with large signs to mark where the trails begin.

There are also convenient parking spaces adjacent to the trailheads.

This “must-do” hiking trail in Restoule was one that John and I made sure that we explored. And boy was it awesome!

The trail makes its way through some beautiful mature forests and rocky ridges.

You will find a great rest location and viewpoint at Amber Lake, a historic Fire Tower (which you CANNOT climb), and a long section of boardwalk to walk across.

After a challenging climb, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view from atop the 100-meter-high Stormy Lake Bluff.

This is not an easy hike! Much of the path is covered in roots and large stones that need to be carefully navigated.

One piece of advice that will make things a little easier: when you reach the Fire Tower Trail Map 3/4 of the way through the hike, head in the clockwise direction (to the left) to complete the next section of the trail.

The initial climb will be difficult, but you will have the boardwalk on the way down.

---

The Grawbarger Trail is a series of trail segments travelling through forests and along the Grawbarger Rapids.

These trail segments connect the park campground with the day-use area and other hiking/biking trails.

You can access the trail from the main park road, and it was one of the only trails that did not seem to have a dedicated parking lot.

---

If you’re looking for a great way to spend the afternoon, we found this short, easy trail to be perfect for a casual hike or bike ride.

You will find the Trailhead adjacent to the Rental and Discovery Centre parking lot.

The trail provides access to two awesome waterfront picnic sites with views of the Stormy Lake Bluff and the historic Fire Tower.

---

As we mentioned earlier, Angel’s Point is a mixed-use trail that consists of two mountain biking loops through a hardwood forest.

The inner loop is a single-track trail designed more for mountain biking than hiking.

The outer double track loop is the better option for hikers with a wide trail surface and fun rolling hills.

You will find a couple of steeper climbs, but you are rewarded with two great views of the Stormy Lake Bluff.

While we did bike the outer loop, we passed many hikers along the way.

This trail is linear with a return trip distance of 4.8km (2.4km each way).

You will find the trailhead across the bridge from the day-use area closest to the picnic shelters.

The trail travels through a large beech and mixed hardwood forest. It ends at a scenic lookout and swim spot on the shore of Stormy Lake.

---

This is an easy trail that will take you along the west side of the Restoule River and through some beautiful mature forests.

---

Is Restoule Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Restoule to be very accessible.

All the comfort stations allowed for barrier-free access to both flush toilets and showers.

The Park Store and Rental Shop were also barrier-free.

We also noticed that the main beach closest to the Kettle Point Campground had an accessibility mat.

And, you can rent a beach wheelchair from the counter inside the Gate House.

During our walks through the campgrounds, we did notice that there were at least three designated barrier-free campsites in our campground.

---

Are Pets Allowed at Restoule?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Restoule Provincial Park.

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

You will find a small pet beach located near the walk-in sites at Bells Point. It looked to be an ok size, and we did see a few people swimming there as well.

The fully fenced dog exercise area is located adjacent to the Kettle Point Campground.

The dog exercise area can be accessed right next to the Angel’s Point Trailhead. You will find a parking lot, a fully fenced play yard, and access to the water.

The dog area had plenty of shade, as well as a few picnic tables to sit at and watch your furry friend play.

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

---

Is There Winter Camping at Restoule?

No. There is no winter camping at Restoule.

Unfortunately, the park shuts down completely for the winter season, so you wouldn’t be able to hike or even snowshoe at Reestoule.

---

Our Park Rating

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

---

Final Thoughts

We had a really great time at Restoule and would have no problems making the trek back.

We really enjoyed hiking the trails and paddling on the lake. It really is an awesome park to visit if you love to spend time in nature.

Our only regret was that we didn’t stay a few days longer!

But there will definitely be a next time!

---

Pin This Post for Later!

---

More Campground Reviews:

• Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide
• Mikisew Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide
• Killbear Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide
• Restoule Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide
• Arrowhead Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide
• Grundy Lake Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide