Sharbot Lake Provincial Park Review & Camping Guide

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

Making a reservation to camp at Sharbot 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 though, you will first need to have an Ontario Parks account.

Registrations begin at 7 am EST.

While we did not have too much trouble booking a campsite at Sharbot Lake, it was for a weekday stay.

I’m not really sure just how busy this smallish campground gets on a summer weekend.

Sharbot Lake is open for camping from the middle of May until after the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in October.

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park Address:
Civic # 25467 Hwy 7, R.R.#2 Sharbot Lake, ON K0H 2P0
https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/sharbotlake

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Arriving at the Park

Once you arrive at the main entrance to the park, you are able to check in at the gatehouse.

At the gatehouse, we were able to grab a printed map and get our parking permit.

We arrived just after the 2 o’clock check-in time, so we were able to make our way to our site right away.

We were also able to purchase our firewood, ice and park patches at the gatehouse, which also doubles as the Park Store.

Unfortunately, there were only parking spots for small vehicles in front of the gatehouse.

So I had to stay in the live lane with our Teardrop while John ran into the gatehouse to register. Not the best situation, especially if other people are also trying to register.

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Sharbot Lake Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

While not the smallest Provincial Park we have visited, Sharbot Lake was by no means huge either.

There were plenty of signs to help you find your way around the park, as well as enough signs in the campgrounds themselves.

Many of the campground loops were labelled as one way, and people actually respected that!

This made it easier, considering that the roads in the campgrounds were actually quite narrow, and extremely hilly.

Parking

In general, we found the parking lots located throughout the park to be sufficient in size for this park.

There was a small lot at each beach, one in the day-use area, one at the comfort station (which included an EV charging station), and one at the gatehouse.

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Sharbot Lake Provincial Park Camping

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park accommodates a variety of camping styles.

From car camping to tenting, walk-in sites, and RVs up to 32 feet (9.7 metres), you will find it all.

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

Unfortunately, not all types of camping can be accommodated at all sites, so you will need to watch for this when making your reservations.

In fact, we noticed that some sites were so small, that there was no room for a vehicle. Your car would have to be parked just a little off-site.

We also made note that in the Ridgeview Campground, there was a sign saying that only trailers under 15 feet were allowed. This means not even our Teardrop would fit!

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park has 4 main campgrounds – Beach Front, Maple Grove, The Point And Ridge View – with a total of 176 campsites.

The Point and Ridge View Campgrounds offer exclusively non-electricl sites, while Beach Front and Maple Grove campgrounds offer a mix of electric and non-electric sites.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Sharbot Lake, we were booked to stay in the Beach Front Campground.

The campsite is pretty private from your neighbours to each side. However, you have the main road right behind you, leading to a comfort station.

There was a constant stream of people going to the bathroom during the day, as well as into the night.

Not only that, but the day-use area and beach are also directly across the road from this site.

We actually didn’t mind one bit, as we could see the lake across the street!

We could also be on the beach in less than a minute, which worked well when we wanted to take our paddleboards out on the lake.

The site had some sun and some shade and was mostly flat. However, we did need to use levelling blocks under one of Nellie’s tires.

Other than that, the electrical box was in a good spot, and so was the fire pit.

The site was about a 5-minute drive to the comfort station with showers, which we really didn’t worry about since our Teardrop does have a wet bath.

One of the major downsides to this site was the noise coming from the Trans-Canada Highway.

Unfortunately, the highway runs parallel to Sharbot Lake Provincial Park. This means that the noise from transports and cars can be heard throughout the park (not just this site).

The sound of traffic doesn’t really bother me; however, it did get pretty loud at times. And we could actually see the traffic through the trees.

John and I were having a conversation out by the campfire, and at one point, the traffic noise drowned him out almost completely. Sigh.

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What Amenities Does Sharbot Lake Offer?

Comfort Stations

There were only two comfort stations at Sharbot Lake.

One was located in the Beach Front Campground in the day-use area. It contained 4 stalls with composting toilets.

The other comfort station was located in the Maple Grove Campground and was the only one with showers.

I was quite impressed at how new and clean both the showers and bathrooms were in this comfort station. It was actually the best we have seen in all of our camping trips!

You will also find an EV charging port in front of the Comfort Station. Definitely not something we have seen in other parks!

We also noticed a ton of vault toilets scattered throughout the campgrounds, as well as in the day-use area.

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Laundry

A coin laundry is available in the Maple Grove Campground. It can be found attached to the comfort station and was one of the nicest I have seen.

The machines appeared to be clean and in good working order during our visit.

Park Store

As we mentioned earlier, the Park Store is located in the gatehouse.

The park store sells Ontario Parks merchandise (like my patches!), clothing and souvenirs, as well as a variety of items that you may have forgotten when packing for your camping trip.

The Sharbot Lake Park Store is where you can also rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards.

And while there is no awesome ice cream counter like at Earl Rowe Provincial Park, Sharbot Lake’s Park Store has a small freezer where you will find a good selection of novelty ice cream.

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Visitor’s Centre

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

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Day Use Area

Sharbot Lake has a pretty small day-use area, which is not surprising given how small the park is.

The day-use area is located lakeside, not far from the main gate.

There, you will find a children’s playground, picnic shelter, plenty of picnic tables with BBQs, water taps, a comfort station, a walking trail, a boat launch, and beach access.

You can reserve your daily vehicle permit to guarantee your day-use spot at this park.

Permits can be obtained up to five days in advance.

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Sharbot Lake Provincial Park Beach

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park is home to 2 short stretches of sandy beach on Black Lake. The sand was powdery and well-groomed.

In fact, we noticed that the sand on both beaches was groomed on both days that we visited (Monday to Wednesday).

And what’s great about either beach is that the soft sand leads right into the water.

We spent most of our time at the larger day-use beach since it was closest to our campsite.

While there were swampy patches, we did not need water shoes as most of the swimming area was pretty clear.

The water was clean and clear, and warm enough to swim in.

The best part was that we were able to launch our paddleboards right from the beach, just outside of the roped swimming area.

While this area had seaweed growing about 7 feet from shore, it was plenty of space to get on our boards and head out on the lake.

The smaller beach nearest the showers looked similar with a roped-off swimming area.

I did not notice a spot to launch kayaks or paddleboards, but there were Ontario Parks canoes along the water’s edge.

There are signs at both beach access points warning of no lifeguard on duty. But this is pretty common at all Ontario Parks.

Another thing to be aware of is that dogs are not allowed on the beach at any time.

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What Services Does Sharbot Lake Offer?

Sharbot Lake has all the usual services found at other Ontario Provincial Parks.

Water

There is one sanitation station at Sharbot Lake Provincial Park. It is located a short distance from the main gate.

You will find two water fill stations inside the sanitation loop.

The good thing is that there are two lanes with water fills, as well as a water fill in the centre. So, no need to worry about which side your tank is on!

There is no bypass lane, so you may get stuck waiting for rigs that are dumping.

You will find plenty of 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

Just like with the fill station, there are two dump stations in the sanitation area.

As we mentioned above, you will find two lanes, each with a dump station.

The dump stations are first, followed by the fill stations.

So with only one sanitation area, just expect it to be busy around check-out time.

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Garbage and Recycling

There was a small area just a short drive from the gatehouse with both garbage and recycling bins.

We also had a garbage/recycling area near the bathrooms in the day-use area.

In fact, we noticed that there was a garbage area at many of the vault toilets, which is pretty convenient!

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Wi-Fi

Unlike most Ontario Parks, Sharbot Lake has pretty decent cell reception (there is actually a tower in the park).

This meant that I was able to make phone calls from anywhere in the park, as well as write this blog post while sitting on the beach!!

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Things to Do at Sharbot Lake Provincial Park

1. Enjoy Some Hiking

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park is home to two trails. One was more of a walking trail, while the other was a pretty decent hiking trail.

The Trailhead was a bit tricky to find, as you had to make your way through several windy roads and to the far reaches of the Ridge View Campground.

Just be aware that parking is limited.

This trail loops along the ridge surrounding Black Lake and crosses a couple of marshy areas.

The trail is well-marked except for one area (more on that later).

However, the trail is quite narrow with plenty of rocks and tree roots to make your way over. It is also quite hilly in several areas.

This is not a good trail for anyone with mobility issues, or parents pushing a stroller.

However, it is a good trail for younger kids. In fact, there is a 17-page storybook which follows the entire trail.

The book tells a short story, as well as providing pieces to the Discovery Program Scavenger Hunt, and provides facts about the surrounding flora and fauna.

I thought it was quite an ingenious way to keep kids interested in the hike.

For the adults, the hike has 8 markers to help you along the path. The path has some steep climbs up to about marker 6. After that, it isn’t too bad.

However, just before you hit marker 7, you will find a sign that points to a Lookout in one direction and the trail in the other.

If you follow the path to the lookout, you will come across marker #7. The path becomes quite sketchy at this point with a sharp downward slope. Don’t take this path.

Instead, double back to the sign and go in the direction of the “Trail”. This is the actual hiking path.

If you look closely at the map, you will notice that marker 7 is part of a small loop. It’s not very clear, and I am sure that more than a few people have tried to take the steep route down.

All in all, John and I really enjoyed the hike, which took us 40 minutes to complete, including plenty of stops for photography.

I would definitely recommend wearing good shoes for this trail, and taking a hiking pole if you have one.

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This Trailhead can be found near site #182. You will find a small parking lot and vault toilets near the trailhead.

This trail climbs the ridge that divides Black Lake from Sharbot Lake.

And while the trail is relatively short, we would give it a moderate rating. There is one steep climb, with plenty of rocks and tree roots to step over.

The view from the top is pretty nice, however.

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2. Go for a Boat Ride

You can take small boats out on Sharbot Lake.

And while there is a boat launch area within the park, you can’t leave boats out on the water overnight.

You will even find a parking lot with space to park your boat trailer adjacent to the launch area.

And if you are looking to kayak or canoe, you are in luck! As we mentioned earlier, the Park Store has plenty of rentals available.

You need to be over 16 to rent a canoe, kayak or paddleboard, however.

All rentals come with lifejackets and are available for 2 and 4-hour rental periods.

John and I had our paddleboards with us, so we just launched from the beach.

The lake is pretty still and not very big, making it perfect for younger kids looking to try out some paddling.

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3. Try Your Hand at Fishing

Walleye, bass, Northern Pike, perch and sunfish can be found in both Black and Sharbot Lakes. Lake Trout are found in Sharbot Lake.

You will find a floating dock in the day-use area by the boat launch that is perfect to try your hand at fishing.

And just like some of the other Ontario Parks that we have been to, Sharbot Lake offers a Tackle Share program where you can borrow all kinds of fishing equipment.

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4. Enjoy a Bike Ride

You are welcome to ride your bike on any of the roadways throughout the park and campgrounds.

One thing to keep in mind when deciding to go out for a bike ride is that this park is quite hilly!

This includes both the main road and the smaller campground roads.

While we did have our bikes with us, John and I decided to pass on going for a ride at this park.

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5. Go for a Swim

This park has two pretty nice beaches for swimming.

The only downside is that they are small and will probably get pretty busy during prime summer weekend camping time.

The water is shallow in the first section of the roped-off swimming area, then gets deeper after the first buoy line. The water is clean and really clear.

And as we mentioned earlier, the powdery sand continues from the beach into the swimming area.

We were pretty impressed with how nice the beach at Sharbot Lake was.

We definitely took advantage of the super hot weather to go for a dip between taking the paddleboards out.

The water was the perfect refreshing temperature too!

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6. Take Part in the Discovery Program

From what we can see on the website, a basic Discovery Program is offered at Sharbot Lake.

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

As we mentioned earlier, the Discovery Trail had the Storytime Pages as well as clues for the Park’s Scavenger Hunt.

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Is Sharbot Lake Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Sharbot Lake to be pretty accessible.

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

The Park Store/gatehouse was also barrier-free.

As we mentioned earlier, 2 sites in the Maple Grove Campground are accessible campsites.

While there isn’t a wheelchair mat taking you from the day-use area down to the beach like at Darlington Park, there is a flat gravel path that leads from the roadway directly to the beach.

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Are Pets Allowed at Sharbot Lake?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Sharbot Lake Provincial Park.

Pets are allowed at the campground and on the hiking trails, but must be leashed at all times.

You will even find a small pet beach area next to the boat launch in the Ridge View Campground.

Dogs are not allowed on the other two beaches, however.

Given how far the pet beach is from our Beachfront campsite, during a subsequent visit with our son, he decided to leave Guinness (his dalmatian) at home.

Something to consider, given that the dog beach is nowhere near the regular beaches.

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Is There Winter Camping at Sharbot Lake?

No. The park is not open for winter camping or other winter activities

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FAQs

What is Sharbot Lake known for?

Sharbot Lake is known for its excellent fishing opportunities, scenic camping spots, and access to both Sharbot and Black Lakes, making it a popular destination for outdoor activities like boating and hiking.

Are there bears at Sharbot Lake?

Yes, black bears are a possibility in the Sharbot Lake area. While there haven’t been sightings in recent years, you should take precautions to store food and dispose of waste properly.

Are dogs allowed on Sharbot Lake Beach?

Dogs are not allowed on Sharbot Lake Beach, but they are permitted in other designated areas of Sharbot Lake Provincial Park.

How deep is Sharbot Lake, Ontario?

Sharbot Lake, Ontario, has a maximum depth of approximately 32 meters (105 feet).

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Our Park Rating

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

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Sharbot Lake Provincial Park Camping – Final Thoughts

Sharbot Lake was a wonderful surprise.

For such a small park, it was very well maintained, including the trails, the beach and the washrooms.

We really enjoyed the private campsites, the beautiful forests, the clean lake and the wonderful vibe.

While not the quietest park we have been to, we would totally recommend Sharbot Lake, and we can’t wait to come back for another visit.

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