Voyageur Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

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

Making a reservation to camp at Voyageur 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 Voyageur for July and had no problem getting an awesome pull-through 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.

Voyageur Provincial Park Address:
1313 Front Road, Chute-à-Blondeau, ON, K0B 1B0
https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/voyageur

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Arriving at the Park

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

There’s regular vehicle parking there, plus several longer spots designed for RVs just past the gate.

Those extra-long spaces are a huge help when you’re towing a trailer. I really wish all provincial parks would add them.

While there is a separate Park Store, the gatehouse also sells a small amount of Ontario Parks merch.

We picked up a printed map, and I added a park patch to my collection.

If you need to pick up some ice or firewood, you will need to head to the Park Store for that.

This park also has signs at the entrance indicating alcohol is permitted in all parts of the park.

We timed our arrival for 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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Voyageur Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

While Voyageur is a pretty big park, we had no trouble finding our way around.

There are plenty of clear signs pointing you toward the campgrounds, day-use areas, and key spots throughout the park.

While the main park road was paved, don’t expect a smooth drive! There were a ton of potholes, and the roads were very bumpy and rough.

The campground roads are one-way, fairly narrow, and not paved. They were also not in the best of shape.

We had to drive pretty slowly when towing Nellie, as the bumps were not a lot of fun.

I will admit, however, Fitzroy Provincial Park takes the cake on bumpy roads! Ha!

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Parking

The parking lots we came across were definitely plentiful and a good size for how big the park is. We never had trouble finding space to park.

There were parking lots at the gatehouse, at the comfort stations, at all beaches, at the Park Store, in the day-use area, and at the trailheads.

There were several massive lots in the day-use area, where we even saw some people parking their trailers after check-out time.

This is perfect if you want to enjoy the park a little longer.

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Voyageur Provincial Park Camping

Voyageur Provincial Park supports a good range of camping options.

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

If you prefer something quieter, there are also dog and radio-free campgrounds available.

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.

Voyageur Provincial Park has a whopping 3 main campgrounds: Champlain, Portage and Iroquois.

All in all, Voyageur is home to 421 campsites.

All three campgrounds offer both electric and non-electric sites.

Iroquois Campground B is where you will find both radio-free and dog-free camping.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Group Camping

Voyageur Provincial Park also offers a whopping five group camping sites that are centrally located near the Park Store.

Four of the sites can accommodate up to 100 people, and one site is better suited for groups smaller than 50.

Water taps are within a short distance from each site, and toilets are located at each of the five sites.

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

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Seasonal Camping

Voyageur is also home to 37 Seasonal Campsites.

Although we really didn’t see a designated area where they were located while biking through the park.

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Voyageur, we stayed in the Portage Campground.

Our campsite was a pull-through and absolutely huge! We would have had more than enough room for us to set up our dining tent had we wanted to.

Unfortunately, the day we arrived at the park, it had been raining all day, and our site was absolutely flooded.

We had just enough area on the gravel pad to park Nellie where it wasn’t muddy.

And although the sun was out the next day, the puddles disappeared, but the ground stayed pretty squishy in many spots.

One thing we loved about our site was just how private it was! We could only see the neighbours on one side, and only because we shared the power pedestal.

We could not see or hear people on the other side, or in front of or behind our site. It was definitely one of the best sites we have had in terms of privacy.

Our site was a short distance from the comfort station, so we were able to walk to the showers.

The showers were busy earlier in the evening, so we waited and headed over around 10 pm to skip the long lines.

Our closest water tap was a couple os sites over, so that was also perfect.

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What Amenities Does Voyageur Offer?

Comfort Stations

There are 5 comfort stations with showers in Voyageur Provincial Park.

There are 2 in Champlain, 2 in Iroquois, and one in the Portage Campground.

There is also a Comfort Station with flush toilets (but no showers) in the day-use area.

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

We found the comfort stations to be clean but definitely on the older side. The water was hot, and the pressure in the showers was decent.

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Laundry

A coin laundry is available in three of the comfort stations in the park, one in each campground.

The laundry rooms were on the older side as well.

The one in the Portage Campground had 2 washers (one was out of service) and 2 dryers, plus a laundry sink and a large counter for folding.

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Park Store

As I mentioned earlier, while you could pick up some park merch at the gatehouse, the Park Store was where you could go for other items.

Located right next to the day-use area, the Park Store sold scooped ice cream, fresh coffee (and Iced Coffee), slushies, some grocery items, plenty of camping items if you happen to have forgotten something, ice, firewood, as well as a small selection of Ontario Parks merch.

At one point, the Park Store also sold hot food, but this has recently been discontinued.

John and I enjoyed our iced coffees on the outdoor patio, which had plenty of large trees for shade.

Because the Park Store is located in the day-use area, there is also a comfort station right next door, as well as three HUGE parking lots and the Boat Rental.

Very convenient, if you ask me!

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Visitor’s Centre

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

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Day Use Area

The day-use area at Voygeur is centrally located in the park (next to the Park Store as I mentioned above).

There, you will find plenty of picnic tables, a comfort station, 2 beaches, the Boat Rental and the Park Store.

There were 3 large parking lots located adjacent to the beaches, including a grassy lot perfect for parking your RV.

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 are two ramped launches for boating at Voyageur.

The launch in Champlain Campground is better suited for smaller boats, while the Iroquois/Portage launch can accommodate larger watercraft.

The boat launch areas also had decent-sized parking lots for vehicles and boat trailers.

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Boat Rental

Voyageur offers rental equipment for boating. The small hut can be found at the smaller of the two beaches in the day use area.

There, you can rent canoes and kayaks, as well as a large group barbecue, which can be found in the day-use picnic area.

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Voyageur Provincial Park Beaches

Voyageur Provincial Park is home to four sandy beaches located throughout the campgrounds and park.

There are no lakes at Voyageur. Instead, the park is located on the reservoir of the Carillon Dam, with the Ottawa River portion of the park being wider and more lake-like.

The day-use picnic area has two beaches. One beach is very close to the park store, and the second beach is located near the park boat rental facility.

These beaches were extremely busy during our July visit. That said, there were plenty of picnic tables and parking spots for everyone.

Champlain Campground has a sandy beach that is a short five-minute walk from any of its campsites and a parking lot.

This beach was smaller, but very private and sheltered. While the main beaches had white caps on the water during our stay, the water at this beach was quite calm.

You will only find a vault toilet at this beach.

Iroquois and Portage share a beach that is located in Iroquois Campground. We liked this one best!

Not only was it less busy, but it was also only a short walk from the parking lot, the comfort station, and a playground for the kids.

We found the beach to be nice and sandy, with easy access to the water for our paddle boards.

All beaches in the park have sand as well as marked and buoyed swimming areas.

One thing that we noticed that we have not seen in any other park was a smaller roped-off area, presumably for younger kids. The water was very shallow and sandy in these areas.

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

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What Services Does Voyageur Offer?

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

Water

There is only one water fill station at Voyageur Provincial Park.

You will find it just after the gatehouse, located parallel to the main road before you head to the campgrounds.

While this was convenient, the lane is rather small. Only one RV would be able to fit in that channel at a time.

I’m guessing it could potentially cause a bit of a traffic headache at the 2:00 pm check-in time.

The fill is located on the driver’s side and was not threaded.

John did mention that there was a “Y” joint at the tap, so he was able to connect our own hose to fill our tank.

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 Voyageur Provincial Park.

The dump station is located just after the fill station, on your way to the campgrounds.

You will find a single dump on a single lane through a forested area.

The downside is, we saw quite a few trailers lined up at check-out time waiting to use the dump.

The upside is that, unlike the fill station, the lane at the dump is quite long.

We saw at least three large trailers lined up in the lane, and there was still room after the last one before you reached the main road.

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Garbage and Recycling

You will find a small garbage and recycling area located across the street from the Champlain Campground.

A second, larger garbage area can be found right before you enter the Iroquois and Portage Campgrounds.

In both areas, you’ll find multiple garbage containers, mixed recycling bins, and designated spots for small empty propane canisters.

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Wi-Fi

If you need to stay connected during your time at Voyageur Provincial Park, cell service is not too bad.

Within our campground, I was able to get enough service to text and call. I was also able to write this blog post as well as get some other work done.

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Things to Do at Voyageur Provincial Park

Voyageur Provincial Park is an awesome place for outdoor recreation. We had no trouble keeping busy (and active) during our stay.

1. Go for a Bike Ride

While there are no designated biking trails at Voyageur, you can ride on the park roads pretty easily.

Of course, there are a few hills, and the non-paved roads to the campgrounds were a little rough in some spots, but all in all, it was doable!

The main campground road was also a bit rough (as we mentioned) with pot holes and cracking pavement.

John and I spent 3 hours exploring the entire park on our bikes, starting from the entrance, through all three campgrounds, the day use area, and of course, all the beaches.

While we had a fantastic time riding through the park, we would not recommend doing this with young kids in tow.

The main park roads are not that wide, so I wouldn’t feel safe with littles riding there. Within the campgrounds wouldn’t be bad, however.

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2. Enjoy a Paddle

One thing John and I always look forward to when we’re camping is paddleboarding. And Voyageur was no different.

Our first day in the park was a little too windy for us to take our boards out, as the river actually had whitecaps on it!

Just keep that in mind if you are headed out with kids!

The park has many small bays and inlets where you can explore and view wildlife, so we were pretty excited to get out on our second day.

We chose to head to the beach in our campground, as the water looked like it was a bit more sheltered than at the main beaches.

If you didn’t bring along your own, the Boat Rental kiosk rents out canoes or kayaks, along with lifejackets.

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3. Take the Plunge

While I prefer to swim in a lake vs a river, Voyageur is still a pretty nice place to take a dip!

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

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

And as I mentioned earlier, there is actually a smaller roped off section within the larger swimming area perfect for younger kids.

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

We also liked that all the campgrounds have access to a beach, usually just a short walk (or in our case drive) from your campsite.

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4. Take Part in the Discovery Program

During the summer months, the park runs a full schedule of educational programs designed to deepen your connection with nature or sharpen your outdoor skills!

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

Of course, you can also pick up a Discovery Activity Book and explore on your own!

We came across the park staff at one of the trailheads. They had a huge flag with Kip the mascot on it, which immediately caught our attention.

Our youngest daughter owns a Kip plushie, which just so happens to be her favourite travel companion!

The staff had a table set up with all kinds of interesting treasures, colouring pages, and Kip buttons.

Be sure to check out the displays when you see the park staff out and about!

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5. Try Your Hand at Fishing

For anyone who loves fishing, Voyageur Provincial Park is the perfect place to partake in both the spring and summer months.

In the spring, fishing for catfish and barbotte (bullhead) is a popular local activity.

In the summer, bass, pike, perch and walleye are the most abundant and most sought after game fish.

And if you don’t have a boat, don’t fret! Fishing from shore for panfish is fun for everyone both young and young at heart.

If you forgot to bring along your gear, the Park Store sells fishing tackle and worms during the spring and summer.

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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 (and hear) while camping.

Voyageur’s varied habitats make it a great location to see a pretty diverse selection of bird species.

In the spring and fall, the extensive marshland along the park’s north shore is an excellent staging ground for migrating waterfowl like Canada Geese and Snow Geese.

Osprey, Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons are also regularly seen in the park.

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7. Enjoy a Hike

Voyageur Provincial Park is home to 3 hiking trails. The trails were quite nice, but were definitely on the easy side compared to other parks we have visited.

We didn’t have time to hike all three trails, but we did manage to explore two of them and really enjoyed both.

The trailheads are spread out across the park and clearly marked with large signs, so they’re easy to find.

There are also decent-sized parking lots adjacent to the trailheads.

John and I really enjoyed this short trail, which takes you through a variety of habitats.

An observation point, located 300 m from the trailhead, offers a scenic overlook of Iroquois Bay (somehow we missed this!).

John and I were able to hike this trail in about 45 minutes, going at a decent pace.

The trail is mostly wide and quite clean, with few rocks or tree roots to trip over.

I think the trail is rated as moderate because there were a few steeper inclines. Nothing too crazy, though, especially since the terrain was easy to trek across.

Just be sure to bathe in bug spray before you head out! It was not fun!

There is parking directly across the street from the trailhead at the Garbage area for the Iroquois/Portage Campgrounds.

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This trail follows the shoreline of Iroquois Bay, offering scenic viewpoints along the way.

It features several spots ideal for birdwatching and fishing.

Because the terrain is mostly flat, this is a great trail to hike with younger kids.

You will find a parking lot right at the trailhead.

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More of a walking trail than a hiking trail, the Coureur des Bois winds through several terrestrial and aquatic habitats found in the park.

There are even several interpretive plaques located at spots of interest along the trail.

A second section of this walking trail links Champlain Campground to the day use area.

It is linear and is easy to navigate. A one-way trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes at a leisurely pace.

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8. Enjoy some winter activities

If you love being outside during the winter, then Voyageur is the perfect place to spend the day.

From mid-December to mid-March, the park operates and maintains a 10 km groomed and track-set cross-country ski trail. Trail lengths are arranged in 3 km, 7 km and 10 km loops.

The terrain is relatively flat and is perfect for beginner to intermediate level skiers.

If you prefer snowshoes to skis, you are also welcome to explore any sections in the park. Just keep in mind, you are not permitted on the ski trails.

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Is Voyageur Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Voyageur to be pretty accessible.

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

The Park Store also had a ramp that was meant to be barrier-free, but might be a touch difficult to manage if you are in a wheelchair.

We didn’t, however, notice any beaches with accessibility mats or see any signs saying that beach wheelchairs were available to rent.

During our walks through the campgrounds, we also did not notice any sites that were designated barrier-free campsites.

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Are Pets Allowed at Voyageur?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Voyageur Provincial Park.

Pets are allowed at the campground (except, of course, the Dog-Free camping area) and in the day-use area, but must be leashed at all times.

You will find two pet beaches in the park.

One is located in the day-use area closest to the Boat Rental. The second is located at the Iroquois/Portage Campground beach.

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

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Is There Winter Camping at Voyageur?

Voyageur does not offer winter camping.

However, as we mentioned above, the park does offer some activities for the winter season.

You can cross-country ski on a variety of groomed trails or even snowshoe in most areas of the 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

We had a pretty nice time at Voyageur Provincial Park and wouldn’t hesitate to visit again if we were out this way.

We loved the private wooded campsites and spending time on the hiking trails. If you enjoy being outside and keeping busy at camp, this park has a lot to offer.

Our only regret was not being able to take full advantage of our awesome site, due to the rain flooding a big part of it.

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