Algonquin & Beyond

GENERAL INFORMATION

Lake Name: Burnt Island Lake

Number of Campsites: 52

Number of Permits Issued: 43

Closest Access Point: Canoe Lake (#5)

This Report: Campsite #37

Length of Stay: Day Visit

Date Visited: September 2020

Map of campsites on Burnt Island Lake in Algonquin Park, updated for 2024
To purchase your own copy (physical & digital formats), visit Maps By Jeff

Campsite #37 is one of the first campsites you’ll come across when entering Burnt Island Lake from the Canoe Lake access point. It’s located on a tiny island just a few metres east of the 160m portage from Baby Joe Lake. Unfortunately, this means that the campsite sees a lot of people passing by as they enter and leave Burnt Island Lake. Plus, there are two campsites on the one small island, so even in the evening, after all of the canoes are off the water, you may still have neighbours very close by. But if you are ok with the sacrifice of privacy, then this is a very beautiful campsite. The island is filled with lots of open rock to spread out and enjoy the sun, go for a swim, and stargaze in the evening. Even though it’s a small island, there’s plenty of space for a large group to enjoy the site without feeling cramped. There’s good seating around the fire pit and there are plenty of places to pitch a few tents in the surrounding area. The tree coverage throughout the island offers decent protection from the elements; I probably wouldn’t want to ride out a thunderstorm at this campsite, but for some light wind and rain, it shouldn’t be an issue. Since this campsite is very close to the 160m portage, it will often be scooped up quickly by people entering the lake. Especially if it’s a windy day, and/or if they don’t want to venture further into the lake in hopes of finding something better. Aesthetically, this campsite is pretty hard to beat. I’m personally not a fan of many of the campsites on Burnt Island Lake, but privacy concerns aside, this campsite sure is a beauty. If you’re looking for any sense of privacy, this campsite clearly isn’t the right choice. But if you can look past that, this is definitely a campsite worth considering.

CAMPSITE REMINDERS: 
1) Follow Leave No Trace (LNT); leave the campsite in better condition than you found it!
2) The campsite numbering system (for backcountry canoeing) is not official from Ontario Parks. It is a community-based effort for easy referencing.
3) Reservations for backcountry canoeing are lake-specific, not campsite-specific. You do not reserve a specific campsite. Campsites are first-come-first-serve.
4) Only camp on lakes where you have a valid permit; do not camp off-permit.
5) Physical campsite features can change throughout the season (eg. water levels, leaf fall) and due to human intervention (eg. fire pit, seating).
6) To book a reservation, visit the Ontario Parks website: reservations.ontarioparks.com

Algonquin & Beyond is not affiliated with Algonquin Park or Ontario Parks.

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