Shirley Lake – Campsite #3

When I first arrived at this site I wasn’t sure if I should love it or hate it. It’s very large, open, and spacious, which are all things that I love. It also has a very accessible beach landing… another +1. The fire pit and seating get neutral points here, maybe slightly above average…. let’s call it a +0.5. There’s also enough flat ground to pitch 10 tents, not that you’d ever need that much space. BUT, and it’s a big “but”, the whole campsite had a root fire beneath it at some point. Almost all of the trees are black at the base and the bottom half of the trees are dead. A ton have fallen over, and most of the fallen trees have been chopped to the stump for firewood. This explains why the site is so open and spacious. So it definitely ruins the aesthetic of the site, although on the plus side it means unlimited firewood directly at the site. You also need to look upwards and be cautious of widowmakers. Lastly, the thunder box is right in the middle of the site. Like, completely in view from everywhere. For most groups this would be annoying, but since I was there solo, it was actually super convenient!