S06E10 Woodlands Campground Review, Parks of the St. Lawrence

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We found that the cell service for Bell, Telus, Koodo and Virgin Mobile was top notch. No issues. Please add a comment if you're with another cell service provider and can provide some insight.

[@dappergander]

As a local, I've enjoyed your series on the Parks of the St Lawrence. As far as the cell service, most cell towers are up by the 401. The two closest Bell towers are east of Long Sault (not far from the Brewery) and west of Ingleside. The Rogers tower is directly north of the village of Long Sault. Disable roaming as AT&T comes in strong from the US. For those that don't bring there own boats, a local family operates a kayak rental on Mille Roches Beach. They rent 1P & 2P kayaks, canoes and SUPs.

[@cwqrpportable]

Another great video folks! We camped at Ivy Lea 3 yrs ago, part of the Parks of St. Lawrence and our experience was so so; I guess we're Prov Park folk. The constant noise from the international bridge was annoying and it was pretty much a party scene. However, in fairness, there were some good aspects. We want to try the campground you stayed at and hope we have better luck booking next year. We just returned from Fitzroy Prov Park last week and were pleasantly surprised. Our main purpose for that part of the province was to bike the Rideau Canal near Ottawa. We parked in a downtown Ottawa parking garage on a Sunday, paid $5 for parking and biked right out of the garage on to the street and 5 mins to the bike path along the Rideau..It was a blast, despite the 32c and brutal humidity. I towed a dog trailer behind my bike for our 5 month old Boxer. Ottawa is a great city to bike!

[@lyndagodin3712]

Love this! The parks are very different from provincial parks, but offer so much nature and history. What a great video and appreciate that you included the history of the Lost Villages. The "sunken road" you pointed out is actually the old Hwy. 2, which is interesting to see from the air, especially on Google Maps. This area is like a forgotten gem in Eastern Ontario that many people bypass. We moved from Toronto 35 years ago, and never looked back. Can't wait to see your reviews of the other two parks! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures.

[@TheStuff0909]

I camp at Milles Roche several times a year. If you look at the map of the parkway, in the middle of the water you will see an island called Whales island. Just north of it is the ruins of the lost village of Whales. You can kayak out and walk around the foundations of the site of the old town.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We'll, there's another reason we have for going back and trying out other campgrounds of the Parks of the St Lawrence.

[@Chriskiller27]

Great video! I wish I had subscribe and watch your video before. Camping for us is a family tradition now. It only stopped when lockdown happen. Our lst camping was 2019. We had camping recently at Balsam Lake and your video is very helpful and informative. Thank you and I cant wait for more camping video. ❤️😁

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We're glad you found us. We have lots more camping videos coming up. Stay tuned.

[@shawnsprague7401]

Ben you need to ask yourself what the drive on the 407 was worth to you before you get the bill. I think the pain of driving on the 401 is worth the cost 😅. Great video looking forward to seeing the next ones.

[@cwqrpportable]

Agreed....... when towing, we take the 407 instead of the 401 whenever we can.

[@lcouture8317]

For biking, there is the Waterfront Trail. The Long Sault Parkway is part of the trail.

[@thercguy]

Loved this video .That's on our list for sure . We love our Breweries and flites And I would pick exactly what Ben ordered.. Sour??..no!! Lol But loved your reactions.. Tip for ya.. If you are unsure you can usually ask for a taste.. Our new favorite brewery is The Foundry in Cambridge.. (Close to home for you) Cheryl you should try the "Sour not Sour".. It's very good and not sour at all..And also doesn't taste like beer Thanks for the review..looking forward to the next campsites reviews Happy Camping

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@thercguy thanks for the tip

[@mary-lynnberti7081]

I loved all of the sweet Jax content this week! So nice to see this part of Canada! Thanks.😊

[@lydiapostma6380]

Great video review. We went to McClaren last summer, so looking forward to your review from there. These parks are not like a typical provincial park, but still lovely. I do enjoy all the grass underfoot. It’s nice and clean.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@lydiapostma6380 we agree it's not like a typical provincial park but it's still a great place to go.

[@christinebelair4152]

Great video! Long Sault area is a beautiful place for cycling safely. There is a lovely bike path from Chrysler Campground (near Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary Campground) to Cornwall, along the St-Laurent River. You can also cycle along Long Sault islands and have a lunch at one of the picnic areas. You will find chemical toilets here and there.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@christinebelair4152 we explore more cycling fun in the upcoming videos of the Parks of the St Lawrence. Great area for cycling!

[@benoitveilleux6594]

You are so right! People come from all over to cycle here! Love that we can bike from all campgrounds to Cornwall or further east, or bike to walking trails at Brid Sanctuary or to Upper Canada Village. We love these parks, and the views are stunning!

[@RVingveterans]

Love the parks also when we were there. interesting they ran out of TP a lot when we were there. Great video with great information.

[@SamBarge1]

This is a great video. It's cool to see different camping sites/opportunities. It was eye-opening last year when we went on an extended trip with the trailer and we stayed at trailer parks with full service but no trees, since we tend to stick to Ontario parks as well.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We have our favourite things to do but we like trying different things too. The parks of the St. Lawrence is different but we had a great time.

[@dominiqueroy1495]

407 is the way to go! We find the peace of mind worth the price, but then we don't travel to Southern Ontario much, so it's only a sometimes expense. Glad you enjoyed the area!

[@patriciadelorme9006]

Enjoyed the video. The museum and history behind this park is interesting. I love private sites. I don’t like being in the open, however sight of the beach and water is wonderful. I vote 7 1/8!!!! Enjoy the camping!!! Camping 1st, videos 2nd.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lisam7036]

Thanks for the review. Not a park my husband and I usually go to but it looks like one we would like to check out.

[@donmcconnery5080]

We were there last year and I was surprised at how nice it was after going by on the 401 countless times during my 25 year trucking career

[@atk1da]

We use it all the time, so worth the cost. In fact the park host at Bon Echo(Bob and Lynn) use it too. They drive from the London area to the park. From Burlington to the 115 and back same route, approx 95 $. Still with it

[@fredshoney6458]

The cost of the 407 varies depending on the time of day. It costs more at peak hours. When you calculate the cost, don't forget to factor in all the gas you would have used idling in the 401 traffic! ❤ Love your channel

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@fredshoney6458 I haven't received the bill yet. We'll see what happens. Thanks for the info.

[@brucelittlejohn2882]

Regarding the 407. Their website has a toll calculator. I'm guessing you entered the 407 at the 401 and exited at 418 between 7 am and 9.30 am. The trip with transponder would cost $56.83. Without a transponder, it is $61.03. If you don't have an account, your trailer may get a separate bill as well. If you have an account, you can link your trailer to your truck, and there will be no extra charges for the trailer. It's a very expensive road but saves a lot of time. We have actually found a more expensive toll road this spring. I-77 express in Charlotte, NC. It was about $30 for 20 miles, even with EZ-pass.

[@michellec8322]

Thank you for your excellent review! We were looking for a place to camp early season and after your mention of Parks of the St. Lawrence, we reserved at Farran Park Campground and we loved it! We agree about the wide open sites, we like more wooded sites; but loved the view, and being right on the Waterfront Trail! We can't wait to see your reviews of the other two parks of the St. Lawrence when you post them!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@michellec8322 we road our bikes through Farran. It looked nice. Great beach! We'll show some of it in one of the next two videos.

[@barbgilbart7945]

Another great video!Thanks! FYI. We put used the "Jack-It" bike rack. It is a sturdy option to the bouncing back rack, however, It is a bit challenging to place the rear bike! We are older than you both and found standing on the tail gate a bit easier, or lower the Jack so you don't have to lift it up too high!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@barbgilbart7945 yeah the back bike can be a bit challenging requiring some twisting of the back while holding the bike over your head. Good tip to lower the jack.

[@thody61]

We love your videos we noticed you playing in some dice poker do know if theres any videos on how to play it can't find any on utube we never played poker before is it very hard to play? thanks

[@itsshanmarie]

Thank you for your review! PSL has been on my radar for a bit now, my mother grew up in the area but we never really explored the touristy areas in my childhood and I am now trying to get caught up as an adult. I am a hobbyist bird photographer so I am really looking forward to your review of the bird sanctuary campground, I am hoping to plan a visit there next year! I've also heard that the Long Sault Parkway is STUNNING during the fall. It's another bucket list to visit during peak fall colours.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@itsshanmarie it's funny how we often don't explore our own backyard. It's good that you're doing it now as an adult. The Long Sault Pkwy was stunning in summer. Seeing it in fall would be amazing.

[@JillBoyd-r4j]

Hey great video info as always. Funny watching with my mom and talking bathrooms at my recent MacGregor Point visit. I had to get my husband to bike with me to the washroom one time as they didn't have bike racks to lock it up (folding bike a little more expensive I prefer to lock in public). Any chance you would add bike rack info to your Loo review lol? Thx Cheryl 😁

[@mat-tee-bee]

My family and I have loved watching your videos for years now. You've been so helpful for our own camping adventures and we really appreciate it. One question I had: In creating such detailed reviews, does camping become more of a job? I'm sure its a labor of love but does it change the way you approach camping compared to before the channel? Just curiosity.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That's a great question. Camping has definitely changed for us since doing reviews. We are way more active now and we explore so much more. Before we did videos we usually went to the same few parks year after year and went from our campground to the beach or to the water to kayak or paddleboard but we didn't really explore much of the campground. We also didn't do much exploring outside of the campground. Now I do a lot of research before going to each park so we have a good idea what we want to do when we get there. We have routine when we arrive. We go like a whirlwind to get a lot of the standard footage done so we can get it out of the way. We are always looking for things to do to provide better content for the videos which means we do so much more than we used to and explore so much more. Having the KZbin channel has made camping MORE enjoyable for us. We've been to just about every provincial park south of Algonquin and quite a few north. We experience so much more now. We still find time to chill, play games and relax and that too is also more enjoyable because we appreciate having the time to do it. We also get recognized a lot in the parks now so we spend time chatting with people as we move around. We enjoy that and encourage people to say hi when they see us. People are pretty good about it and don't intrude too much. Thanks for watching our videos. If you see us out there, don't hesitate to say hi.

[@mat-tee-bee]

@@CampingwiththeColes Fantastic! Thanks for the reply!

[@michaelferguson7880]

Greetings from Mont Orford National Park in Quebec. I'm a descendant of a Lost Villages 'victim' and my grandfather used to work at Upper Canada Village. Hope you got the homemade bread there!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@michaelferguson7880 we got the grilled cheese sandwich with the bread and cheese made there. It was great!

[@louannekeast8575]

We stayed at Woodlands last summer on our way to Nova Scotia. Our site was at the top of the hill so at least there was no one behind us. We had a big site which was great but as you say everything was very open. We enjoyed the area but not the type of park we are use to. The dump station services Woodlands and Mcklaren and we saw the huge line ups with trailers parked on the road waiting. We were lucky as we left on a weekday. Great pizza place near by. We also stayed at Farran on our way back home, small sites and again very open. It had a few bigger sites that were more private but the one we had booked was full of dog duty so we had to ask for a new site.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@louannekeast8575 it's a shame that people wouldn't clean up after their pets. We were lucky that there was no waiting at the dump station on the Monday we were there.

[@OutdoorAdventurer]

Jax was definitely the star of this episode hahaha. Made me laugh when he jumped in the water and then you hear ben go woah and then Ben's in the water too haha.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@OutdoorAdventurer Jax is getting more books on the water. From the SUP he used to just slip in the water, which allowed me to maintain my balance. Now he's doing a big jump off and causing me to fall. I like how much he likes the water though.

[@johnstonejame]

What type of paddle board is Ben using I’m just starting out but I’m having a heck of a time balancing and not falling off thanks love the videos

[@CampingwiththeColes]

I have a Jimmy Styks 11 foot paddleboard. It's an old one that they don't make anymore that I originally got from Costco. Longer and wider is easiest for balancing on a SUP. It takes some time to get the hang of it. The first few times my feet ached from flexing them constantly trying to balance. It'll come with time. Keep it up.

[@scottanderson2980]

Nothing can beat Cheryls lou review with out that i wont watch theses vlogs lolo

[@PaulEberhardCanada]

Stay strong Ben. It looked to have some redeemable qualities but no way was it a 7.5

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks. Cheryl is usually a lot more generous than I am.

[@XanderTheElf]

Met you two at the Awenda park store. The best place which has the best chance for a provincial park feel is Milles Roche in my opinion......Woodlands does have some private provincial park feel type spots if you take the road left right after the registration building), but Milles Roche is in my opinion the best island to camp on.. Lots of waterfront sites, many of them have been newly fixed up and are quite nice.. Also, for those that don't know.. there is a local guy you can rent a canoe from for 24 hours for 40 dollars.. It might be a bit more then that now.. He will drop off the canoe and pick it up for you.. He operates at the Milles Roche beach but can also be called via a number in the park stores(registration buildings). Often, during the week especially(even in high season), it almost feels as if you have the campgrounds to yourself at Milles Roche. You have more options for private spots if you are tent camping or have a small trailer and don't care about electricity. For the Ottawa area, it is a great park to go to for short drive. Hoople island is nice as well. it is a large island with only 8 spots on it(there used to only be 4 spots on it). If you are lucky, you can sometimes get the entire island to yourself. There is no comfort station on that island, just an outhouse, but you can drive to a comfort station if you like.. You will often see trailers or RV's on it, but there is no electric hookups.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@XanderTheElf thanks for all the info. We are newbies to these parks.

[@donmcconnery5080]

I was at the pharmacy the other day and was wearing a Camping with the Coles tee and the cashier noticed it.She said she watches every week and met you at the Rv show.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

That's awesome! We have a small but dedicated following.

[@Fatfishing]

I suggest you going to fushimi lake provincial park it’s a bit of a trek but it has a beautiful fire tower trail and beach!

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@alexkoeslag5699]

The 407 is much more then cost...it's main benefit is SAFETY !! What price do you put on that ? The 401 across the GTA is just simply nuts !! Always enjoy your videos...remember...Killbear is a crappy park 😂😂😂

[@CampingwiththeColes]

Still haven't received a bill to see how much it cost. And oh yeah...Killbear sucks...2 out of 10!😜

[@muzakmike]

When you guys book with other couples, does one person book all the sites, or do you all book separately?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@muzakmike we all book separately. We talk a couple of days in advance to decide what sites each of us will try for. Each couple will try for two sites in the hopes of getting one. At the time of booking (5 months before arrival date) just after 7 am we call or message each other to see how we made out. If we each got one we book it. If one couple got two and the other couple got none we book the two by sharing our credit card info. If one couple got one and the other got nothing, we decide if we're going to try for another park or if we book the one and the other couple wait for cancellations down the road.

[@cathyhutchins5045]

Going to Kap Kig Iwan next week, not the park for you. No paddle boarding, no real trails, but 5 water falls. Keep having fun.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

We have our favourite things to do but we always like trying something different. Kap Kig Iwan is on our list of places to camp still.

[@robhheinbecker850]

Great video as always. Thank you. Just curious about the parks of the St. Lawrence. They are not provincial or Federal parks. Are they considered Conservation parks or something entirely different? Also, just curious, do you guys collect the provincial park stickers?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@robhheinbecker850 Parks of the St. Lawrence is run by the St Lawrence Parks commission which is overseen by the Ministry of Tourism. Ontario Parks is overseen by the Ministry of Environment. Parks of the St Lawrence don't fall under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. They are more like a private park. We don't collect the stickers and I actually don't know why we didn't collect them.

[@jozeepare9616]

Going to Woodlands at the end of August with our dog. On which beach area are the dogs allow to swim ? Is it very clean for us too ? Thank you for this review!😊 😊

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@jozeepare9616 unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the beaches. We went to an empty waterfront site to let Jax swim from shore. We also took him out on the paddle board to let him swim from that out in the river.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@jozeepare9616 oh yeah and the water is mostly clean and clear.

[@jozeepare9616]

@@CampingwiththeColes Shall do the same then ! 😉 But the again, our site #160 should right in front of the water so ....

[@ottawa875]

When talking about Cell Phone service, make sure roaming is OFF or you may pick up AT&T from the USA.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@ottawa875 yes, very good tip!

[@Nicky_Brens]

Hey when will you guys be in Restoule!?

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@Nicky_Brens middle of the month. We're looking forward to going back.

[@HeinzPeekhaus]

407 cost lots but worth i

[@denisemckiver69]

Sturgeon are endangered in this region thus protected and illegal to fish for except possibly the by the indigenous people of the area.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@denisemckiver69 thanks for the info

[@jimloth6091]

I don't think this park is for us - we prefer the privacy of Provincial Parks. General question though - is anyone else having an extra-bad time with mice this year? I've caught 3 in the past two days (live traps).

[@CampingwiththeColes]

@@jimloth6091 we haven't seen any mice....yet

[@br31000]

We practically live at these campsites. You picked a very busy corner, tight to park If you had site 161, you’d have lots of room, privacy, shade and water access right there for kayaking. To say no bike trails ? You’re on the trail 1 km to west is beautiful trail, paved, along river all the way to Upper Canada Village Go east to long Sault and access that all the way to Cornwall. These are some of the best trails anywhere, hands down. You could have biked to Lost Villages and Brewery. I’m not understanding how you missed the best trail ever ? I’ve just came back from Algonquin Pog and Rock lake I had 112 on beach in Pog. Traffic, trucks parked blocking the road, people up all night at beach, dogs barking. We had to drive back in highway just to get water. Then again in line for hours to dump. You gave that like a 9.5 People that never went there are getting the wrong impression. You missed a critical part of that campsite. I hope you get to actually enjoy that bike trail on next episode.

[@CampingwiththeColes]

An opinion of a park can really be made because of how good the campsite is. We enjoyed Woodlands campground and liked our location. We looked around and saw that most sites were very open with little privacy. We rode our bikes on the side of the road of the Long Sault Pkwy checking out some of the island. We didn't go on the waterfront trail until we were at UCMBS. It's a great trail. I love how you can get around to many great places on it. Where you were at Pog is what I would consider the worst campsites of the entire campground. If you get up to 120, 126 etc you get great waterfront sites with private access to the water and a sunset view. Also a bike trail right from the campground. Being part of Algonquin Park you get to do everything Algonquin has: visitor center, logging museum, Art Center, incredible trails and tons of lakes to paddle in. Check out our next two videos next week and the week after as we do more in and around the area. Happy camping.