Welcome to the lakes of Killarney Provincial Park! Here, I will describe the lakes that I have been to in Killarney in this five part series.
Grey Lake
This lake feels super remote and is one short muddy portage away from the Bell access point. It is worth a visit and is a good starting point before heading deeper into the back country. Bring your earplugs because there are plenty of frogs that can keep you up at night singing! Access from car 4/5, views 1/5, remoteness 4/5, pretty lake 3/5, paddling ease 4/5, wildlife viewing 3/5, camp sites 3/5, beginner friendly 4/5.
Bell Lake
This lake hosts the access point and parking. Since it is so far from the main park office on George Lake, you can check in here to get your parking permit and registration slip. After driving up from London, I like to camp on Bell the first night. I can usually get to my site by dinner time and have everything set up well before dark. It can get a little busy on Bell since it is so close to vehicle access, but it’s a pretty lake with some of the best moon views I’ve had. You don’t see the La Cloche Mountain Range from Bell, but it is picturesque as far as water, trees, and sky views go. Access from car 5/5, views 3/5, remoteness 1/5, pretty lake 4/5, paddling ease 4/5, wildlife viewing 3/5, camp sites 4/5, beginner friendly 5/5.
Three Mile Lake
This lake is attached to Bell so it feels like the same lake. There are only two sites on the lake so it feels a little more remote than Bell and you should see less traffic. Access from car 5/5, views 2/5, remoteness 2/5, pretty lake 3/5, paddling ease 4/5, wildlife viewing 3/5, camp sites 4/5, beginner friendly 5/5.
Balsam Lake
This is a super pretty lake! It’s a little more difficult to get to since there is a tiny portage, but it is quite picturesque and has more wildlife present. You do see more people fishing here than other lakes (some lakes do not allow fishing). There are plenty of sites to choose from and in my opinion it’s a very family friendly place to camp. There are island sites, fishing, good swimming and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore by canoe. It’s relatively calm water as there is not as much big open water. I’ve seen nesting loons here, lots of beaver activity, heard owls, caught fish, and there are cool marshy areas to explore. Access from car 4/5, views 3/5, remoteness 3/5, pretty lake 5/5, paddling ease 4/5, wildlife viewing 4/5, camp sites 5/5, beginner friendly 5/5.
Little Bell Lake
This is a cute lake. With only one site, you get the whole thing to yourself. It feels majorly remote and is accessible by one short but muddy portage. I don’t stay here on my solo trips because it feels too remote for me, but if you are with a group it would be perfect. Access from car 3/5, views 3/5, remoteness 5/5, pretty lake 3/5, paddling ease 4/5, wildlife viewing 3/5, camp sites 4/5, beginner friendly 3/5.
Chain Lake
This is not accessible by official means – but people still paddle here. The portage is not maintained, but with some creative bushwhacking, people do it. I was staying on Bell Lake last year and heard all sorts of noise and voices coming from the bush for an hour – then suddenly a couple of canoes of people and gear poured out onto Bell Lake. They clearly had just come from Chain Lake. My Bell campsite was right beside the old portage. Access from car 1/5, views 3/5, remoteness 5/5, pretty lake 4/5, paddling ease 4/5, wildlife viewing 3/5, camp sites 0/5, beginner friendly 0/5.
My recommendation for a beginner trip from Bell lake access
- Bell Lake: Arrive at the Bell Lake access point about 3-4 hours before sunset. Check in at the small Bell Lake park office. For the first night, stay at any site. They are all no more than a 40 minute paddle from the access beach.
- Grey Lake: This will give you a taste of what a portage is like and is forgiving enough to allow you to take two or three trips to get your stuff to the lake. Enjoy the quiet remoteness!
- Balsam Lake: Balsam is two portages away from Grey Lake and the second portage is only about 20 – 30 m long. You could easily spend a few days here. Balsam Lake will feel like backcountry heaven as it has plenty of wildlife, fishing, and is one of the prettiest lakes that are closest to the access point. You can paddle around Balsam (lots to explore by canoe!) and paddle up to the portages to other lakes such as Deacon, Fox, and Harry Lakes to see if they are lakes worth considering for your next trip. You may also want to explore the portage to David Lake and consider adding David to your next trip.
Enjoy your first trip to Killarney!
Feel free to reach out to me to ask questions specific to your skill level and trip planning. I’d be happy to help! – Wendy
If you want super detailed info about portages, here is an awesome resource from Killarney Outfitters.