Restoule Provincial Park: Video Review

Are you considering planning a trip to camp at Restoule Provincial Park?

After seeing this provincial park being recommended time and time again in our Facebook group, we decided it was time to give it a try!

Located between Restoule Lake and Stormy Lake, the park is an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy water-related activities, including swimming (3 beaches, 1 dog-friendly), canoeing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, or boating in general. It’s also a great fishing spot! There’s even an off-leash dog area with their own dedicated puppy beach.

The park has 3 car camping campgrounds – Kettle Point, Putts Point, and Bells Point. In addition to standard electrical and non-electrical campsites, Restoule PP also offers 10 walk-in sites, 2 group camping sites, and 12 paddle-in backcountry sites.

We spent 5 days (4 nights) at this beautiful park to find out just how dog-friendly the experience would be. Spoiler: We’re already planning a return trip.

In this video, we’ll share our experience at Restoule PP. Plus, we’ll discuss tips for setting your campsite up for privacy with a reactive dog in mind and the benefits of muzzling for reactive dogs, including our go-to muzzle, the Adventurer from Mia’s Muzzles!

This video is part of The Kas Pack’s Ontario Parks Reviews series. CLICK HERE to visit our YouTube channel and subscribe to get notifications when new parks are added.

This review includes a collaboration with Mia’s Muzzles, but the opinions shared about the product are all our own. See our full disclosure policy for more details.

John: Oh! That felt good…

OUR CAMPSITE (1:13)

Britt: Alright, we are here and getting set up. We are at Restoule. We will be here for five days four nights.

We’re in site 13, which is in the Bell’s… Bell’s Putt Campground? Bell’s… Bell’s Point Campground.

There you go!

So, we’re in the Bell’s Point Campground, and as you can see, John is getting set up here with our chairs and our table. The tents are set up, and the pups have their pen, so they are happy.

And we are planning on having just a very relaxing first evening, seeing as we literally went from one place to the next, and now it’s finally time to chill.

CAMPSITE TIPS FOR A REACTIVE DOG (1:55)

Britt: So, one of the catches when you’re camping with a reactive dog is that privacy isn’t always the best on campsites that you see in, like a Provincial Park setting.

So, we’re here at Restoule, we’re on campsite 13, and as you can see, like the whole front of it to the road is wide open. We’ve got a kid across the road. The bathrooms are right there.

There’s a lot of reasons for him to be reacting.

So, what we’ve done, and the first tip that I will share for anybody who is looking for a way to make this work, is we’ve created a boundary using the tents.

Now, if I come out here and I show it from the back, you’ll see we’ve got the privacy panels over on the Kuma and we’ve got the tent. It creates, essentially, a barrier that’s going to stop anybody from being able to see in, but it also stops him from seeing out.

So, he is safely tucked away back in here, where those triggers are minimized as much as possible to set him up for success.

Right, bud?

AROUND THE CAMPSITE (2:58)

John: Hello, and welcome to cooking with John. Just to let you know, before you start your fire, you may have to marinate your provincial park firewood in the sun. Rotate as needed.

Somebody’s in their happy place. Smile!

Britt: I think someone’s liking the scritches. Look at that face of happiness.

You’re a good girl, Willow!

John: She done.

FIRE TOWER TRAIL (3:56)

Britt: Alright, and we are here to check out the iconic Fire Tower Trail. This is the #1 trail here at Restoule.

But, of course, first – we’ve gotta clean our boots off before we hit it.

The one thing that’s a little different on this trip from our usual hiking trips is that Lucifer, little man here, is wearing a muzzle.

Now, there’s two reasons for this.

Number one, this is his new muzzle from Mia’s Muzzles. It’s a custom muzzle just specifically to fit him. And we want him to get used to wearing it.

Number two, because this trail is so popular, there’s a higher chance we’re going to run into other people and it’s just a safety precaution given he is reactive.

MIA’S MUZZLES ADVENTURER MUZZLE (6:10)

Britt: Now, I just wanted to take a quick minute and talk a little bit more about the muzzle here I mentioned earlier that he is wearing.

And a shoutout to Mia’s Muzzles. She is an Ontario-based custom dog gear company who makes these custom vinyl muzzles. They are incredible!

This one, in particular, is her new Adventurer line, which means that they have even more holes for ventilation to ensure that he can breathe.

He’s got the open nose hole so he can sniff all the sniffs cause he loves sniffing the sniffs.

Of course, he has a treat hole because how else am I going to give him his Charlee Bears when we’re on the trail?

And it’s all done in his signature red. I also got the optional buckle just to make it easier to put it on and off.

But he doesn’t mind wearing it at all. It’s comfortable for him and it gives that added layer of protection.

Being that he is reactive to men, there is a case that, you know, if we’re on a trail like this, you get into a very narrow part of the trail, and he’s going to have to pass really close to a man that he may not like being close to.

So, this is just a little added security for all of us.

But, shout out one more time to Mia from Mia’s Muzzles.

We are so excited to be partnering up with her to help kinda spread the word and break some of the stigma about muzzling dogs and reactive dogs. Because they are incredible pups!

They are good dogs too. They deserve all the love and all of the adventures.

So, we are going to help spread that word. Eh, Lucifer?

I’ll drop her link in the description below.

PUPPIES AT THE CAMPSITE (8:56)

Britt: It’s an easy supper tonight, but apparently, Lucifer thinks he should have some, too.

Willow, shh, sweet girl. No.

She’s adjusting well to being in a provincial park but definitely needing a little extra encouragement.

But little man here is setting a good example. He thinks that means he should get something. Oh, the head tilt is strong in that one. Eh, Goose?

RANGER’S POINT TRAIL (9:39)

Britt: Alright, let’s head out on the Ranger’s Point Trail.

We got the heads up about this one from one of our community members, and she said that there are some absolutely beautiful views for these guys to check out. So, let’s get going.

Good boy! Are you a happy boy? Hi!

John: Now, if you look all the way back there, I’ll zoom in with the camera. You can see the Fire Tower. That’s the trail we did last night.

Way up there.

OFF-LEASH DOG EXERCISE AREA (11:36)

John: Just reached Angel’s Point Trail, where the off-leash is at. So, Willow and I are going to check that out. And maybe Goose and Britt will join us.

Alright, so we just reached the off-leash area. Looks pretty big. But also, please clean up after your pet.

Willow is off right now. Just waiting for Britt and Luc to come.

But just a little quick tour of the off-leash area. Looks like there’s a little bit of a dog beach for these guys. A picnic table for you and the fam.

Come down here, and this is a little play area for them. Not bad!

Now the fence does go to the end, but it looks like it’s seen better days. So just be cautious on that one side. But ya, not too bad. Eh, Willow?

Hi, Goose. Hi, little man!

Go! Go play!

Britt: Wait for me! I’ve got little legs!

BOAT LAUNCH & DOG BEACH (14:13)

John: So, we are at the dog beach area, but I’ll show the boat launch first. Right, Willow? Come on!

Good girl, Willow.

I’ve got Willow with me. We’re just checking this out. And then, you can see Britt and Lucifer over there.

Woah! And Willow’s spinning me around.

But anyways, this is the dog-friendly beach. We’re the only dogs, well, I guess we’re the only people with dogs here. There are a couple other people here. But, ya.

And I don’t know why my camera’s doing that. Camera’s fixed. I don’t know why it was stuck on that angle.

Back here with Britt and Luc. Eh, bud?

Britt: He’s not sure.

John: Hey, Goose! Hey! Enjoy getting your feet soaked?

Britt: He’s like, I don’t mind this kind of beach. But I like the other one better, Dad.

John: Ya…

Britt: I can’t run with my sister at this one. Eh, Goose?

John: I think Willow’s just done.

Britt: Ya, Willow’s exhausted. There’s no desire to run left in her.  

PACK UP TIME (16:08)

Britt: Alright, it is pack-up day. The tent has been emptied. John’s playing Tetris with the vehicle.

We’re going to stop for a moment for coffee and breakfast. What have you got?

John: Oatmeal.

Britt: A quick easy breakfast for our final day here.

Now, we are not stopping here. While we are packing up and leaving Restoule today, this is not our last stop of this adventure. So, stay tuned.

We will have one more park coming to you, and that is Fairbank Provincial Park.

So, hit that subscribe button and make sure that you are following along to find out how our next adventure goes with these two crazy little pups.

We’ll see you in Fairbank.

FINAL REVIEW (16:55)

Britt: Okay. So, as you can see from behind us, it is snowy. It is cold. We are really delayed on getting this out, and it’s largely because life happened.

We had another holiday quickly after this big trip because that was August, then we moved into September and our big September Haliburton trip.

In November, I actually flew down to Colorado with Pippen to speak at a pet industry event.

Then, there was the holidays and a lot of other personal things, one of which you might find out later, happened kinda in between.

But, needless to say, after going through to edit our footage and realizing we were missing the footage for our review – we’re back to rerecord that and share it with you.

I do want to say we did take some time to go through, rewatch our video, refresh ourselves on this trip so that we made sure we shared our true feelings about Restoule with all of you.

So, let’s get started with our big final review.

John: Ya, let’s get to that, or else it’s going to be another 6 months…

GETTING TO RESTOULE (17:59)

John: Alright, so, getting to Restoule. It took about four hours from the Grey/Bruce County area. Which, going from Toronto to Restoule is roughly just shy of four hours.

So, you’re looking for a day trip at least to get there.

Britt: Momentary delay. One of the reasons we were late is interrupting our video recording.

John: Hi, I’m John. Nice to meet ya.

MEET THEIA (18:26)

Britt: So, as we were recording that, this one was rubbing against the tripod.

For those of you who are familiar with the pack, you’ll realize she’s, um, a little lighter in colour than Jinx and Pippen.

John: Ya.

Britt: So, this is Theia. Theia is a little one-year-old dilute tortie who randomly showed up at our front door here in the cabin, in the middle of nowhere one day, in the cold and snow just before Christmas.

I couldn’t leave her out there with the snow and the coyotes.

Ya, you can play with her after we put her down. Okay?

So, we took her in, and we searched for her family. And sadly, it looked like nobody was looking for her. We’re assuming she was dumped.

And then made the decision to keep her here.

So, this is the newest member of the pack. Everybody, meet Theia. Theia, meet everybody.

John: Hi, everybody!

Britt: She’s just super playful and wants to go, go, go. Like I said, she’s only a year old. She’s very high-energy.

But when I opened the door, because I saw this cat standing right at my front door, she literally walked right up to me and let me pick her up. Like, she’s the sweetest… she’s definitely not a stray.

John: No, definitely not.

Britt: Sweetest, affectionate, super playful girl. So, you’re going to see a lot of her as we move into our 2025 adventures.

CAMPING OPTIONS (19:50)

Britt: But, back to Restoule. So, now that John’s explained how to get there there.

John: Ya.

Britt: Camping. There are so many different camping options, depending on what your preferred type of camping is.

Obviously, there’s car camping. We showed that in our video. They aren’t the most private sites in the world, but a lot of them are set up in a way that you can make them private.

There’s electrical. There’s non-electrical. There were some that looked like they were more of a pull-through, really set up for a trailer style. Whereas there’s others that were a little bit more private and well-suited for a tent camper or somebody with a much smaller trailer or van.

There are walk-in sites. So if you want that little extra bit of privacy, there are sites that you can walk into that kinda takes you off the main road.

There are two group sites there if you have a larger group of people.

There are backcountry sites. They are paddle-in, so you have to be experienced in paddling in, whether it’s a canoe or a kayak, to your location and being able to bring your gear with you. But that option is there.

And, unlike a lot of the parks that we review, there is a seasonal program.

So, if you really fall in love with the park, you want to go there all the time, and you have no desire to visit multiple parks, you can get a seasonal site there and just keep going back to Restoule for the rest of your season.

John: Ya, not bad at all

BOATING, PADDLING, AND FISHING (21:02)

John: Okay, so for you water sport lovers out there, you are able to boat there. You can canoe and kayak.

Canoeing and kayaking, you can rent those if you don’t bring your own. Which, those also include life jackets, but does not include life jackets for your loved… for your loved ones. Ha!

Britt: They are loved ones!

John: For your adventure dogs. So, you’d have to bring your own for those guys. Which, I mean, we already have those.

Britt: And, pro tip – if you have an adventure cat you want to introduce to being out on the water, you can use the smallest size of dog life jackets for cats, or there are specialty life jackets made just for cats.

I can link one of those as an example in the comments.

John: For people who love to fish, there’s a lot of species of fish at Restoule. For example, there’s lake trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, pike, and musky.

We didn’t put any rods out, but maybe next time we go there, I’ll bring a rod there.

But there was people fishing there, and there seems to be – smallmouth was like the fish to be getting at that time. But all those other species are found there.

Britt: Ya, lots of options for the fishing lovers.

HIKING (22:31)

Britt: Now, if you prefer to stay on land for your activities, there’s also a ton to do hiking.

There are six different trails available. They range in difficulty and length. We did a couple of them – Willow, you’re shaking the tripod.

We did a couple of them. We did the Fire Tower Trail, which you saw, which has an amazing view up at… it goes right up to where the fire tower is, and you can see the views on the way and on the way down.

That is arguably the most popular trail at Restoule. Everybody talks about the Fire Tower Trail.

But we reached out to the person who recommended us, and I actually meant to give her a shoutout in the intro and I forgot, so I’ll do it now.

Shout out to Jennifer from our Facebook community.

When we were trying to figure out what parks to go to and where to check out, she kept recommending it. Every time it came up, recommendations, she was there – Gotta go to Restoule. I love Restoule. Check out Restoule.

And it didn’t disappoint! We were so happy we made this trip!

But while we were there, I did reach out to her and I mentioned that we had hiked the Fire Tower Trail and we were trying to choose one of the other options. I asked if there was one that maybe she thought would be more suited for us and our pups and their style of hiking and exploring.

She told us to check out the Ranger’s Point Trail because it has spots to swim. And as anybody who has been following us for any length of time knows, Lucifer is all about the opportunity to swim everywhere he goes.

If there is a swimming place, a swimming spot, on a trail, that is heaven in Lucifer’s eyes. To say that the Ranger’s Point Trail was heaven for him would be an understatement.

There were multiple places where we would stop where there was the perfect swimming spot for him. There was a picnic table if you wanted to bring a meal there or to, have a snack or to just rest.

It was just a gorgeous little… It was short. It wasn’t overly hard. But it was a gorgeous spot to take your pets.

So, I highly, highly recommend checking that out and thanks again to Jennifer for that.

John: Ya, I think that would actually get the Lucifer Seal of Approval

BEACHES (24:32)

John: Beaches… So, Restoule has three beaches there, but the main one that we actually stuck to was the Bell’s Point Beach. Which was right at the docks there.

Britt: And that’s just because it was the dog beach. The other two were human only.

John: Ya, it was the dog beach. So, the other two are human-friendly, just not dog-friendly. But the Bell’s Point Beach is dog-friendly.

These two were… They liked it, but I think they were a little too tired out from their…

Britt: We did the Ranger’s Point Trail just before that, so they had had done all that swimming and hiking. They were just a little tired to enjoy a beach.

John: Ya.

Britt: But I think if we were to bring them, like, at the start of the day, they would have been all over that.

John: It would have been a different story. Different story, for sure.

Britt: It was definitely smaller than a lot of the dog beaches we like. But it was still nice, and it would be a good place to bring your pup if you wanted to just go for a quick swim versus hiking into those swimming spots on the trail.

But personally, for us, we have all intentions of going back to this park. Spoiler. But for us, I think that there would be a different option that we would prefer over this beach.

So whether it’s hiking the Ranger’s Point Trail and swimming in there or what I’m about to share with you, there were just other options that worked better for our dogs and their preferences when it came to a beach.

But if, for example, you have a dog that maybe they’re not up to hiking and they’re just like a more chill, laid back, I just want to get my paws wet or check out the water – this would be perfect.

It was just a smaller beach for high-energy dogs that want to GO.

OFF-LEASH DOG AREA (26:03)

Britt: Speaking of high-energy dogs… There is no shortage of energy in our house. You guys know.

Willow gets it in very short spurts. That’s part of the sighthound in her, which is part of the Anatolian Shepherd. They date back to sighthounds.

So, they get really fast, crazy spurts of energy and then lay around the rest of the day.

And then Lucifer, being a German Shepherd/Austral… Australian Cattle Dog, screwed that up a little bit. He had no off switch until we trained him how to relax.

So, relax for him is actually a task, and we have to tell him to relax. Otherwise, he just wants to go, go, go.

Like, he wants to play. He wants to fetch. He wants to swim. He wants to hike.

He is so high-energy, and there was the perfect opportunity at this park, and it’s really what sold us on trying it out. That is their off-leash dog exercise area.

Now, there are a few parks that do have off-leash dog parks. They’re like fenced field areas that they can run and play. But this was so much more than that.

So, you have to access it on the Angel’s Point Trail, which is right between Putt’s Point and Kettle Point Campgrounds, and you take a trail back in.

There’s this big fenced area that has trees, and some field areas, and the best part, a beach. Their own personal beach in the off-leash dog area.

Now, I don’t know if it is it that it… I don’t know if it’s that it’s less known or if it’s that we were there during the week, but every time we went there, it was completely open and there was nobody there.

Which was great, because we know Lucifer is a little bit skeptical of people he doesn’t know. And by that, I mean he is fear-reactive to strangers.

Being that there was nobody there, we were able to let him go and run off-leash and have fun. I mean, you guys saw in the video, it was the best highlight of our whole trip.

I would go back there just for that off-leash area.

John: Ya, 100%. I think that’s the first time we’ve actually, like, let her go go. There was some other footage that was portrait mode that we couldn’t really share in the video, but there’s some video out there that she just blows my mind on how fast she is.

Britt: Now, I will put a caveat out there. It is a leashed area for off-leash dogs. However, if you have a dog who is determined to get away, if you have a dog who tends to wander when they’re out in the water, the fencing comes down to the water, but they could get around that way.

So, you need to know your dog. You need to make the best decision that’s best for your dog.

I would still recommend not using that if you have any question about your dog’s recall or your ability to get your dog back if they get curious because that opportunity to escape does still exist there.

But if you have a dog that does have a recall and just wants to be able to run off-leash, it is the most amazing spot to enjoy.

FIREWOOD (29:02)

John: Which brings us to firewood.

Britt: The relaxing part after they run like crazy.

John: So, leading up to the park, I didn’t really, well, we didn’t see any places outside the park to purchase firewood. So, I guess we bought Provincial Park firewood.

You can see in the video that I did pre-split it and I did let it marinate in the sun for a little bit. It was alright. It did it’s job.

Britt: I mean, this was later in August that we took the trip. So, there is a chance that there is firewood that’s available, for example, through July, and like the peak, peak of the season. But we just didn’t see anything.

So, whether they had sold out earlier in the peak season or whether there isn’t something, I’m not sure, but when we got there, there weren’t options.

John: No, there wasn’t any really other options besides the park wood.

Britt: That said, if you regularly camp at Restoule and you’re watching this and you know of a place that always reliably has firewood available, please leave that in the comments for anybody who might be looking for a spot or for us in the future.

Because, as I already admitted, we’re going to be going back.

FINAL RATING (30:21)

Britt: But with all of that out there and all of that to consider, I guess that brings us to the most important part of these review videos, which is our final review.

As you guys know, we rate a paw rating system. So, it’s paws out of five. The highest we’ve ever given is a 4.5 because we don’t believe in giving perfect. I believe every park has something it could improve.

But as far as Restoule goes, it’s really up there now.

Now, I can’t give it the top top score because I felt that the privacy on the sites was lacking a little bit from some of the other options we’ve gone to.

Not “I can’t overcome it” lacking, but I can’t give it an even higher score because that privacy wasn’t there the same.

That said, the off-leash dog area takes it away above any other park where we were like, yeah, well, you know, it’s not that private, there’s not that much to do. Like, that off-leash dog area was everything.

Then you factor in the trails that were available. For example, to be able to bring Lucifer on the Ranger’s Point Trail and to have him be able to swim and hike and enjoy himself that much. That puts it way ahead again.

So, for me, I think it’s a 4 paws out of 5.

John: Ya, 100%. 4 paws for me.

Britt: So, highly recommend! As I said, we’re going back. But that’s Restoule Provincial Park.

So, anybody who might be interested, that is everything you need to know to consider planning your next trip.

Now, we do have another trip we just admitted at the end of the video, where you actually saw us at the park. We do have another park coming up and that is Fairbanks!

John: Fairbanks! Ya, I always get confused with Fairbanks because it’s not…

Britt: Fairbank.

John: Fairbank. Because, I don’t know, for whatever reason, I always think it’s named another… I always think that has a different name to it other than Fairbanks, but it’s Fairbank.

I don’t know; I get confused with Murphy’s Point. I don’t know why.

But anyways, yeah. Fairbank will be our next Provincial Park that we will be reviewing.

Britt: And it will have a similar background to this because it’s another one where we were missing the little review portion. So, we’re going to make sure to get that filmed for you and get that up as soon as possible.

But there we have it!

We are already planning our 2025 season. We’ve got some parks booked. We’re looking into some others.

So, make sure to hit subscribe and join us to see even more pet-friendly adventures around Ontario.

John: Yeah, and I don’t have a coffee, but… Stay toasty!

Restoule Provincial Park

man standing on a campsite with two tents and two dogs | Restoule Provincial Park: Video Review
John all set up at campsite 13 with the pups

The Best Things to Do at Restoule Provincial Park

Camping Opportunities

Restoule Provincial Park offers a wide variety of different types of camping to suit just about any outdoor lover.

For those interested in a car camping experience, there are three campgrounds with a mix of electrical and non-electrical campsites – Kettle Point Campground, Putts Point Campground, and Bells Point Campground.

Ten walk-in campsites can be found in the Bells Point Campground, down by the beach and boat dock area. These sites offer added privacy, as you have to park and walk your gear in. However, the sites are less than five minutes from the parking lot, outhouse, and potable water.

If you’re planning to travel with a larger group of people, there are two group campsites.  

Campers who love the park and want to make Restoule their home base may be interested in the park’s Seasonal Campsite Program. This allows you to book one of the non-electrical sites in the Putts Point Campground for the park’s full operating season.  

Finally, for those looking for a more rustic adventure, Restoule Provincial Park does offer backcountry camping. These sites are paddle-accessible, meaning you must canoe or kayak to the site with your gear.

Hiking Trails

Those who enjoy hiking are in luck, as Restoule PP offers six hiking trails, including:

  • Rangers Point Trail (860 m)
  • Grawbarger Trail (1 km)
  • The River Trail (1.2 km)
  • Angels Point Trail (2.8 km)
  • Fire Tower Trail (4.1 km)
  • Gibs Trail (4.8 km)

These trails offer beautiful views of the surrounding woodland and the park’s two lakes, Restoule Lake and Stormy Lake.

Dogs are welcome on all trails. However, all dogs must be on-leash. There are no off-leash trails in the park.

Mountain biking is also permitted on all trails except for the Fire Tower Trail.  

two dogs hiking the fire tower trail at restoule provincial park | Restoule Provincial Park: Video Review
Lucifer and Willow hiking on the Ranger’s Point Trail

Beaches

There is no shortage of beach options, with three beaches along Restoule Lake.

The largest beach is found between Kettle Point Campground and Putts Point Campground, with parking lots available in each. It has a large sandy beach and a volleyball net.

Further down Restoule Lake, in the Putts Point Campground, is a smaller natural beach. Here, you can enjoy a little added privacy as you take a relaxing swim.

The final beach is in the Bells Point Campground beside the boat launch.

Although this may be the smallest of the three beaches, it does have one great benefit… This is the designated pet beach!

The beach is sandy and relatively shallow, making it a good option for families with smaller dogs, those nervous around the water, and families with young children.

In addition to the three official beaches, there is a special beach area included in the off-leash dog exercise area.

Paddling and Water Sports

With two lakes, one on each side of the park, there are plenty of opportunities for boating, canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding.

You can find boat launches in Bells Point Campground (beside the beach) and at the Stormy Lake access point, allowing water lovers to explore Restoule Lake, Restoule River, and Stormy Lake.

If you plan on docking your boat, it should be noted that space on the docks is limited and first-come-first-serve.  

Canoes, kayaks, double kayaks, and stand up paddleboards are all available for rent at the park with a $100 deposit. Each rental comes with human lifejackets, but you’ll need to bring a dog (or cat) lifejacket with you to ensure everyone can paddle safely.   

The park is also a popular fishing spot. The following fish are commonly caught in the area:

  • Bass (Large and Smallmouth)
  • Lake Trout
  • Musky
  • Pike
  • Splake
  • Walleye
  • Whitefish
two dogs looking out at restoule lake | Restoule Provincial Park: Video Review
Willow and Lucifer at a lookout point on the Fire Tower Trail

Other On-Site Activities

As briefly mentioned, Restoule has several trails for mountain bikers ranging from beginner to intermediate/advanced.

Mountain bikes and youth bikes are both available for rent at the park.

If you are looking for the ideal spot for a larger gathering, two picnic shelters are in the day-use area, offering a view of the Restoule River.

Pet-Friendly Travel Considerations

This park is an excellent option for pet-friendly travellers. However, like any park, there are some highs, lows, and important considerations when deciding if it will work for you.

The campsites aren’t the most private. This can make it challenging for those with reactive pups.

We did find that the sites along the back edge of the campgrounds often offer more privacy as there is nothing but forest behind you. This, combined with a strategic campsite setup, can make some of these sites feel more secluded.

If you’re interested in hiking but your dogs are nervous around bikes, be aware that most of Restoule’s trails also allow mountain biking.  

One of our favourite hiking discoveries was the lookout spots on the Ranger’s Point Trail.

There are 2 places along the trail where you will find an open clearing with a picnic table to relax at and water access for the dogs to splash and play.

One of the best pet-friendly perks of Restoule is its large, off-leash dog exercise area. This is a fenced location with trees, open grassy areas, and a small beach.

It is set back away from the campgrounds but be warned (if you have a reactive or chatty pup) that you have to pass campsites on your way in.

The dog exercise area is fenced, but the fence does end (understandably) as it reaches the water for the beach area. Dogs with poor recall or a desire to roam may slip out of the fenced location at this spot.

Reminder: Always clean up after your dog, including in the dog exercise area!

dog beach at restoule provincial park dog exercise area | Restoule Provincial Park: Video Review
Beach area in the Restoule PP dog exercise area

Things to Do Near Restoule Provincial Park

While there is easily enough to keep you and your pup occupied without leaving the park, a day trip to North Bay is well worth the 1-hour drive.

Whether you’re searching for a dry place on a rainy day or a little air conditioning when the temperatures are soaring, this city has many options to explore.

Grab a bite to eat on the dog-friendly patios at Average Joe’s Eatery & Patio Bar, gd2go, or Cecil’s Brewhouse & Kitchen.

Kick back and enjoy a cold beer in the pet-friendly tap room at Gateway City Brewery.

If you’re looking for a spot to let your pup stretch their legs while still in the city, they have an off-leash dog park on Champlain Park Rd with separate areas for small and large dogs.

There are also pet-friendly hiking trails at the Laurier Woods Conservation Area, as long as you keep them on a leash during your visit.

two dogs looking out at restoule lake on a pinterest pin about restoule provincial park

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