Arrowhead Provincial Park Blog

Winter Activities in the Park

Ron Gaston — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:12:19 +0000

Whether it is Cross country skiing, tubing down the hill, snowshoeing or just skating you will enjoy this winter wonderland. Just picture the back drop of nature surrounding you while skiing through the woods. There are groomed trails throughout the park from beginner to novice skiers.

Winter in Arrowhead can be quite an experience for the beginner right down to the novice cross country skier. Just imagine skiing dow one of the trails with the only noise you hear is the soft sound of your skis sliding through the snow. You are surrounded by nature and the beauty of the park.

So if you like camping here in the summer…why not enjoy what the park has to offer in the winter. Only quieter…

For more info on the park click here Nordic Ski Club or Visit Ontario Parks

More to come…

Posted in A Look Inside Arrowhead, Winter Activities in the Park

Dyer Memorial

Ron Gaston — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:52:52 +0000

While staying at Arrowhead if you have the time there are many other places to see near and around the park. Places of interest and places to enjoy.

Dyer Memorial

Dyer Memorial is a beautiful historical place we visit every time we’re in the Muskoka’s for the past 18 years. As each of our children now have experienced this historical monument and grounds we brought a couple more this past summer, two of our children’s best friends, friends I’ve watched grow up since babies. Where we go, they always are welcome to come with us, them and quite a few other kids I always miss dearly.

A Blast From The Past

Ron Gaston — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:09:22 +0000

Having camped at Arrowhead for over twenty five years, a few pictures needed to be posted dipicting changes to the park and also some of the things you can no longer do. Climbing down Big Bend Lookout now is strictly prohibited due to severe erosion that takes place here. Besides the banks now are much steeper than 18 years ago and one could easily get hurt on the way down.

Stubbs Falls at one time you were allowed to bath and relax in the falls but now it to is prohibited due to the dangers of climbing into the rapids here and getting a leg or arm caught in the rocks of which has happened before.

Two of the pictures of Stubbs Falls were taken about 25 years ago and if you look closely the pedestrian bridge that spans the river is made out of wood and now is made out of steel.

The pictures of the main beach have gone unchanged except for the heavy wooden picnic tables that were once used here. Now they are light weight and easily moved.

Some of these pictures were taken with an old instamatic camera with the replacable cartridge so the image is somewhat blurry.

The panoramic view of Big Bend Lookout has not really changed over the years except the growth of trees. If you go to the post Hiking the Trails you will see a more recent picture 18 years later of the amount the trees have grown.

Enjoy

Tenting in Row Campground

Playing at the bottom of Stubbs Falls

Relaxing by Stubbs Falls

Stubbs Falls

Having Fun In Stubbs Falls

Stubbs Falls

Relaxing in Stubbs Falls

Ahh so relaxing at Stubbs Falls

Big Bend 18 years ago

Bottom of Big Bend Lookout 18 years ago

Main Beach 18 years ago

Bottom of Big Bend Lookout 18 years ago

On the rocks at Stubbs Falls 18 years ago

Stubbs Falls 25 years ago

Posted in A Blast From The Past

Videos

Ron Gaston — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:03:40 +0000

Walking down Stubbs Falls Trail is both scenic and a peaceful two km hike. As you near the falls you can hear the rushing water cascading over billion year old rocks flowing down into the Little East River. The trail loops around the river from the East River Campgrounds then crossing over the falls and heading back towards the main road by Lake Arrowhead. This trail is classified as easy and can be enjoyed by all age groups. The west side of the trail is just a little more rugged than the east side of the trail. In the spring time the water levels are high and the falls are more spectacular. Relax by the falls and listen for all the songbirds in the background or enjoy the flora here especially the Trilliums that are in full bloom by the falls in May. Please remember that swimming in the falls is not recommended at all and there are signs here reminding campers of this.

Enjoying the sounds of nature at Arrowhead and bird watching is very relaxing. Wild life abounds here with all sorts of creatures big and small. From chipmunks to bears can be seen wandering around along with many species of birds including the White Throated Sparrow. Even though this video was taken in Algonquin these small but vocal birds sing along all day and especially in the springtime when they are migrating back up north from their wintering nesting grounds down south. This song bird will catch your ear as it sings O Canada

Posted in Videos

Hard at Work

Ron Gaston — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:06:01 +0000

Every year when the weather starts to get pleasant outside or sometimes not, the park is being maintained for your camping pleasure rain or shine, from installing new boardwalks on the trails or painting picnic tables or staining some of the buildings and structures around Arrowhead. Cleaning up all the campsites in the park from the fallen leaves the autumn before.Keeping up with repairs and improvments is a daunting task and is ongoing seven days a week. Even after the park closes for the summer season there is always work to be down. Students are hired for the summer upkeep and tending to various other duties like the park store or rental office. Wardens who also help in maintenance plus tending to the safety of the park with ongoing patrols everyday. Even volunteering at the park not only gives you some perspective into how much effort is put into a typical park but was enjoyable helping out knowing that the cause was for the good of the park. Students are hired along with the regular staff to run the park from the front gate all the way through to maintenance. It takes team work to make a park run effiiciently and Arrowhead has accomplished this quite well. And at the end of the season a barbeque is held for the appreciation of everyones effort. A job well done! Below you will find pictures of a few people hard at work including volunteering and the year end barbeque. So when you come to Arrowhead you can appreciate the fact of just how much work goes into a park every year. One thing is for sure, they all love what they do. Special thanks goes out to Ian, Brian, Doug, Jason, Bevon, Pete and most of all Peter for letting us help out anyway we could. The Volunteers who helped; Ron, Amanda, Kyle, James and Sarah… Other volunteers also helped out in the park at different times of the season.Enjoy the pictures

Rain or shine Volunteering continues on

Raking in the rain all in days work for a volunteer (Kyle, James and Sarah)

Raking campsites from Sarah and James volunteering

James raking campsites (volunteer)

Ron raking the bike trail(volunteer)

Amanda raking trail at Big Bend lookout(volunteer)

Ron Staining deck at Big Bend Lookout(volunteer)

Doug ( Park Naturalist) on a guided Hike near Mayflower Lake

Park Warden on patrol

Ron Volunteered to stain NHE Centre

Finished NHE Centre by Ron (Volunteered)

Amanda collecting woodbags from campsite posts.

Bevon and Brian (maintenance staff) (Bevon also worked at front gate)

Ian (Park Warden/Maintenance) Just loves big machines

Ron picking up fallen limbs( one of many)(volunteering)

Peter (Park superintendant) inspecting new bridge

Peter contemplating completion of new bridge

Bevon and Amanda End of season goodbyes

Ian always on the go and lovin it

Maintenance buliding bees nest had to go( foam at top) before painting

Ron Repairing water line(volunteering)

Sarah helping tear down old privy( volunteer)

End result of Privy demolition

oops That should not have happened( sprung a leak)

Amanda always sweeping around comfort stations(volunteering)

Ron Volunteering painting of the privies

A bear trap (sometimes needed)

James painting himself along with privy(volunteer)

Maintenance staff getting ready for a days work

Weve been working on the rail road(building of Beavermeadow boardwalk)

Ian strong like bull

The building of the boardwalk

Building of the boardwalk

Everybody is busy trying to complete on time

still at it

A ride out of the trail

Unfinished boardwalk

Lumber getting heavy

At last more help

Finished boardwalk

Ron Retrieving crowbar from Little East River

Employee appreciation barbeque (year end)

Student employees chowing down nearing the end of the season

Peter helping out at the barbeque

Ian and wife Barbi leaving barbecue

Carolyn and Jillian NHE assistants to Doug McCall (Park Naturalist)

Posted in Hard at Work

Just For The Fun Of It

Ron Gaston — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:45:02 +0000

Any time of year at Arrowhead is a good time to just have some fun. From hiking to canoeing and swimming in between is always a must at Arrowhead. Four beaches surround Arrowhead Lake as well as bike and canoes for rent at the main beach. Pricing here is realy reasonable and there is even a fishermans special where you rent the canoe the night before and return it the next morning. This is by far the best deal. Fishing in Arrowhead Lake is where the bass are, along with the smaller species like sunfish and perch. Mayflower Lake offers Trout as it is stocked from years ago. May Flower is quite deep at almost one hundred feet down. Programs for the young and old are held during the week as well as on the weekends from July till September. Check with park staff for details. So sit back and enjoy the pictures or better yet visit the park and see for yourself.

Yummy dinner (small mouth bass)

Twilight fishing on Mayflower Lake

A net is a must in spring(black flies by the millions)

Swimming at Roe Beach

Where's the bottom?

Sparkling water

Fishing for dinner

Splish splash

Just having fun

OK so it is not the big one

Jumping for hoops

Hey where's the rest of my car?

Here I come

Fishing for dinner

Gotchya

A leisurely paddle down The Little East River

Making our way down to Stubbs Falls

Paddle damn it!

Deer romping through a campsite by the beach road 7 Roe Campgrond

Where is everybody?

Hello down there( these rocks are over a billion years old)

Amanda is one with the tree

Just enjoying the fall

Fall campers relaxing

Mr Potato Head goes camping

Mr Potato Head sabotaging the signal(get off!)

Mr Potato Head with his friends

Mr Potato Head has needs also..what no newspaper!

Do I have to rake again?

Daughter...Mother (what a pair)

Ahh peace and quite... finally no kids around

After all these years

here Nanny It's for you

Finally the big one

It's a leech!

Hey Dad is this all that there is

Were hungry too(deer grazing behind comfort station in Roe)

Leave me alone I paid for this campsite

ahh the sunshine

Just being happy(the holes in the trunk are from the woodpeckers)

Just a joy ride

I can't see..Does this have fog lamps?

Cuja having a flea bath

Where's my stick?

Fetch

All shook up(pass the towel)

mmm rolling in fish smell is the best

Hiking for fun?

Yes we do

Resting on Homesteaders Trail

Home sweet home

Hey that leaf likes me(it's summer why is it red?)

Just paddling around(check out the Great Blue Herron behind James)

Holy crap my shoe is stuck in the mud( road to amphitheatre)

Posted in Just For The Fun Of It

Hiking the Trails

Ron Gaston — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:28:24 +0000

If your Feeling energetic while camping at Arrowhead take a hike on all or just one of thier hiking trails or if you brought your mountain bike there are two bike trails to enjoy some scenary or for excercise. The five hiking trails are: The Beaver Meadow Trail, Stubbs Falls Trail, Big Bend Lookout Trail, Homesteaders Trail and Mayflower Trail. The two bike trails are; The Arrowhead Lake Trail and Lookout Trail. Also are many smaller trails leading between campsites or down to the beaches plus ski trails in the winter.

The longest trail is the Beaver Meadow Trail which is over seven KLM long that circles a large beaver pond. Here you can view beavers hard at work or see a moose wading in the pond amongst the sound of the birds nearby. As you meander through the trail you will see evidence of of a past life with old foundations of once was a homesteaders building and fencelines that once stood the time of history. The forest and bush is slowly reclaiming this land to be part of nature once again. The shortest trail is Big Bend Lookout that is a short walk from the road in Roe Campground. Here you will see how erosion has ate away the sides of this sandy cliff while the Big East River meanders down below. Stubbs falls trail is about two Klm long that follows the Little east River down to the ancient Stubbs Falls. The rocks down here are over a billion years old according to Park Naturalist Doug McCall, pushed here from glacier activities thousands of years ago. Both bike trails offer rugged hills and will make your legs work thier muscles. Take your time on all trails as safety comes first. Just remeber to be back before nightfall or the wardens might have to come and guide you out. When its dark its dark and being stuck on a trail at nightfall can be a little nerving. Always be prepared just in case. For more info on the trails visit the Arrowhead website at Ontario Parks.

Beaver Meadow Trail

Hiking down the Beaver Meadow Trail

Taking a break

Beaver Meadow Trail

Small stream cascading down rocks

Beaver Meadow Trail

Stubbs Falls Trail

Stubbs Fall Trail Pedestrian bridge over Stubbs Falls

Stubbs Fall Trail

Walkway down to bridge over falls

Stubbs Falls Spring run off

Stubbs Falls

Stubbs Falls from bottom

A misty morning at Stubbs Falls

Sparkling water at Stubbs Falls

Rock climbing at Stubbs Falls

Shoe Tree of lost souls

Stubbs Falls

Rock climbing

An unusual tree with roots above ground

Stubbs Falls Trail

Taking a break

Stubbs Falls

Stubbs Falls Trail in summer

Stubbs Falls Trail in spring(compare prior picture)

Bear paw print ??

Stubbs Fall Trail

Big Bend Lookout Trail

Deck over looking Big East River

Trail at Big Bend Lookout

Big Bend Lookout Big East River at Bottom

80' Drop from top to bottom. This is all sand

Big Bend Lookout

Erosion at Big Bend Lookout

As far as the eye can see

Homesteaders Trail

Enjoying the scenary Homesteaders Trail

Hiking down the trail

Trail of green

Trail

Rocks in background were used as a fence line

trail of green

Site of old milk house

Old farm equipment

Trail

Mayflower Lake Trail

Trail along Mayflower Lake

Beaver Hut In Mayflower Lake

Trail through the woods(spring time)

Over looking Mayflower lake from trail

View from the trail

Spring time down the trail

Mayflower Lake

Beginning of Trail

Autumn on Mayflower Lake

A ray of hope

Summertime greenery

Arrowhead Lake Bike Trail

Arrowhead Lake Bike Trail

View from the trail

Arrowhead Lake Bike Trail

View of Arrowhead Lake from trail

View of Arrowhead Lake from Trail

A beautiful view

Lookout Trail

Pileated Woodpecker holes in tree trunk

Lookout Trail

Fallen tree on trail

Posted in Hiking the Trails

A Guided Tour

Ron Gaston — Wed, 06 May 2009 00:16:32 +0000

Every summer campers are encouraged to take part in interpretive guides and shows of the parks history and natural surroundings. Naturalist Doug Mccall heads up this department with his vast knowledge of Arrowhead Park and organises all these activities for old and young alike. From hiking to putting on skits is all part of a days work for Doug. Enjoy shows like Arrowhead Time Machine at the Ampitheatre explaining the history of Arrowhead and how it came to be to sitting around a campfire or every sunday enjoy Canoe In The Mist with Doug leading the way teaching the basics of canoeing and giving some light on water safety among other things. Come to the NHE Centre for a look see into the past and how things took shape in the park. You can explore dougs writing at http://dougsplace.wordpress.com/. He is truly one with nature.

Doug McColl explaining age of rocks at Stubbs Falls

The assistants helping Doug out

Doug as a settler(Time Machine)

Naturalist Doug McCall as a fur trapper(Time Machine)

Waiting for the show to begin

Natural Heritage Centre

Nature Hike along Mayflower Trail

Hiking Along Mayflower Trail

Interpretive Hike on Mayflower Lake

Drilled holes from woodpeckers(Mayflower Hike)

Arrowhead Time Machine

Assistants Operating Time Machine

Canoe in the Mist

Beaver Dam Located on Mayflower Lake Trail

Green with envy

Drilled holes from woodpeckers in trunk of tree(Mayflower Hike)

Beaver Coat NHE Centre

Posted in A Guided Tour

Autumn In The Park

Ron Gaston — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:12:17 +0000

Camping in the fall is probably the best time of year to enjoy the outdoors at Arrowhead. While summer offers everything that the park has to offer from swimming to guided hikes, the fall offers the beauty from with in. All the colours of the rainbow are out in full force and it a sight to behold. Animals scurring around getting ready for winter and the absense of mosquitos makes this season a joy. Nature hikes in the woods that are in full bloom in autumn colours will take your breath away. The days are still warm while the nights cool off to enjoy the fresh night air. Besides all that, half the people are there and is not as crowded as summer months. Enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner in a setting that is appreciated for its beauty. The park is open until the Thanksgiving weekend in October for camping. Enjoy

Over looking the vast forest

Yellow hues in the early autumn

Arrowhead Lake

Looking down a trail

Leaves covering campsite road in Lumby

Arrowhead Lake

May Flower Lake

True colours

May Flower Lake

Looking out from Big Bend

Posted in Autumn In The Park

Creatures of the Park

Ron Gaston — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:28:44 +0000

When you visit Arrowhead Provincial Park, enjoy the wild life that is abundant in this area. Best enjoyed in early spring or Autumn. From insects to the bears they are all here in their splendid glory. While there are bears in the park from time to time we did not get a picture of one even though we did see them. They tend to run away quickly or are out at night when you cannot even see them. They will rob you of your cooler if you keep it out so put it away in your car or you will have visitors in your campsite. If you do encounter one DO NOT RUN but make lots of noise and back away slowly. Get into your car and honk the horn. For the most part they leave the area but will return if you give them a reason for it. For more info go to the MNR website on bear knowledge. For more pictures visit us at flicker. Enjoy the pictures.

Young Buck Grazing

White Tailed Deer

Snow Shoe Hare

Snapping Turtle(Look At Its Claws)

Sarah with Small Mouth Bass

Robins Nest

Red Squirrel

Raven

Mrs Buck

Morning Doves

Leapard Frog emerging from Tadpole stage

Hairy Woodpecker

Sarah holding Garter Snake

Flying Squirrel

Female Mallards

Elusive Fawn

Doe In The Woods

Deer In Campsite

Can You Spot The Deer?

Young Buck Foraging

Who's the Boss!

Fisher Spider

Snapping Turtle

Morning Cloak Butterfly

Luna Moth

Ruby Throated Humming bird

Great Blue Heron

Garter Snake

Mallard Ducks

White Tailed Deer

White-Marked Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Ruby Thoated Humming Bird

White Tailed Deer Grazing at Front Gate

Blue Jay

Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Posted in Creatures of the Park