Gignac Family Adventures: Sharbot Lake Provincial Park June 2015

We just arrived home from a wonderful 3 days at Sharbot Lake Provincial Park - just north of Kingston on hwy 7. This was our 2nd visit to this park and once again were able to secure a waterfront site. We always aim to get a water site, for quick and easy access for our kayaks to save time & energy!!

We arrived at 2pm - note that the water fill/dump station is smack dab in the middle of the campsites - bit of a pain however needed when using a trailer.

Headed to our site and got set up - site #10 is rated for an 18ft trailer however we had room for our 21 ft trailer and our truck. Ideally we would have liked site #12 but it was snapped up before we booked.
Hopefully next time!!! Campfire is right beside the water, and the water area made for quick access with our kayaks. The boat launch was one site over from our site.

Sharbot Lake has 2 great beach locations, and a great playground area for kids. Canoe rentals looked plentiful on Black Lake. The beachfront sites are ideal sites for families with young children as it is right by the one beach and the playground. There is 178 campsites here, minimal electrical sites and lots of sites are tent only but very scenic, and many are on the water or offer a waterview. Provincial parks are wonderful but with most being made years ago, it is hard to find ample sites that will host a large trailer on a great scenic site, on the water. The park sits between Sharbot Lake and Black Lake, with all the sites being on Black Lake. There is a short (although hilly) portage between the two lakes, and the park also offers boat launches on both of the lakes.

Not listed on the park website but on the park guide, there is a decent hiking trail, approximently 1.5km long, which I would rate as moderate - be cautious of roots and rocks when walking. The hike was scenic and followed along Sharbot Lake, then into the woods, then along the top crest along Black Lake. We lucked out and saw a huge snapping turtle, beaver and deer on our Sunday afternoon hike. This trail is called the Discovery Trail and is situated near site 175.

A small amount of treats, worms and park clothing are sold when checking in the park office, but right across the road(hwy 7) is a very local small store selling lots of odds and ends should you forget something at home, or need a quick loaf of bread or milk, or an ice cream cone. There is a chip stand there as well but we did not venture to try it out. We just checked out the somewhat messy little store and headed back to the trailer!!!!

Sharbot Lake Provincial Park does sit along side hwy 7 and traffic can be heard from some sites, however sitting fireside, listening to the loons & looking out at the sun setting made up for the muted noise of the traffic in the background. Park staff patrolled through out our stay, more so on the Friday than the Saturday, but we were lucky in that we didn't have any noisy neighbours.

Pete spent hours fishing this weekend - mostly on Black Lake and Sun for 4 hrs on Sharbot Lake. He caught Lots of fish in Black Lake - walleye, bass, pike, cisco and geared up for lake trout fishing in Sharbot Lake and was successful in getting one there this am.

Would we return - for sure - as long as we could get site 10 or 12

Sunset kayak on Black Lake