Bassett Barks

Earl Rowe Provincial Park

Address:                7th Concession North, Adjala/Tosorontio
                               Box 872
                               Alliston, Ontario
                               L9R 1W1
Telephone:            705-435-2498
Park Class:           Recreation
# of Campsites:    400

Beaches:  During our weekend stay at this provincial park, it was very hot.  The beach at Earl Rowe is closed a lot because it is a river that has been damed to create a reservoir.  When we were there, the beach was open.  However, the water did not look inviting by any means.  The kids didn't want to go in it.  There were inflatable swimming devices, picnic tables etc in the water, and close to the shoreline.

Campsites: The sites were a decent size and well maintained.   The are two campgrounds here.  We stayed in the Westside Campground.  Riverside is the other campground.  Earl Rowe boasts 400 sites, and 183 of these are electrical.  The park also offers 3 group campsites.

Wildlife:  We saw no wildlife.  We did however see evidence of a beaver.  The kids were a bit impressed with the beaver's ambition!

During the night we heard the yipping of some cyotes in the distance.  In the morning during one of our walks, we found the evidence of their prey.  Other than that, no wildlife.

Other:  This park is home to a pool that can accommdate 1,500 people.  However, it was still closed and not yet opened when we were there.  The park does charge an additional fee for the use of this pool, even when you are a registared camper.  The comfort stations had no soap or method for drying your hands.  They were a bit messy and not kept to the standards of other provincial parks that I have stayed at.  The one trail we walked was well maintained and easily marked.  The park has a store and a resource centre.  Unfortunately, the resource centre was closed at the time.  The staff in the store were friendly and helpful.  During our three day, two night stay, we saw the park staff patrolling twice.  The guy at the next site over, had run over his fire pit with his car and damaged the metal rim around it.  He removed the metal rim and discarded it off to the side.  The staff drove by his site, slowed down and then drove off.  No action was taken.  At night the other camper had large flames coming from his fire, that were in my opinion risky.  I will admit that I like a nice fire at night, but his went too far.

Overall, I probably will not return to this park.  What did make the expereince wonderful was the people who joined us for their children's first camping experience.  But, based soley on the park I would only give this park 2 stars out of five.