Killarney Mountain Lodge in Ontario
Actually, we would have a boat tour in September on this day Killarney Provincial Park companies should - as I said: actually. But when we woke up in the morning, the rain pattered on the roof of our small, cozy log cabin in constant and steady tapping, and it was hard to get up. We knew this was a day when we got ours raincoats should not forget.
Still, we finally got out of our comfortable beds to have breakfast in the Killarney Mountain Lodge restaurant. Somehow this lodge reminded me very much of the hotel in the Hollywood strip "Dirty Dancing", where everything went its normal way, and had been for decades. The impression made by the lodge on the Georgian Bay in the eastern part of the Lake Huron made on me.
Cozy cottages at Killarney Mountain Lodge
If we wanted to get from our blockhouse to the main house, we had the choice between two ways: we could walk along the banks of the small waterway, which separates the tiny town Killarney with its 500 inhabitants from the offshore island George Island , The alternative was a covered and paved path past the parking lot, but we could lay back dry. And as it really poured down, we decided without much thought for the less attractive route.
Rustic food at the Lodge Restaurant
Breakfast at Killarney Mountain Lodge is for hungry mouths - or maybe lumberjacks who once made ends meet in this area? Who knows? The lodge is proud of its long tradition. In any case, hearty Canadian food was served: eggs with bacon, Pancakes, Toast and coffee and juice.
What to do on a rainy day at Killarney Mountain Lodge?
We still didn't know that the planned tour across the lake was not going to be anything. Only after breakfast did a young man come to our table, who introduced himself as the “captain” of our boat and informed us that the excursion had to be canceled due to excessive waves and heavy rain.
What now? Actually we were here to get to know the beautiful nature of the Killarney Provincial Park, which we had already explored for a few hours the day before - in wise foresight, but the rainy day had already been announced in the weather forecasts a few days earlier. But we were also advised against the trails, because they were too slippery in the continuous rain, which was forecast for the whole day.
Trip to French River
The day before, we drove past a sign on the drive from Toronto, pointing to the new visitor center on the French River. Somehow this name was still familiar to me from study times when I read that it was one of the important rivers on the way of the fur traders to the west - and indeed, after a quick search in our information sources it turned out that even Samuel de Champlain over this river should be rowed to the west. We packed our rain jacket and umbrella and drove back to the river for over an hour and a half, where we spent two interesting hours exploring the history of the river and its surroundings.
Local flavor at the Killarney Mountain Lodge
The return trip was just as rainy as the outward journey, so we arrived at the Killarney Mountain Lodge relatively early - time we used for a leisurely chat with the lady in the hotel bar. And what she could tell us everything! This entertainment alone was worth the stay at the lodge at the end of Killarney Provincial Park! She told us about previous guests from Germany - some of which she obviously remembered well.
What you should pack if you want to go hiking in Killarney Provincial Park
- When hiking we wear solid hiking boots and hiking socks, They also are good on uneven paths.
- On a hike you need a backpackin which you drink, snack, a jacket and store odds and ends. Practical Hiker accessories can be found on this page.
- Check our hiking checklistwhether you have packed everything you need for your hike.
There was a group of quite wealthy gentlemen who had rented the entire lodge for an incentive event. According to our informant, alcohol flowed freely and the gentlemen placed particular emphasis on a real Canadian experience. Breakfast should be served according to the "Lumberjack Art", ie the lumberjack style - without tablecloths, without napkins, on simple wooden boards and only with a knife and fork. The barmaid is still shocked today. Those were gentlemen who could have afforded something completely different!
Stories from the Killarney Mountain Lodge
A better impression was left by a - also German - choir, who performed his songs at all hours of the day and night, regardless of whether the other guests wanted to hear it or not. But he should have been beautiful - the singing. Once the whole choir sat around the pool of the hotel and presented happy shanties, but was planned a trip by canoe. Since many newcomers were among the canoeists, they had to do a safety training in the pool and learn how to turn a capsized canoe again, without you even dripping, and probably the songs were first of their own edification and, above all, the corresponding To gather courage for the planned adventure.
That's how you live in Killarney
Since we were actually here to learn more about the lodge, Killarney Provincial Park, its surroundings and the people who live here, instead of all possible German-speaking visitors who were already guests, I asked our barmaid about it what people here in the remote town of Killarney would live on. "In the summer," she reported, "most live from the provision of visitors to the provincial park." There is only one fisherman in the village who regularly goes out to fish in Georgian Bay. Once a week he brings his catch ashore and sells it directly in Killarney Harbor. It was the best lunch you could get in Killarney, she assured us. Unfortunately, we could not test this ourselves, since our travel route already scheduled our departure the next morning.
Before we knew it, the rainy day at Killarney Mountain Lodge was over - different from what we had planned, but no less interesting. In any case, we disappeared very satisfied afterwards into our cozy log cabin - on which the steady raindrops were still pattering.
Killarney Mountain Lodge
3 Commissioner Street
Killarney, On
Canada, P0M 2A0
Travel Arrangements:
Parking at the airport
Here you can reserve your parking space at the airport.
Arrival:
Book yours here Arrival by plane, bus or train*. Air Canada, Lufthansa, Condor and Icelandair fly from Germany Toronto.
Car Rentals:
Cheap car hire - book quickly and easily!
Accommodations:
Accommodation near Killarney * You can also easily book through our partner booking.com.
Killarney Provincial Park travel guide and other information:
Ontario Parks provides general information Killarney.
Do you already know:
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More travel tips and hotel tips for Canada can be found here.
Source: own research on site with the kind support of Tourism Ontario. Our opinion, however, remains our own.
Text: © Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Petar Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
