Balsam Lake Provincial Park - June 24-28

Hamiltons, Hohenadels, Harris', Curtis', Lynn and Barry, Hildebrandts, and Mittons gathered at Balsam Lake, a 2 and 1/2 to 3 hour drive from Puslinch. The park is huge - 443 hectares. There are 5 separate camping areas - Mapleview (partly electrical), Poplar Plains, Cedar Grove (partly electrical), Hawthorn Valley, and Lakeshore (partly electrical). We were camped in the Central part of Lakeshore. Sites from 40 - 82 were flat with some trees. The individual sites were large enough but lacking in privacy. Sites 92-83 were sloped and leveling the RVs was challenging. Our site - 92 was very large so we were able to park sideways on the most level part. Sites were for the most part grassy, with plenty of picnic tables. 

Site 92  After an afternoon of rain, we were able to enjoy our usual pot luck dinner on Saturday evening.

 


Bob and I went fishing both Saturday and Sunday morning and were rewarded with two nice pickerel. Another had to be released because it was in the slot size (14-21.75"). Only pickerel measuring outside of this range can be kept. 

  
Sites 502-513 are located right along the lake shore. They are very private. They have been recently upgraded with sod and crushed stone driveways. Some even have break walls made from big rocks and a separate area for canoe storage (510,508). On the Ontario Parks site, all of these sites are graded as suitable for under 18' units but we figure that most of us would be able to get into these sites. 503 and 505 are the smallest and 502 is a drive-in only. 513 is a loop drive-through. 509 is a good site on the other side of the road and 507, also on the other side, is ok.

Letchworth State Park, New York State

Letchworth State Park is located 35 miles southwest of Rochester near the towns of Perry and Mount Morris. It comprises 14,350 acres of wonderful scenery along the Genesee River. It has been described as the "Grand Canyon of the East". Within the Park, the river roars over three major waterfalls, one of which is 107 feet high. Some of the cliffs along the river approach 600 feet. It is only a 3 hour drive from Puslinch. We, along with Bob & Pauline, Paul & Mary & Faith and Don & Diane visited Letchworth from June 2-7, 2010. We crossed at Fort Erie, went on I90 to I400 then onto 20A, travelling through Warsaw and Perry. There are several hills to climb on this route. Upon leaving Bob and I took a different route home from Perry to Pavilion to Batavia then onto I90 to Buffalo. Seemed to be a better route - less hilly and shorter.
The Park is about 17 miles in length and the drive from end to end offers many outlook spots. There are many trails within the Park varying in length from 7 miles down to 3/4 of a mile. There is also whitewater rafting in the gorge and hot-air balloon rides down the length of the gorge.

The first three pictures were taken at Tea table lookout point.

Notice the stone slab tabletops

Notice the footbridge over the chasm

Lower falls - the trail to the base of the falls was unfortunately closed

Middle Falls in front of the Glen Iris Inn

Glen Iris Inn


Upper Falls


This fox crossed a field, the main road and loped up to the stone wall. Immediately after this picture, he disappeared over the fence into the main ravine
This picture was taken after a substantial rainfall - there was a huge increase in the amount of water over the falls and a change in the water colour


Site 710 - Curtis

Site 712 - Hamilton

The following are pictures of the Mount Morris Dam. They offer free tours. This dam protects villages and cities downstream on the Genesee River.




This is upstream stream from the dam. You can see all the debris that has accumulated.

During Hurricane Agnes, the storm surge came to within 4 feet of the top of the dam!

Downstream from the dam

Letchworth is a Park well worth a visit. It is beautifully maintained. There are lots of beautiful sights. Lots of wildlife and birds, but no bugs. Poison ivy. The sites are a good size and reasonably private. The security is good. Autumn leaves would be beautiful.
Here are the sites that I have marked as good ones to consider next time.
701-705, along with 722,739, 741,743 for a group of 9 together
715,717,719,721
710,712 together
731,733,735 together

TV reception was poor and there was no internet coverage.