[SPRING 2023, Ontario] Cape Croker Park is a large (500+ acres) woodland campground located on the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula, a half-hour northeast of Wiarton or about 90 minutes drive from Tobermory. While Tobermory, at the tip of the peninsula, is known for the National Parks (Bruce Peninsula & Fathom Five), the ferry to Manitoulin Island, and more, Cape Croker Park can stand as a destination in itself.

I ended up going there because a string of fine weather days in early May beckoned me for the much-anticipated first Teardrop trailer road trip of the season. My intent was to go stay at Bruce Peninsula National Park—which is a treat to enjoy before massive numbers of people descend on it in summer—but when I tried to book online I learned they were not open for drive-in camping until the weekend before Victoria Day.

I couldn’t find anything that looked good on Hipcamp but then Cape Croker came to mind, as somewhere I had camped in my youth in a little A-frame tent (yep back in the days before bendy poles and dome tents). Back then, it was named Cape Croker Indian Park. Today, while the place name of Cape Croker has been retained, it is more properly and precisely described as being located at Neyaashiinigmiing, home of the Chippewas of Nawash (who operate the park), unceded territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.

Cape Croker Park opens for camping the first week of May. To camp here in the shoulder season offers the possibility of being well-separated from other campers, and doing so on a waterfront site with a gorgeous view!

Waterfront sites where I was in the “Rough” camping area on the north shore of Sydney Bay treat you to sunrise, while waterfront sites in the “Beach” camping area (can be seen in picture, if you zoom, in the distance above Luna’s head) closer to the gatehouse & amenities offer sunsets. Either way, it’s a pretty sweet setup to back the Teardrop into the site and look out the doors and galley window at the bluffs of the Niagara Escarpment and the waters of Georgian Bay. I even saw and heard loons!

In general, I’m not a big fan of private campgrounds and tend to prefer national and provincial parks for Teardrop camping. But you are unlikely to encounter many (any?) other private campgrounds like this one. What’s more, that 500+ acre area doesn’t even include the many kms of attached Bruce Trail hiking. Lots to do here, in addition to hiking, including their Anishinaabe Cultural Experiences program.