The snow has melted. The ice is gone. The trees are beginning to show the first signs of bloom. Springtime in Ontario is a spectacular time of year. Nature is waking up from its winter nap and everything is showing signs of new life, including a few enthusiastic boaters.
Most owners haven't even begun to think about getting their boats out of storage, never mind out on the water. It makes sense. The boating season in Ontario doesn't kick-off until the May long weekend, when the weather is warmer and the marinas are open.
Nonetheless, there are a few enthusiasts who are already on the water. I'm one of them. I love boating in the off-season. Early spring and late fall are some of the best times to enjoy boating. It's not just a summer sport.
ENjoy a provincial Park to Yourself
Wanting to try something different this year, I asked my fellow boaters about their favourite spots for early season boating. One place kept coming up: Sibbald Point Provincial Park on the southern shore of Lake Simcoe.
Lake Simcoe is one of my absolute favourite boating destinations in Ontario. I lived in the City of Barrie for some years and have logged countless hours on Simcoe.
In all that time, I had never visited Sibbald Point. It's just over an hour southeast of Barrie and less than two hours from downtown Toronto. This means the park is packed from Canada Day to Labour Day. You wouldn't catch me anywhere near the place in the summer.
Early spring is a different story. There are very few visitors enjoying the park. Sibbald Point is open for day use year-round, but has limited staff this early in the season. No attendants are on duty at the gate. An automated machine allows visitors to purchase a pass and access the park.
Make sure you stop and pay the fee. Despite being there on a Thursday afternoon, in late April, the park was well patrolled. We spotted three different Conservation Officers and two Ontario Parks vehicles making their rounds. Don't forget to display your park pass on your dashboard. Forget, and you're likely to find an unwelcome gift under your windshield wiper when you get back to the dock.
Speaking of docks, the launch facilities at Sibbald Point are excellent. The boat ramp is spacious. One of the widest I've seen, capable of launching half a dozen boats at the same time. The docks are in good repair and there is plenty of parking.
