Urban Camping, Waterloo Style

The smell of a campfire crackling, waking to the sound of a cardinal, mist settling on the calm water, and a meadow sparkling with the flash of fireflies; an idyllic camping experience that would appeal to any wilderness lover.

These are sights and experiences I have enjoyed many times before but this time was different. I was camped well within the boundaries of the City of Waterloo in Southern Ontario.

I’ve lived in Waterloo Region for over 40 years and can still remember the summer that a flood control dam was commissioned at Laurel Creek. The dam was closed and a lake gradually appeared, but back then there was little more to Laurel Creek Conservation Area than an open field and a smattering of tiny trees.

I must admit that the thought of camping 10 minutes from home never really crossed my mind until a couple of weeks ago when I was browsing the Grand River Conservation Authority’s website and decided to check it out. A few minutes later and a site was selected and booked using GRCA’s convenient online reservation service.

I opted for the “radio free” camping area and was pleasantly surprised by both the size and quality of the private, amply wooded sites. I was also impressed by the number of times during the day and night that park staff patrolled the area. The comfort stations were clean and well maintained and the ample number of vault toilets were…well they were vault toilets; what more can I say.

There are over 8 km of trails within the park, wandering through stands of pines, hardwoods, and open meadows where wild grasses and flowers abound. The trail system is well maintained and is accessible by just about anyone. The thing that amazed me was knowing that I was surrounded by sub-divisions and only a couple of minutes from the University of Waterloo campus, yet there was this air of remoteness that gave the illusion of a wilderness campground.

There are several open grassy areas that draw dozens of picnickers for an afternoon at the beach or a great family outing, but these areas are not near the campgrounds allowing campers to enjoy their own space. The swimming area is a bit small but there’s lots of sand for the kids to play in. The only downside is that the lake draws hundreds of Canada geese and it must be a fulltime job for park staff to keep up with the destruction that these huge birds cause. I think the addition of a large manmade pool would be a tremendous addition to this park.

If you’re planning to visit Waterloo Region this summer or if, like me, you live here and thought that camping that close to home was out of the question, be sure to check out Laurel Creek Conservation Area. You won’t be disappointed.

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