If you are looking for a campground with a great beach, boating and fishing opportunities, consider Balsam Lake Provincial Park.
Environment: Balsam Lake Provincial Park is located in south-central Ontario on Balsam Lake, in the Kawarthas, near Coboconk. Balsam Lake is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway that extends 386 kilometres through Central Ontario. The Trent-Severn Waterway allows for many lakes and rivers to be connected and navigable through a series of locks. By boat you can travel from Georgian Bay (near Port Severn) to Lake Ontario (near Trenton) and traverse regions that include Severn, The Kawartha Lakes, Simcoe and Rice Lake.
Beach
Beach: Balsam Lake has a great beach that is within walking distance to the campgrounds.
Camping: Balsam Lake Provincial Park is one of the larger parks in Ontario, having 505 campsites. The campsites along the lake are mostly hydro sites, with little privacy, and a great view of Balsam Lake.
Canoeing / Boating: The park offers canoe rentals. We canoed when we camped at Balsam Lake and found that there were many motorboats on the lake. The park is situated in cottage country, as well as the Trent-Severn Waterway. The park is provisioned for boat launching and docking. Some campers will bring their motorboats. Motorboats and seadoos can be rented at a nearby marina.
Fishing: There are lots of fishing opportunities throughout this region.
Hiking: There are two trails in the park. The Lookout Trail offers a view of Balsam Lake and is 2.6 kilometres and the Plantation Trail is 4.2 kilometres.
Shopping: There is a store that is located just on the perimeter of the park and a snack bar at the beach. Beyond that, your best choice is Coboconk.
In Conclusion: The July-August occupancy rate for 2009 was only 64%, however, the campsites closest to the beach get booked fast. If you plan to just hang out by the beach, go boating or fishing, Balsam Lake is a good choice for an extended stay.
My Park Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Resources: For camping information and tips, see: The Camp Tripper. For camping gear, see: http://astore.amazon.com/tip4cam-20
Tips 4 Camping 
Went to balsam the other day. Great park and lots of wildlife. Thanks for the article.
I would like to know who did NOT enjoy camping in balsam park.
I have been there several times with my family – we love it. The beach can get a little crowded on the weekends, but other than that I have no complaints.
I’ve camped at Balsam lake, and it was awesome, can’t wait to go back this year. No complaints here…