Killarney Backcountry Camping Gear List
Most Killarney backcountry sites have a fire pit and a box privy. Ontario Parks says map navigation is essential, bans cans, glass bottles and chainsaws, and recommends sturdy footwear, plenty of water, a map and a compass on the rocky trails.
What Ontario Parks says to bring
The official park map
Ontario Parks recommends a copy before you head into the backcountry, and says map navigation is essential.
Compass
With the map, on the hiking list.
Sturdy footwear
All Killarney trails cover uneven and rocky terrain.
Plenty of water
On the hiking list.
Sites and rules
Fire pit and box privy
Most campsites have both.
No cans, glass bottles or chainsaws
Banned in Killarney's backcountry.
Canoe and kayak only
Only canoeing and kayaking is permitted on the interior lakes.
Interior permit
Required for backcountry camping.
Ontario Parks' backcountry safety page
These lines are on Ontario Parks' general backcountry page, not the Killarney page.
Water treatment
Treat all drinking water with a filter, iodine, or by boiling it for at least three minutes.
Rope to hang food
At night, hang all food and garbage at least 3 m off the ground and 2 m from a tree trunk.
A first aid kit
Ontario Parks says always pack one.
Gear questions for Killarney backcountry camping
Do you need a map for Killarney backcountry camping?
Ontario Parks says map navigation is essential and recommends a copy of the official park map before you head out.
What is banned on Killarney backcountry camping trips?
Ontario Parks bans cans, glass bottles and chainsaws in Killarney's backcountry.
What footwear do you need for Killarney backcountry camping hikes?
Ontario Parks recommends sturdy footwear, because every Killarney trail covers uneven and rocky terrain.
Sources
- Ontario Parks: Killarney camping
- Ontario Parks: Killarney activities
- Ontario Parks: backcountry safety and etiquette
Checked against the agency pages above on November 9, 2026. This page names no products, and it lists what the agency says, in our words. Check the agency page for rules that changed since.
In an emergency in Canada, call 911.