Brant Conservation Area

If you like reading rules, being nickle-​and-​dimed, and close-​quarters car camping, then Brant is the retreat for you.
There is a fee for everything. EVERYTHING. Typically, with camping sites you pay a reservation fee and the amenities are included. Not at Brant.
— $ 13.00 reservation fee
— $ 43.00 per night camping
— $ 12.50 per car, per day
— $ 1.00 swimming pool admission, per person, per day
— 25 cent pay shower
Additional fees for fishing, canoe rentals, etc.
You can’t bring in your own firewood, so you can buy a small bundle at the office for $ 8.00 or get an even smaller bundle from the Shell gas station in town for $ 10.00. Two bundles last you one night.
Don’t even think about gathering firewood, even if it’s twigs from the ground. Since it’s a conservation area, you’re not supposed to «damage the wildness,» even if it’s the remnants of a tree. Isn’t that what camping is about — living off the land? Security patrols the area and will hand out fines to guests caught gathering wood or otherwise endangering the area.
More gripes:
— The trails were difficult to find and not well-​marked.
— There is an alcohol ban during long holiday weekends.
— The campsites are almost on top of one another and you can hear your neighbors’ conversations day or night, especially if they have children.
— Brant only allows two cars per campsite. Have a third car? You have to park off-​site in the Sobeys lot, which is 1 kilometer from the park entrance, plus additional walking to your campsite.
— While the pool is massive, it’s not well maintained. It was cold, the water was dirty, and the basin could use some fresh coats of paint. No lawn chairs; you have to bring your own. It looked like a sad, forgotten 1970s waterpark.
— The pay showers only give you 3 minutes of water per quarter. 50 cents is needed for the quickest of showers. There’s no door on the shower, so water sprays out into the stall getting your clothes and towel wet. Luke warm water with pressure so hard I felt like I was getting a beat down.
— Everywhere we turned, there was signage telling us «NO!» Don’t swim in the river, don’t gather firewood, don’t walk off the trails, don’t consume alcohol, don’t dump stuff in the dumpster, don’t play music, don’t smile… (okay, that last one was a bit of a stretch.)
— Though my limbs were fully clothed and bug sprayed, I was still eaten alive by mosquitoes.
After hiking, swimming, and exploring all on the first day, we grew bored. We ended up heading home early.
In short, for the amount of money that Brant squeezes out of its visitors, you can get a much nicer camping experience elsewhere for the same price. Spend your money wisely.