Killbear Provincial Park, located near Noble, in Ontario’s Parry Sound district, has been temporarily closed following severe storm activity that swept through the region on Sunday 6 and Monday 7 July. The storm system caused significant infrastructure damage, prompting a state of emergency declaration across the wider Township of Carling.
Ontario Parks confirmed on Monday afternoon that 40 metres of Highway 559 were severely damaged, cutting off all vehicular access to and from the provincial park. As of today, Tuesday 8 July, access remains impossible, and electricity inside the park is also interrupted. Essential services, such as the water treatment plant, are currently operating on emergency backup generators.
Storm-related flooding has impacted a number of secondary roads throughout the region. The following key routes remain closed: Highway 559 at the Dillon Road intersection, Bayview Drive, and Remy Bay Road. Several other local roads are also experiencing flooding hazards, especially near low-lying areas.
The Township of Carling has issued an emergency alert urging motorists to be extremely cautious, particularly near road shoulders, where erosion and washouts may not be immediately visible. Municipal road crews are working intensively to assess and repair damages, although no specific timeline has been provided yet for full restoration of access to Killbear Provincial Park.
Visitors currently inside the park are being updated directly by park officials regarding progress on repairs. The combination of intense rainfall, flooded terrain, and damaged infrastructure continues to pose serious challenges for travel and operations across this part of central Ontario.
