Bon Echo Provincial Park Trails - Hiking

Starting Point

The hacking trail you decide to take will depend on the total time you plan to tour the area. For shorter hikes, you can opt for shorter routes —for example, Creek Trail, which is approximately 1km, a 40-minutes walk.

Other short tracks are the High Pines and Clifftop Trails, which are approximately 1.7 km (one-hour walk) and 1.6km loops, respectively.

If you wish to feel the ambiance of the Lake Campgrounds, you can take the Mazinaw Lake loop, a 90 minutes (5km) hiking. This trail offers many activities all year round and an elevation height of up to 105 meters.

Why visit Bon Echo Provincial Park Trails

The longest but incredibly scenic and fascinating route is the Kishkebus Canoe Route, a 15.9 km trail with an elevation gain of up to 451m. Its located close to North Frontenac, Ontario, providing a clear view of Mazinaw Lake.

It features a 17 km backpacking trail and its first canoe camping lake where you can park, port, load, and canoe your car across Joe Perry Lake and access 23 campsites facing the lake's perimeter. Other routes you can consider taking for a more adventurous hiking experience are:

1. The Narrows and Beach Route (2.1 km loop)

2. Clute's Lake Loop through Abes &Essens Route (3.1 km loop)

3. Pet Exercise Trail (1.4 km loop)

4. The Shield Route (8.0 km loop)

5. Abes & Essens Trail (13.km walk)

The Clifftop route is an out-and-back 1.7 km long trail with some of the most native and picturesque scenes in Bon Echo Park. Usually, Mazinaw Lake is divided into two parts: the Upper and Lower part, with a shallow, narrow water path known as The Narrows.

The introductory of Clifftop Trail lies on the lake's western side, offering a full view of The Narrow from the south.

Campfire meals and hinting are also excellent distractions during hiking. Most routes are near the beaches where you can take a break to enjoy the calm waters and wet sand with other hikers. Kayaking is another fun activity to try when touring Bon Echo.

Things not to be missed

Bon Echo Provincial Park offers an array of accommodation and camping options for different groups of people based on their nature of tour and preference. However, the park usually fills up quickly, so it's better to make reservations in advance.

If you're more of a backcountry hiker, you can opt for a nice, decent, and safe camping site and enjoy beautiful, private moments with your family and loved ones. The charges for a camping site will depend on the type of campsite you choose: regular or electrical.

Alternatively, you can opt for roofed accommodations, which come in different prices and structures.

Generally, the fees for roofed accommodations will vary with the location and quality of the unit you select. The backcountry cabin can cost a maximum of $119 per night, while hill cabins cost $242.95 per night and $1050 per week.

The park also rents camping cabins for $152.55 and deluxe tents for $111.87-$152.55 per night. Trailer-equipped campsites are also rented at the same fee, while cottages are somewhat pricier, with the highest going at $322.85 per night.

Where to sleep ? - Our favorites

our best accommodation options when touring Bon Echo Park are:

1. Pristine Waterfront Cottages at Bon Echo's Park Edge

This 4-person cottage is located 2 minutes away from the park, has two bedrooms, a bathroom, outdoor space, BBQ grill kitchen, and offers clean cotton towels.

2. Park Place Motel and Suites

If you're on a budget, these motels and suites can be the best option for you. It has good air-conditioning 24/7 front desk and different deluxe accommodation options at a fair price.

Where to Eat ?

There are several eating stopovers near the park. You can opt to visit these restaurants or make a campfire meal depending on your preference.

Our favorite choices are

1. Grands General Store

Located only 7.7 miles from Bon Echo Park, this restaurant is among the closest eating points to consider. Its broad menu features palatable breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus with multiple dining and payments options and a spacious parking lot.

2. Gala's Pit Stop

Open every day from 11 am-6 pm, the Gala's Pit Stop can be the best stopover for that brunch or late lunch while touring Bon Echo park. It serves frozen yogurt and ice cream, traditional American foods, poutineries, Canadian cuisines, patio, and vegetarian dishes.