Fun Stuff To Do
Fun Stuff To Do
Area Attractions, Activities & Amenities
You and your family will never run out of interesting things to do at Bon Echo Family Campground and surrounding area. At the campground enjoy; canoe, kayak, pedal boat rentals, swimming, fishing, water sports, boat launch, soccer, bocce ball, horseshoes, children’s play area. The local area offers even more;
Fishing & Boating
They don’t call this area the Land O’Lakes region for nothing! They should also call it the Land O’Fish region. We’re right on Little Marble Lake which will amaze you with it’s calm and quiet waters. A small lake, there are few motorized boats on it yet you can expect to catch some good sized bass and trout. If you are an avid boater, fisher, water-skier, or long-haul canoeists, you can keep busy for hours on the huge Lake Mazinaw and other lakes nearby. No boat? Rent a motorboat or pontoon boat at Smart’sMarina.
Canoeing/Kayaking
Bon Echo Family Campground is located right on the headwaters of the Mississippi River—a waterway and popular canoe route that flows 200km from Mazinaw Lake in the west to the mighty Ottawa River. This route offers a mix of river and lake travel with class I – IV whitewater depending upon water levels and flow conditions. A trek through the area lakes and streams is a journey through history; rocky shores scraped by advancing glaciers; potholes gouged out of the granite by swirling rocks and water; ancient paintings by native people; old log slides, dams and mill ruins. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent from Bon Echo Family Campground as well as the Provincial Park. Start planning your trip by viewing the campground area canoe route options as well as the Mississippi River route complete with portage locations.
ATV Trail Riding
We’re in ATV country! You will love the vast network of ATV trails in the area, allowing you to explore hundreds of kilometers. Bring your map or GPS so you can make it back for dinner! Visit the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance for more information on trails in our region.
Golf, Tennis & Pickleball
If camping doesn’t provide enough green in your day, hit the links! Hunters Creek Golf Course is only minutes away. Also, just down the road on Hwy 41 is a free outdoor tennis & pickleball court.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikers will enjoy remarkable scenery and differing terrains to challenge bikers of all skill levels. With over 58 kilometers of Crown access roads and a multitude of off-road trails through the forests and around the lakes of the North Frontenac Park Lands, bikers will take in stunning vistas from sandy beaches, pristine lakes and upland hardwood, to igneous substrata, granite slopes, rocky bluffs and outcroppings.
Hiking
Literally miles of old trails, utility right of ways and old logging and Crown access roads wind their way through the forests and between the lakes making the nearby Bon Echo Provincial Park and North Frontenac Park Lands a hiker’s paradise. Learn More
Museums & Culture
Discover how life was like for the early pioneers of the area at the Pioneer Museum. Handle live snakes and learn about wildlife and history at the both wildlife and history Bon Echo Provincial Park visitor’s centre. Enjoy pony rides and learn all about animals at the Land O’Lakes Petting Farm just minutes down the road.
Bon Echo Provincial Park
Why drive all the way to Algonquin when you can enjoy the same here? A favourite destination for painters and photographers, this massive nature park is renowned for Mazinaw Rock; an almost 2 kilometre cliff rises 100 metres above Mazinaw Lake, one of the deepest in Ontario, and features over 260 native pictographs estimated to be over 1000 years old – the largest visible collection in Canada. More. While visiting the park, you can enjoy the following activities;
Mazinaw Lake & Cliffs Tour Boat: a 26 passenger boat provides a casual tour of Upper Mazinaw Lake. The cruise is led by an interpreter who explains points of interest along the way. Learn about the fascinating features of the majestic Mazinaw Rock, the 1000 year-old native pictographs, and the ancient cedar trees that have survived for hundreds of years. Read more.
Mugwump Ferry Ride & Cliff Hike: a 12 passenger pontoon boat takes you across Mazinaw Lake to the massive Mazinaw Rock. Once there, you can ascend the 200 foot cliff using safe stairs and then hike to some spectacular lookouts. Read more.
Bon Echo Visitor’s Centre: handle live snakes, view captive animals, get up and close with a black bear and other animals (stuffed). See exhibits depicting life in the 1800s and learn about the rich history of the area.
Hidden Cave Adventures
Explore these natural underground caves along with scenic nature trails at:
Hell Holes Nature Trails & Caves
Events
Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale (late July): This annual event attracts dozens of artists and hundreds of visitors from all over Ontario. Read more.
Flinton Country Bluegrass Jamboree (Early August): Toe-tappin’ fun is guaranteed at the Annual Flinton Country Jamboree this Civic long weekend. Festivities include over two dozen entertainers.
Star Gazing: L & A Dark Sky Viewing Area (DSVA) & North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve (check out links below)
https://naturallyla.ca/explore/dark-sky-viewing-area-lennox-addington
https://www.northfrontenac.com/en/open-for-business/dark-sky-preserve.aspx
7980 Country Road 41, Erinsville. Approximately 30kms or 40 minutes south of the campground, free admission. It is the most southernly point in Ontario that offers a night sky experience very similar to what was available more than 100 years ago. The DSVA hosts laser guided stargazing tours and astrophotography events n weekends from May through Septembers. Check out the website for full details.
Area Historic Towns
Kingston (1hr, 20min): Visit the personal residence of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, tour historic Old Fort Henry, go back in time in one of Canada’s oldest cities. More.
Napanee (1 hr): Discover Avril Lavigne’s historic home town. With it’s beautiful downtown, numerous mansions, Napanee was also frequented by Canadian Idol Ryan Malcolm and Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A Macdonald. (1 hour drive) More.
Other area cities/towns include: Tamworth(40 mins), Tweed(40 mins), Renfrew(40 mins).
