Wandering Ontario’s History at Bon Echo Provincial Park
The first time we camped as new parents were when our oldest was a spunky toddler; the park we choose was Bon Echo Provincial Park. I assume our decision back then had lots to do with Ontario’s history at Bon Echo Provincial Park. In this blog, I’ll share insights from our family camping trip in one of our favorite Ontario Parks and why we keep going back to Bon Echo.
This Ontario Park isn’t just a camping ground; it takes you back in time. Grabbing your inner creative and offering up so much exploring you’ll need more than a couple of days to cover off your Bon Echo Wish List. Here are Six Reasons we love Bon Echo Provincial Park!
See the largest collections of visible pictographs in Canada.
Mazinaw Rock is 100 meters high and features over 260 Indigenous pictographs – one of the largest visible collections in Canada. Not only does Mazinaw Rock tell a story, but it is also lined with cliff dwarf cedars that are over 1000 years old.
Please note: You can book the interpretive boat tour for an up-close and personal look at the Mazinaw Rock. These tickets cannot be booked in advance and first come first serve for the same day. If this is high on your wish list, I suggest you get to the Greystones Gift and Book Shop early to avoid disappointment there is only one ferry that runs this tour.
Alternatively, I suggest booking a canoe, kayak or SUP board from Bon Echo Outfitters.
Bon Echo Outfitters will provide you with everything you need to spend a lovely afternoon on the water. Getting up close and personal with Mazinaw Rock was a very spiritual experience for our children. They saw the Indigenous pictographs, asked questions, tried to imagine what the Indigenous artist was trying to say through his drawing.
The only regret we have from our Canoe day was that we didn’t plan a longer paddle. Next time, we plan on paddling the Kishkebus Canoe Route. This 21 km (6 hours) loop, takes you passed indigenous pictographs to the nature reserve on the east side of the park.
Swim in the third deepest lake in Ontario – Mazinaw Lake
Mazinaw Lake is crisp, clear and also known as the third deepest lake in Ontario. Most fisherman our friend spoke too didn’t have much luck when it comes to fishing in it, I guess the fish are enjoying the deep cold waters down below? But you cannot beat the swimming in Mazinaw Lake. Bon Echo Provincial Park has three natural sand beaches recommended for swimming.
We also swam in front of where Bon Echo Inn was located before it burned down. The section we swam at has a rocky bottom and not recommended as a beach, but the kids enjoyed it all the same.
For your furry family members.
The boy’s favorite beach was the off-leash dog beach where they played fetch with a few new furry friends.
The dog beach is spotless and has a sandy bottom. Furthermore, it has a pet exercise trail that loops around for off-leash fun with your furry family. This dog beach is on par with the one at Mikisew Provincial Park both offer warm welcomes and a place for the dogs to cool down.
Be inspired where creative minds gather, including The Group of Seven.
During the early 1900s, the Bon Echo Inn was a major center for the arts in the summertime and a place for creative minds to gather. A Toronto feminist Flora MacDonald Denison owned this wilderness retreat for artists. You can learn all about her life and the large stone monument she dedicated to American poet Walt Whitman at the Visitor Center.
In honor of Toronto feminist Flora MacDonald Denison, I’m always inspired during our Bon Echo camping trips to write a poem during early mornings at the beach. This year, I was inspired by the Group of Seven and packed paintbrushes and canvas’ to try something new. With age, I’ve desired to give the painting a try, and I’m pretty pleased with how my beginning experiment turned out.
Hike the Mazinaw Rock.
The first time we camped at Bon Echo I hiked the Cliff Top Trail at seven months pregnant; I wouldn’t say it’s easy, it’s more of a moderate hike. The 1.5 km (1 hour) loop has very uneven train and over 250 stairs to climb up. The lookout views at the top are priceless!
Please note: The Cliff Top Trail is only accessible by water, you can rent a canoe through Bon Echo Outfitters or take the ferry service (fees apply). Again, the ferry sells out fast, and I suggest you get to the Greystones Gift and Book Shop early and buy your tickets quickly to avoid disappointment. We took the ferry and enjoyed the boat ride over. The guide is a wealth of information and gave us tips for exploring Mazinaw Rock.
In addition, before you hop on the ferry, visitors can fill a bucket with gravel to put on eroded areas of the Cliff Top Trail as part of the trail rehabilitation program.
Lay on the beach and see a shooting star.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t capture a picture to tell this story, but trust me; add this to your bucket list. The night sky over Bon Echo is deep blue-black filled with specks of stars. We don’t take flashlights, we wander through the camp park roads to the narrows. This is where we stop and breathe in the night sky.
“In conclusion, Bon Echo Provincial Park once again you won our hearts.
There are already talks of booking for a week next year with a couple of families. A week would give us enough time to hike new trails, explore Joeperry and Pearson Lakes and just be! “
It’s not too late to enjoy the season, six Ontario Parks extend fall camping.
Ontario Parks announces that six parks extend their camping season this year. Spend Thanksgiving in nature and surround yourself with the colors of fall.
Check out the full list of Ontario Parks 2019 operating dates can be found here.
You may like to read this article: Silent Lake Provincial Park. Another article I've written from Ontario Parks: Five Reasons To Family Camp at Mikisew Provincial Park Here is how to find Nature’s Wonderland at Bonnechere Provincial Park
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Thank you, Ontario Parks, for the invite. As always, these are our opinions and this, and all reviews are written with honesty from our heart.