Thanks to the park staff for assisting with the history of this campground! Support them here.

Website

Bon Echo

Bon Echo P.P. is located on 16151 Highway 41 in Cloyne, ON. The park is known for scenic 100m high Mazinaw Rock, standing above the coldwater lake of the same name. The park is also known for its backcountry trails and its indigenous pictographs, which you can see via the Wanderer T'oor Boat. We visited in September 2024.

History

Lots of history to dive into here. Mazinaw Rock was formed via a fault line that runs in Mazinaw Lake. Half of the rock split to the right (viewed from opposite shore) and bottom of the rock, creating the diagonal scrapping. Eventually, the Price family was granted ownership of the land and created a cottage resort, including the visitor centre (formerly a cottage known as Dollywood), Cabin on the Hill (formerly a schoolhouse, then a Salvation Army depot), and Greystones (formerly a schoolhouse, then a cottage). And, of course, the Bon Echo Inn, which was originally a religious retreat after being constructed in 1901. Once the Denison family gained ownership of the land, they rebranded the religious retreat to a more open kind of a resort - similar to a hotel. After the inn burnt down in 1936, Mr. Merrill Denison was desiring a conservationist approach to Mazinaw Lake and Mazinaw Rock. This is why he donated his land to the province in 1959, before the park opened in 1965. Now a red pine plantation stands at the former inn site.

Mrs. Price loved the echo off of Mazinaw Rock, and due to her French-Canadian roots, nicknamed the inn 'Bon Echo', literally meaning 'Good Echo'.

What the Park Offers

Bon Echo offers:
- paddling on scenic Mazinaw Lake, or to the Cliff Top Trail which is water access only
- motorboating; no wake in the Narrows
- swimming on numerous sandy beaches
- pet exercise on a beach and a trail
- two different boat tours available here
- learning about history in interpretive programs, signage, the visitor centre and tours
- backcountry camping on Joeperry Lake and the Abes and Essens Trail system

TRAIL GUIDES ARE AVAILABLE for Shield, Cliff Top and High Pines. They cost $2 at the gatehouse.

Bon Echo's most popular trails are:

Abes and Essens Trail - 3.8km-19.8km difficult

This well marked yet overgrown and unmaintained trail is well loved amongst backcountry campers. Providing campsite access and great views of Abes Lake, Essens Lake, Bon Echo Creek, and Clutes Lake. (no bikes)

Cliff Top Trail - 0.75km moderate

Water access leads to a dock at the head of Cliff Top Trail, a scenic climb atop Mazinaw Rock. Great views from platforms over 100m in the air. (no bikes)

Bon Echo Creek Trail - 1km, easy

A short and linear trail walks along the Bon Echo Creek before arriving at a footbridge overlooking scenic Mazinaw Lake. (no bikes)

High Pines Trail - 1.7km, easy

This historic loop starts on former Addington Road, a colonial road then transformed into old Highway 41. The trail eventually diverges and leads to a scenic lookout over Mazinaw Rock. (no bikes)

There are 2 trails I didn't do, and they are:

Shield Trail - 4.8km, moderate

Loops around Bon Echo Lake, providing interesting insight into the marsh habitat.

Pet Exercise Trail - 1.4km, easy

A great trail to let the dogs run.

Visiting the Park

THIS DOES NOT DESCRIBE HOW TO ACCESS HARDWOOD HILLS CAMPGROUND. GET PROPER MAPS FROM THE PARK OFFICE FOR ACCESS.

Drive in. Pass the first. Decide if you need to go to Hardwoods Hills Campground or Mazinaw Lake. Go to Mazinaw Lake. Pass High Pines parking lot and the day use access road. Pass the second gatehouse. You'll see Sawmill Bay Campground on the left, Midway Campground on the right. The road will split into two one-way roads. After the roads converge, see Fairway Campground on the right, and then parking for the visitor centre/amphitheatre. See map supplied below for details.

Interesting Species

Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.

Interesting Rocks (I KNOW THIS IS NOT A SPECIES)

Flying Squirrels

Five Lined Skinks

Peregrine Falcons are found diving off of Mazinaw Rock

Tips and Advice

Don't bring bikes. No trails are bikable.
BOOK A BOAT TOUR! Unforgettably awesome.

SPOTLIGHT: Indigenous Pictographs

The main attraction of Bon Echo is seeing the indigenous pictographs, supposedly dating back to the time before and during the settler period. These were drawn by native folk whilst paddling in their canoes. The paint used is a primitive mixture using ground rocks, animal fats, and red ochre. Drawings range greatly in size and are typically animals or native spirits. The one on the right is Mishibishiw, a spirit who translates to "Great Lynx".

Opinions

Nash

Top 10 park easily. Great views, great history. 9/10.

Map:

Scanned Sep 1, 2024 at 4:25:15 PM.pdf

I cannot upload the three trail guides (High Pines, Shield, Cliff Top) because they are not free - I may be sued.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse