Bonnechere P.P. is located 4024 Round Lake Dr, Killaloe, ON. The park is on the historic Bonnechere River and Round Lake, where the Bonnechere River ends. Bonnechere is one of the few Ontario Parks that is almost entirely barrier free. We visited this park the weekend following Canada Day 2024.
Bonnechere was open to the public in 1967, but it was a private park long before that. When deciding to develop a provincial park in the area, there was two choices - Bonnechere, and Foy. Knowing that Bonnechere was at the mouth of the Bonnechere River (a very popular backcountry navigation river), it was chosen to be a stop for the paddlers.
The word "Bonnechere" comes from two French words, "bonne" and "chere". "Bonne" means fine or good, and "Chere" means "dear". Bonnechere can also mean "fine meal".
Bonnechere is known for many activities:
- canoeing up and down the historic river
- hiking the barrier free trails
- walks of the Little Bonnechere River
- fishing from the oxbow lakes and the dock; common catches are bass, pike, and pickerel.
- swimming on Round Lake's sands
- volleyball, horseshoe, and basketball
Bonnechere's trails are:
- McNaughton Trail 2km easy; this trail starts from the depot and encircles a wetland before nearing the Bonnechere River and returning.
- Nopoming FIT Trail 0.8km barrier-free; this trail is an interpretive trail running from the park office to the river. A limestone base makes it wheelchair accessible.
- Nadobikana FIT Trail 0.3km barrier-free, the easiest trail I've ever walked. Short with beach and marshland views.
(sorry for the sideways images - it's due to a Google Sites glitch; apologies)
After turning in the park, you'll see a decommissioned park office on the left. If you turn right, you'll end up in Sandy Flats Campground; go left and you'll take a long road to the 4 Rustic Cabins. Continue straight for a bit before seeing River Loop Campground on the left and the Tall Pines on the right. At the end of the road, you'll see the beach, the store, the Nadobikana Trail, and the main section with a variety of other activities.
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
Various Turtle Species: Blanding's, map, snapping, etc.
Painted turtles - there is a sanctuary by the cabins
Red-winged blackbird
Black-capped Chickadee
Have a beach day - enjoy yourself.
Invite your disabled friends/family members as this park can be explored by anyone.
Paddle under the bridge to nearby Bonnechere River P.P.
Bring a camera to photograph the painted turtles near the rustic cabins.
Look out for events held by the Bonnechere park staff and the Friends of Bonnechere organization.
Paddle to the lookout tower to view some birds in the marsh behind. Sadly, it's a bit overgrown.
The opposite side of the bridge (Round Lake Road). This is Bonnechere River P.P., a non-operating one.
Bonnechere P.P. recently added wheelchair accessible trails, washrooms, beach access points, and more for the disabled among us to enjoy. They have went to tremendous heights to make sure everyone can enjoy the park, regardless of their bodies' conditions. Along with boardwalks (pictured right), they have trails entirely made of gravel with fence along each side for those who are partially or fully blind.
After visiting Driftwood, this park was very comparable in terms of likability for me. The Bonnechere River was beautiful, the beach was sandy, the turtles were plentiful, the park was accessible for my dad who tore his achilles tendon, it was great. On par with Driftwood - a solid 7.9/10.
Scanned Aug 1, 2024 at 10:24:17 PM.pdf
