Silent Lake ❄️
Silent Lake ❄️
Silent Lake P.P. is located at 1589 Silent Lake Park Road on Highway 28 in Bancroft, ON. The park is mainly known for its winter program and the long stringy lake of bays it sits on. We visited in January 2025.
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History
History
The first real usage of this land was for forestry in the 1800s. This was the only usage up until 1912 when the "Six Points Lodge" was built. Silent Lake Park began construction in 1966, continuing up until 1978. The park was first opened in 1975.
SIlent Lake is motorboat free, hence silence. I cannot verify whether or not this is the origin, but it is a common little phrase.
What the Park Offers
What the Park Offers
Silent Lake offers:
- mountain biking on a 17km trail
- cross country skiing on the same 17km trail
- 2 sandy beaches
- snowshoeing and other winter activities
- lake trout, small and largemouth bass, and panfish can be fished for
- canoeing and paddling in a chain of lakes
The WINTER trails at Silent Lake are:
Lakeshore Trail - 11 or 17km, difficult
Lakeshore Trail - 11 or 17km, difficult
Circumnavigating Silent Lake are two loops, both under the name "Lakeshore". If you want just the most per square inch on a trail, bike or hike this one. (both loops can be biked)
Bonnie Pond Trail - 3km, easy-moderate
Bonnie Pond Trail - 3km, easy-moderate
The first part of the Bonnie Pond Trail leads to the Bonnie Pond. The name of which comes from a horse called Bonnie, who was used to help with logging in the area. Unfortunately, she fell through the ice and was never found again. This is where the pond got its name.
The second section climbs to a scenic lookout over Silent Lake, intersecting the Lakeshore Trail. There is a bench for photo-ops and possible picnics. (no bikes)
Cross Country Skiing Loops
Cross Country Skiing Loops
In the winter, there are a few cross-country loops, including the Lakeshore Trail. These trails use colour names - blue, black, red, yellow, and green. The photo on the left is a waterfall near the day use area. There is no walking on these trails in the winter except for a certain section of the yellow path. See the winter map here.
Visiting the Park
Visiting the Park
Drive in, dump station on the left. Pass the gatehouse. The first left is the day use area, with the 10 Six Point Camp Cabins and the day use beach. Continue on Silent Lake Park Rd., and you'll see the walk-in campsite parking lot. Continue straight and you'll see Granite Ridge campground, and keep going into Pincer Bay campground. Note that you cannot drive into Pincer Bay campground in the winter; you must park in the Bonnie Pond parking lot and walk in. The beach is accessed in Pincer Bay. See map here.
Interesting Species
Interesting Species
Note that the photos in this section are not explicitly from this park, they are good photos of species that live here.
Smallmouth Bass
Coniferous forests
Pine martens
Black-capped chickadee
Tips and Advice
Tips and Advice
Go in the winter and book a yurt.
NOTE that in the winter, there is a path from Pincer Bay campground, through sites 1 and 2, and into the Bonnie Pond parking lot. This trail IS NOT open in the summer time.
Book a double site. Read about 'em here.
Pincer Bay Beach in the winter
SPOTLIGHT: Winter Activities
SPOTLIGHT: Winter Activities
We booked a yurt #7 for New Years here. It was great. I have never been in a yurt before, expecting it to be cold, and it, surprisingly, wasn't. There was a wood stove, 2 bunk beds, a barbecue, a deck, a table and chairs, but no hydro or running water. I still thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There are also camp cabins and some hydro - powered yurts in the Granite Ridge Campground. Not to mention the snowshoeing / hiking trails, which I did, and would recommend. They were relatively wide, well-maintained, and offered great and icy views of Silent Lake. And there's also the cross country ski trails! So much to talk about, I would say to go to this link or this map to see more in higher detail.
Opinions
Opinions
Nash
Nash
Just like Mark S Burnham (which I day-tripped from this park), the snow and ice actually helped this park. Made everything more interesting and beautiful. But this park was beautiful anyways so 8/10.
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