Things to Do…
Bon Echo Provincial Park
A mere 20-minute drive away, Bon Echo is North Frontenac’s claim to fame. According to the Ontario Parks website, here is what you will like about the park:
100 metre high Mazinaw Rock featuring over 260 Indigenous pictographs
Great hiking trails from 1 km in length to 17 km in length
Interpretive Boat Tours on Mazinaw Lake and over to Mazinaw Rock
Camping experience for everyone: RV, car camping, backcountry, and roofed accommodations
Interior canoe-in and hike-in sites available
Friends of Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale
Fishing
Mississagagon Lake is a great spot for fishing because almost the whole north shore is undeveloped private land. As a result, the traffic on the lake is minimal. Species you could catch include large- and small-mouth bass, walleye, northern pike, perch, and even the occasional whitefish or lake trout.
Bring your own boat and launch it on site, or rent one of ours for the day or week. You must have your Pleasure Craft Operator Card and some experience operating an outboard motor.
Please be aware of the local regulations - we are in Zone 18 (Eastern Ontario).
Fishing licences can be purchased online.
Birdwatching
With over 200 different species in this part of the province, you’re bound to see some interesting birds. Take a gander along some of our trails as well as 506 Rd. to take in the sights and sounds. Please no trespassing on the Old 506 Rd. (aka Salmond Lane) - just stick to the trails and the public roads!
During the summer and especially the spring and fall migrations, we have seen many charismatic songbirds including indigo buntings, cedar waxwings, northern cardinals, rose-breasted grosbeak, and many different types of warblers including chestnut-sided, Cape May, Nashville, black-and-white, common redstarts, ovenbirds, and northern waterthrushes among others.
If you’re lucky you may even spot a bald eagle or osprey soaring over the lake and of course the common loons and whip-poor-wills will put you right to sleep. This barred owl was right beside the trail, offering fantastic photo opportunities!
Kayaking and Canoeing
One of the best ways to enjoy the lake is either by kayak or canoe. The majority of the lake is undeveloped, especially the north shore, with lots of little bays, wetlands, and creeks that you can only get to via these smaller boats.
At Lancaster’s, we have five kayaks, two canoes and a SUP board all available for our guests to rent for $25 per vessel per 24 hours. Wear your lifejackets!
Interested in guided trips, shore lunches, and more? Check out Cruising Canoes, who also have their own set of rentals on site.
Wildlife Viewing
Black bears and deer are some of the larger mammals we have seen in the area, but you may also spot porcupines, raccoons, red foxes, squirrels, and chipmunks. And for you herptile nerds out there, painted and snapping turtles, salamanders, snakes and frogs are also found.
Although you may think snakes are creepy, please do not harm them as all species are protected here (yes, this includes water snakes), just get out of their way and let them pass. The same goes for the frogs - leave them alone and do not catch them for bait. There are bait shops in town, there’s no need to catch the wildlife.
This shy porcupine was right up on 506 Rd., but if you’re going to pull over for animals, make sure you do so safely!
Stargazing
Being a 5-minute drive to North Frontenac’s Dark Sky Preserve must tell you something! If you’re staying at the resort, there isn’t even a need to drive to the preserve as there are some great viewing opportunities right outside your door. Not to brag or anything, but we have some of the best skies for stargazing in southern Ontario.
Can you spot Comet NEOWISE (of 2020) in the photo? Could not get a better view than that!
And so much more!
Boating and Watersports
Antiquing
Artists and Artisans
Restaurants
Cycling
Roadtrips
Snorkeling
… you get the idea!
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