Bon Echo – Exploring the Mazinaw Rock
One of Ontario’s most popular Provincial Parks, Bon Echo is a summer destination of importance in this part of the country. The campground (with day access) consists of a series of lakes, forested area and soaring rock formations.
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Exploring the Park
The camping and park entrance is built on a forested peninsula at the Base of the Mazinaw Rock. This campsite has access to many hiking trails around the lake and has modern washroom facilities as well as showers. A crescent shaped beach on the north side of this peninsula gives way to the beauty of the rock!
On the tip of the peninsula itself you will find an information sign dedicated to the long lost Bon Echo Inn. Its proximity to the rock made it an instantly popular place with Canadian writers, who would dub it the “Canadian Gibraltar” (Ok, I know! That’s not particularly original!). The hotel declined in the 1920’s and burned down after a lightning strike in 1926.
Funnily enough a solitary lightpost still anchors itself to the peninsula’s extent. When you pass it you will see the hulking mass of Mazinaw Rock.
This sport offers great photo taking opportunities. Due to the narrow width of the passage, boats will often crowd this passage. I was able to get a picture without anyone in the frame as I was there were less than 10 people in the park due to the Covid-19 epidemic – the park was open but the facilities were shut.
Since there was nobody there, but our party, I decided to let the dog go wild in the water! She loved it!
The rock is over 100m (330ft) and stretches along for a full 1.5 km’s. Although the lake is narrow at the narrows, it is actually 145 meters (476 ft) deep, making it one of the deepest in Ontario. The name of the park actually derives from the rock. During storms or fireworks a large echo can be heard emanating from the rock.
On the south side of the peninsula you will find a lagoon with a boat launch. From this boat launch your access to the park will pay for a ride across the lake to the trailhead leading up the rock for lake view. The name Mazinaw comes from the Algonquian language and means the painted rock.
Alternatively, you could rent a canoe/kayak and paddle the length of the rock where many ancient native pictograms have been inscribed!
Not far from the lagoon is a public beach with a view of the lake.
Conclusion
Bon Echo is a wonderful weekend getaway. Whether you wish to kayak on the lake itself, swim, hike or just simply lounge, you will find some place to do it at Bon Echo!
