Skip to main content
Bon Echo

Bon Echo Provincial Park

Backcountry Camping

1. The Experience

Bon Echo Provincial Park offers family friendly canoe routes and rugged backcountry hiking. The park features several pristine Canadian Shield lakes which provide a secluded experience. Visitors may be able to spot moose foraging or red cardinal flowers growing along the marshy banks in August.

Joeperry and Pearson Lakes offer 21 canoe-in campsites. There is a 500 m portage on a well-maintained trail from the parking area down to the shore of Joeperry Lake. From there, the marked campsites are easily accessed on flat water by a short paddle ranging from 300 m to 1.5 km. The varied contour and depths of the lakes lend themselves to fishing opportunities for Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Lake Trout.

The 17 km Abes and Essens hiking trail has five backcountry campsites at varying distances around its three loops. Each is on one of the three lakes that the trail circumnavigates. The Abes and Essens trail provides spectacular views of rapids, glacial formations, and wildlife. The trail passes along numerous glacial erratics (giant boulders).

Each campsite has a picnic table, cleared area for a tent, fire pit, and box privy.

2. Reservations and Interior Camping Permits

Campsite specific reservations are available online or by phone up to five months in advance of your arrival date. Reservations are recommended to secure your campsite.

Campsite specific and interior camping reservations are available online or by phone up to five months in advance of your arrival date. Reservations are recommended to secure a campsite.

3. Trip Planning

Canoe rentals are available.

Motorboat restrictions are in place at Bon Echo Provincial Park.

Please be respectful of the natural environment and other visitors. Practice leave-no-trace camping, camp only on designated campsites, and be aware of your surrounding neighbours, ecology, and wildlife. We appreciate your efforts to maintain this pristine environment.

Car Camping

Bon Echo offers car camping in two campgrounds; Mazinaw Lake and Hardwood Hill.

The Mazinaw Lake Campground has three camping loops; Sawmill Bay, Midway and Fairway. Campsites on these loops can accommodate equipment ranging from tents only to large trailers. Many campsites offer electrical hook-up. Amenities such as water taps, comfort stations and laundry facilities are close by. Swimming, boating and the Visitor Centre are only a short distance away.

For a semi-wilderness experience, you can camp in the maple-beech forest of the Hardwood Hill Campground. Sites in Hardwood Hill can accommodate tents or tent-trailers. Toilets are nearby and there is one comfort station to service the campground. There are no electrical hook-ups.

Camping reservation holders:

Please pre-register all occupants of your campsite (no more than 6 people total per site) and vehicle license plate numbers through your Ontario Parks Reservations account in advance of your arrival in order to expedite the check-in process.

If you arrive after the gatehouses have closed:

Please follow the directions posted at Main Gate for after-hours arrivals. You will check-in and obtain permits the following morning. Please call the park at 613-336-2228 with any questions.

Radio-Free Camping

The Midway loop of the Mazinaw Lake Campground and Hardwood Hill Campground are radio-free.

Walk-In Camping

If you prefer some distance from other campers and your car, consider a walk-in campsite. Sawmill Bay Campground loop has five walk-in campsites located right on Mazinaw Lake. The Hardwood Hill Campground has a walk-in loop with nine campsites. Parking is approximately 100 to 300 metres from your campsite.

Roofed Accommodation

Roofed Accommodation Rustic Cabin

Number at Park: 1

Site Number(s) / Name: Cabin on the Hill

The Cabin on the Hill is a historic log cabin dating from the 1870s. It has been moved twice during its lifetime and is now located on a hill near the Visitor Centre. Guests staying at the cabin will enjoy a great view of Mazinaw Rock.

Check-in/Check-out

4pm/10am

Sleeps:

6

Amenities

The cabin sleeps six. There is one bed in a separate bedroom and two pull out couches in the main living area. The kitchen has an electric fridge, stove, microwave and kettle. The cabin has running water with a stand up shower, toilet and sink. Electric heaters are provided for the cooler months. Outside, you will find a propane barbeque (propane is provided), picnic table and firepit.

What to Bring

Visitors should bring their own bedding, food, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery and all other personal items.

Restrictions

Reservations are available for 6 nights only (Saturday to Friday) from the 3rd Friday in June to Labour day. Outside of this window there is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Please note that domestic animals (pets) are not permitted in the cabin nor on the site and smoking is prohibited in all facilities.

Parking

Parking for one vehicle is included.

How to Reserve

Reservations for the Cabin on the Hill can be made online or by phone.

Roofed Accommodation Rustic Cabin

Number at Park: 12

Site Number(s) / Name: 610, 611, 612, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623

The camp cabin is a rustic one room cabin with a rustic wood interior. The cabin sleeps five on a queen bed and double/single bunk bed.

Check-in/Check-out

4pm/10am

Sleeps:

5

Amenities

The cabin features a kitchenette with a microwave, mini fridge, kettle and counter space. There is a dining table and chairs for inside meals. Outside you will find a propane barbeque (propane is provided), picnic table and fire pit. Cabins are equipped with electric base board heating.

What to Bring

Visitors should bring their own bedding, food, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery and all other personal items.

Restrictions

There is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Please note dogs are permitted in cabin 612. Pets are not permitted in any other camp cabins. Smoking is prohibited. Cabins are located in radio free area.

Parking

​Parking for one vehicle is included.

How to Reserve

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

Roofed Accommodation Soft Sided Shelter

Number at Park: 2

Site Number(s) / Name: 158 & 160

The Exploration Tents located in Sawmill Bay campground are soft-walled structures that can accommodate up to five people on a single-level sleeping platform. Both sites are close to beautiful Mazinaw Lake. Campsite 160 even has a view of Mazinaw Rock. Exploration Tents make a cozy “home away from home.” Enjoy immersion in nature without the need to pack and pitch your tent.

Check-in/Check-out

4pm/10am

Sleeps:

5

Amenities

Each tent is equipped with: sleeping platform with four mattresses, indoor table and chairs, and a shelving unit. Outside, you will find a propane barbeque (propane is provided), picnic table and firepit.

What to Bring

Visitors should bring their own bedding, food, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery and all other personal items.

Restrictions

There is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Please note that domestic animals (pets) are not permitted in the exploration tent nor on the site and smoking is prohibited in all facilities.

Parking

​Parking for one vehicle is included.

How to Reserve

Reservations can be made online or by phone.

Roofed Accommodation Soft Sided Shelters

Number at Park: 7

Site Number(s) / Name: 148, 153, 157, 701, 702, 703, 704

Three of Bon Echo’s seven yurts are located in the Sawmill Bay area of Mazinaw Lake Campground. A comfort station is nearby. The remaining four yurts are located near the South Beach.

Check-in/Check-out

4pm/10am

Sleeps:

6

Amenities

Each yurt is equipped with two sets of bunk beds (double lower, single upper) and sleeps up to six. Inside the yurt, campers will also find a table and chairs. Outside, you will find a propane barbeque (propane is provided), picnic table and firepit. Yurts have electricity, electric heat and are barrier-free.

What to Bring

Visitors should bring their own bedding, food, pots, pans, dishes, cutlery and all other personal items.

Restrictions

There is a 2-night minimum stay and a 3-night minimum stay on long weekends.

Please note dogs are permitted in Yurt 153. Pets are not permitted in any other Yurts. Smoking is prohibited. Cooking in yurts is not permitted.

Parking

Parking for one vehicle is included.

How to Reserve

Reservations can be made online or through our call centre by calling 1-888-ONT-PARK.