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An update adventure for Thanksgiving at one of the most beautiful parks in Ontario - Bon Echo.
We're visiting at the best possible time of year. Fall colours are in full bloom and we'll be hiking the famous Cliff Top Trail with a view over the surrounding forest. It's also a Dark Sky Preserve - the best place to be right now with extra high aurora activity, little moon and predicted clear skies.
We're hoping to get canoes on Sunday which will allow us to start with a canoe lesson before taking you right to the edge of the famous Mazinaw Rock - a giant granite cliff-face adorned with ancient pictographs.
There'll be a bit of everything on this adventure:
- Restorative time in the outdoors
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Camping skills education
- Time on the water and at the beach
- Hanging out around a campfire
And if we get really lucky, some epic star gazing.
We're spoiled for options over the weekend. We'll spend the first day setting up camp and orienting ourselves before spending a night around the campfire with a shared dinner and games.
Day 2, we'll try to rent canoes to explore the incredibly beautiful Mazinaw lake and hike the clifftop trail. There are a few other hikes there that take you through shield territory that's unlike anything you've seen North of Toronto.
Sleeping Arrangements
We've got 2 adjoining campsites and a 3rd, that's very close. Each campsite accommodates 6 people and allows a total of 3 tents.
Washing facilities
Toilets - There are pit latrines throughout the camp. These are effectively a toilet over a deep hole in the ground and they are stocked with toilet paper.
Water - There is drinking water on tap available throughout the camp
Comfort stations - There are also heated comfort stations with indoor, plumbed toilets, hot showers and sinks with both hot and cold water. These are a bit more of a walk.
Saturday 12th October
08:50 - Pick up at the PetroCanada by Keele Subway Station
09:00 - Head off to Bon Echo. It's approximately a 3 hours drive and we'll stop for lunch en route.
13:00 - Meet with self-drivers at the Bon Echo Provincial Park Gatehouse
13:30 onwards - Set up camp, settle in, explore
Evening - Thanksgiving dinner(!),campsite hangs, stargazing
Sunday 13th October
08:30: Get down to the boat house to grab canoes for the day
09:00-12:00: Explore Mazinaw Lake. Enjoy lunch at the clifftop trail
12:00 - 14:00: Tear down camp
18:00: Anticipated arrival back in Toronto
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Clothing:
Pack according to the weather. This is a suggested packing list:
Close-toed shoes and/or hiking boots
Gear:
Personal Stuff:
Cooking
If you're not getting the gear rental, make sure you bring your own cookware, dining set and a method for cleaning them.
Random Stuff:
Got games? Bring em! Ditto anything else you think the group might enjoy.
Everyone will get their own lunch on the way to the park on Saturday and is responsible for bringing their own snacks and drinks.
We'll be serving delicious, hot dinners on Saturday. Sunday we'll be serving both a vegan and non-vegan hot breakfast along with lunch. We will provide cutlery and crockery.
You can rent a sleeping bag or pad here
Self-drivers will need to purchase parking on arrival at the Bon Echo Gatehouse.
If you've already purchased permits for Bruce Peninsula you'll need to get a refund. We'll credit you any amount that's not refunded.
Water based danger: If you can't swim, keep out of the water. Everyone must wear a PFD at all times when on the canoe.
Bon Echo is on the traditional territories of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. The park has a rich Indigenous history that dates back thousands of years.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people have lived in the region for generations, and they have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. They have a rich oral tradition, which tells stories of their creation and their relationship with the land.
In the park, there are several Indigenous rock art sites that date back over a thousand years. These rock art sites are known as Mazinaw Pictographs, and they are found on the steep rock face of Mazinaw Rock, which is a prominent feature of the park. The pictographs were created using red ochre pigment, and they depict various images, including animals, humans, and geometric shapes. These pictographs were likely created for ceremonial or spiritual purposes.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people also used the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering. They would hunt moose, deer, and small game and fish for bass, pike, and trout. They would also gather berries, nuts, and other wild edibles. The park is also home to several medicinal plants, which the Algonquin Anishinaabe people would use for traditional healing practices.
Today, the park is still a significant site for the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, and they continue to have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. The park works closely with the local Indigenous communities to ensure that their cultural heritage is respected and preserved for future generations.
If you're interested in learning more, the Algonquin Anishnaabe have a great website with a lot of further background that's highly recommended.
An update adventure for Thanksgiving at one of the most beautiful parks in Ontario - Bon Echo.
We're visiting at the best possible time of year. Fall colours are in full bloom and we'll be hiking the famous Cliff Top Trail with a view over the surrounding forest. It's also a Dark Sky Preserve - the best place to be right now with extra high aurora activity, little moon and predicted clear skies.
We're hoping to get canoes on Sunday which will allow us to start with a canoe lesson before taking you right to the edge of the famous Mazinaw Rock - a giant granite cliff-face adorned with ancient pictographs.
There'll be a bit of everything on this adventure:
- Restorative time in the outdoors
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Camping skills education
- Time on the water and at the beach
- Hanging out around a campfire
And if we get really lucky, some epic star gazing.
We're spoiled for options over the weekend. We'll spend the first day setting up camp and orienting ourselves before spending a night around the campfire with a shared dinner and games.
Day 2, we'll try to rent canoes to explore the incredibly beautiful Mazinaw lake and hike the clifftop trail. There are a few other hikes there that take you through shield territory that's unlike anything you've seen North of Toronto.
Sleeping Arrangements
We've got 2 adjoining campsites and a 3rd, that's very close. Each campsite accommodates 6 people and allows a total of 3 tents.
Washing facilities
Toilets - There are pit latrines throughout the camp. These are effectively a toilet over a deep hole in the ground and they are stocked with toilet paper.
Water - There is drinking water on tap available throughout the camp
Comfort stations - There are also heated comfort stations with indoor, plumbed toilets, hot showers and sinks with both hot and cold water. These are a bit more of a walk.
Saturday 12th October
08:50 - Pick up at the PetroCanada by Keele Subway Station
09:00 - Head off to Bon Echo. It's approximately a 3 hours drive and we'll stop for lunch en route.
13:00 - Meet with self-drivers at the Bon Echo Provincial Park Gatehouse
13:30 onwards - Set up camp, settle in, explore
Evening - Thanksgiving dinner(!),campsite hangs, stargazing
Sunday 13th October
08:30: Get down to the boat house to grab canoes for the day
09:00-12:00: Explore Mazinaw Lake. Enjoy lunch at the clifftop trail
12:00 - 14:00: Tear down camp
18:00: Anticipated arrival back in Toronto
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Clothing:
Pack according to the weather. This is a suggested packing list:
Close-toed shoes and/or hiking boots
Gear:
Personal Stuff:
Cooking
If you're not getting the gear rental, make sure you bring your own cookware, dining set and a method for cleaning them.
Random Stuff:
Got games? Bring em! Ditto anything else you think the group might enjoy.
Everyone will get their own lunch on the way to the park on Saturday and is responsible for bringing their own snacks and drinks.
We'll be serving delicious, hot dinners on Saturday. Sunday we'll be serving both a vegan and non-vegan hot breakfast along with lunch. We will provide cutlery and crockery.
You can rent a sleeping bag or pad here
Self-drivers will need to purchase parking on arrival at the Bon Echo Gatehouse.
If you've already purchased permits for Bruce Peninsula you'll need to get a refund. We'll credit you any amount that's not refunded.
Water based danger: If you can't swim, keep out of the water. Everyone must wear a PFD at all times when on the canoe.
Bon Echo is on the traditional territories of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. The park has a rich Indigenous history that dates back thousands of years.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people have lived in the region for generations, and they have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. They have a rich oral tradition, which tells stories of their creation and their relationship with the land.
In the park, there are several Indigenous rock art sites that date back over a thousand years. These rock art sites are known as Mazinaw Pictographs, and they are found on the steep rock face of Mazinaw Rock, which is a prominent feature of the park. The pictographs were created using red ochre pigment, and they depict various images, including animals, humans, and geometric shapes. These pictographs were likely created for ceremonial or spiritual purposes.
The Algonquin Anishinaabe people also used the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering. They would hunt moose, deer, and small game and fish for bass, pike, and trout. They would also gather berries, nuts, and other wild edibles. The park is also home to several medicinal plants, which the Algonquin Anishinaabe people would use for traditional healing practices.
Today, the park is still a significant site for the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, and they continue to have a deep connection to the land and the waterways that flow through it. The park works closely with the local Indigenous communities to ensure that their cultural heritage is respected and preserved for future generations.
If you're interested in learning more, the Algonquin Anishnaabe have a great website with a lot of further background that's highly recommended.
