Bon Echo Provincial Park Review & Campground Guide

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Bon Echo Provincial Park Reservations – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Making a reservation to camp at Bon Echo Provincial Park is pretty easy.

Just like all the other Ontario Park campsites, you can book your campsite up to five months in advance of your arrival date through the Ontario Parks reservation system.

In order to make a reservation online though, you will first need to have an Ontario Parks account.

Registrations begin at 7 am EST.

While we did have some trouble booking a stay at Bon Echo, it was probably because we did not book very far in advance (2 months vs five). We were also looking to stay on a summer weekend.

According to other campers that we spoke to who are regulars, the park is quite popular.

As such, I would highly recommend booking your stay at the 5-month mark to get the best choice of site and the dates that you want.

We were only able to get one night, and our site was not the best. But more on that later.

Bon Echo is open for camping from the middle of May until roughly the third weekend in October.

Bon Echo Provincial Park Address:
16151 Hwy. 41, Cloyne, Ontario, ON K0H 1K0
https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/bonecho

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Arriving at the Park

Once you arrive at the main entrance to the park, you must pass through two different gatehouses.

The first is to get a day-use pass if you are just visiting. The second one is where you will check in if you have a camping reservation.

At the second gatehouse, we were able to grab a printed map and get our parking permit.

We arrived just after the 2 o’clock check-in time, so we were able to make our way to our site right away.

We were also able to purchase our firewood and ice at the gatehouse.

There were plenty of large parking spots for RVs in front of the gatehouse, which is always appreciated.

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Bon Echo Provincial Park Map

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Navigating the Park

As one of the largest Provincial Parks that we have visited, Bon Echo was still relatively easy to navigate.

There were plenty of signs to help you find your way around the park, as well as enough signs in the campgrounds themselves.

Many of the campground loops were labelled as one way, and people actually respected that!

This made it easier, considering that the roads in the campgrounds were actually quite narrow.

The one time we did get lost was when looking for the Park Store. That was a challenge! But we will talk about that fiasco a little later in the post.

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Parking

In general, we found the parking lots located throughout the park to be sufficient in size for this park.

Among others, there was a small lot at each beach, one in each day-use area, one at the comfort stations, and one at the gatehouse.

There is no car access, meaning no parking, at either the Park Store or the Museum.

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Bon Echo Provincial Park Camping

Bon Echo Provincial Park accommodates a variety of camping styles.

From car camping to tenting, roofed accommodations, backcountry camping, walk-in camping, and RVs up to 32 feet (9.7 metres), you will find it all.

You will also have the choice between electric or non-electric sites.

Unfortunately, not all types of camping can be accommodated at all sites, so you will need to watch for this when making your reservations.

Bon Echo Provincial Park has 2 main campgrounds – Hardwood Hills and Mazinaw Campground.

The Camp Cabin area is a separate area for the roofed accommodations.

There are also 4 backcountry areas – Joeperry, Pearson, Abes and Essens.

All in all, Bon Echo is home to a whopping 530 campsites.

Hardwood Hills Campground offers exclusively non-electricl sites, while the Mazinaw Campground offers a mix of electric and non-electric sites.

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Campgrounds at a Glance

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Our Campsite Experience

During our visit to Bon Echo, we were booked to stay at campsite #268 in the Midway Loop of the Mazinaw Campground.

The campsite was a corner lot and very private from your neighbours to the one side.

However, you have the main road on the other side of you, leading to a comfort station. And there was very little in the way of bushes to offer privacy.

There was a constant stream of people going to the bathroom during the day, as well as into the night.

Not only that but the light from the comfort station was quite bright, so we needed to close our blinds at night.

The site had some sun and some shade and was mostly flat. However, we did need to use levelling blocks under one of Nellie’s tires.

Other than that, the electrical box was in a good spot, and so was the fire pit.

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What Amenities Does Bon Echo Offer?

Comfort Stations

There were about 6 comfort stations at Bon Echo.

Comfort stations (with showers and flush toilets) are located in Hardwood Hill, Midway, Fairway and Sawmill Bay campgrounds.

Comfort stations without showers are located at the Day Use and Camp Cabin areas.

The comfort stations were quite clean and well-kept.

There were also several vault toilets located throughout the campgrounds.

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Laundry

A coin laundry is available in the Hardwood Hill, Midway, Fairway and Sawmill Bay campgrounds. They can be found attached to the comfort stations.

The machines appeared to be clean and in good working order during our visit.

Park Store

Greystones Gift Shoppe and Cafe is operated by the Friends of Bon Echo Park. It is located in the historic Greystones building, which looks like a wood cabin.

The park store sells Ontario Parks merchandise (like my patches!), clothing and souvenirs, as well as a variety of items that you may have forgotten when packing for your camping trip.

You cannot purchase your ice at the Park Store, nor does it carry groceries of any kind.

However, while there is no awesome ice cream counter like at Earl Rowe Provincial Park, Bon Echo’s Park Store did offer hot and cold drinks, as well as a variety of fudge, baked goods, and butter tarts that looked delish!

You can also purchase tickets for the Toor Boats at the Park Store (more on this later).

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Visitor’s Centre

The Visitor’s Centre at Bon Echo Provincial Park is located right by the Park Store.

It is housed in Dollywood, one of the original cottages from the Bon Echo Inn era.

Inside, you can learn more about the Indigenous pictograph site, the history of the Inn, and the wildlife in the park.

The staff were extremely knowledgeable about the park and were able to give us pointers about kayak rentals, hikes, and how to reach the pictographs.

Finding the Visitor’s Centre was a bit of a challenge. Firstly, you cannot drive there.

There is a lot nearby where you can park your vehicle and then walk the rest of the way.

This is when the signs were not helpful. We ended up taking the wrong path, which led to The Narrows. While this was super cool to see, it was a detour that cost us almost an hour.

We ended up actually asking other campers who were near the parking lot how to find the Visitor’s Centre.

You actually had to be on the correct path first to see the sign pointing to the Visitor’s Centre!

Our advice, when you are heading out of the parking lot designated for the Visitor’s Centre, head left (right takes you to The Narrows), and follow a smallish path that leads into the woods.

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Day Use Area

Bon Echo has a pretty nice day-use area, which is not surprising given how beautiful the park is.

The day-use area is located at the opposite end of the park from the gatehouse. It can be found near South Beach.

There, you will find plenty of picnic tables with BBQs, water taps, a comfort station, a walking trail, a boat launch, and beach access.

You can reserve your daily vehicle permit to guarantee your day-use spot at this park.

Permits can be obtained up to five days in advance.

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Bon Echo Provincial Park Beaches

Bon Echo Provincial Park is home to three natural sand beaches that are perfect for swimming.

The Main Beach is located in Lower Mazinaw Lake, South Beach is located in the day-use area, and North Beach is in the Sawmill Bay campground.

These beaches are marked with buoys.

Unfortunately, we were not able to enjoy the beaches during our stay due to poor weather. But we did check them out, and they seemed pretty decent.

The water was clean and clear, and warm enough to swim in.

The best part was, that you are able to launch your paddleboards, kayaks or canoes right from the beach, just outside of the roped swimming area.

There are signs at both beach access points warning of no lifeguard on duty. But this is pretty common at all Ontario Parks.

Another thing to be aware of is that dogs are not allowed on the beach at any time.

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What Services Does Bon Echo Offer?

Bon Echo has all the usual services found at other Ontario Provincial Parks.

Water

There is one sanitation station at Bon Echo Provincial Park. It is located a short distance from the main gate.

You will find two water fill stations inside the sanitation loop.

The good thing is that there are two lanes with water fills, as well as a water fill in the centre. So, no need to worry about which side your tank is on!

There is no bypass lane, so you may get stuck waiting for rigs that are dumping.

There is also a second water fill station loop near the sanitation area. This is a single-lane loop with a water fill on either side.

You will find plenty of water taps located throughout the campgrounds, as well as in the day-use area.

There are no water hookups at the individual campsites.

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Dump Station

Just like with the fill station, there are two dump stations in the sanitation area.

As we mentioned above, you will find two lanes, each with a dump station.

The dump stations are first, followed by the fill stations.

The sanitation area road is quite long, so there is less chance of getting stuck on a main roadway while waiting your turn.

Still, with only one sanitation area, just expect it to be busy around check-out time.

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Garbage and Recycling

There was a small area just behind our comfort station with both garbage and recycling bins.

I would assume that this would be the case at all the campgrounds.

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Wi-Fi

Just like at most Ontario Parks, Bon Echo has pretty spotty cell reception.

This meant that I was only able to make phone calls from certain areas in the park (like at the beach), but couldn’t do much else.

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Things to Do at Bon Echo Provincial Park

1. Enjoy Some Hiking

Bon Echo Provincial Park is home to six trails. The trails vary in difficulty but are all pretty spectacular.

Just a quick note, the Abes and Essens Lake Trail was closed during our visit due to storm damage cleanup. Park staff were not sure about its anticipated reopening date.

This trail takes you on a leisurely walk along Bon Echo Creek. We found the trail to be relatively flat and very family-friendly.

One thing to note, this trail is often closed in the spring and early summer due to wet trail conditions.

And don’t forget the mosquito repellent! We got eaten alive after the rains.

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This trail is only accessible by water, so we did not have a chance to hike it during our short stay.

If you are interested in hiking this trail but did not bring your own kayak, canoe and kayak rentals are available in the Lagoon.

There is also a ferry that will take you over and bring you back. Tickets can be purchased in the Park Store, and there are several departure times to choose from.

This trail is rated as difficult due to the steep, challenging climb up the cliff on steel stairs, as well as rough terrain.

Stairs and a pathway take you to the top of Mazinaw Rock to three observation decks overlooking the lake. According to park staff, the views from the top are quite spectacular.

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This trail takes you past a variety of forest and wetland communities, including tall pines, groves of hemlock and quiet forest ponds.

We really enjoyed walking through the thick forest as it kept us pretty dry on a rainy afternoon! We were also surprised that there were not too many muddy spots, given the rain.

The trail was mainly wide and easy to navigate. However, some sections were covered with large rocks that you had to navigate.

The trail was well marked with large numbers (blue and white), so you could keep track of where you were along the route (We took a photo of the map at the trailhead).

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This trail takes you along a section of the old Addington Road as it crosses the gorgeous landscape of the Canadian Shield.

You will be treated to views of hardwood forests, cedar lowlands and a beaver swamp.

We found this trail to have some pretty rough terrain with rocks and roots along the path. Not only that, but there are also steep climbs up and down.

This trail was also quite wet and muddy, as well as overgrown across the majority of the hike.

I wasn’t too happy when the trail narrowed considerably at one point, causing us to have to brush up against the plants (some thorny) on all sides.

We would definitely recommend waterproof hiking boots for this hike. I wore my waterproof trail runners and my feet still got wet.

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If you happen to have a four-legged friend with you, this off-leash pet exercise trail is the perfect way to see some of Bon Echo Park.

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2. Go for a Boat Ride

Power boats are allowed on Mazinaw Lake but are prohibited on all other lakes in the park.

And while there is a boat launch area within the park, you can’t leave boats out on the water overnight.

You will even find a parking lot with space to park your boat trailer adjacent to the launch area.

If you didn’t bring your own boat, Bon Echo has several options for you as well!

You can purchase tickets at the Park Store for a “Toor Boat.” This is an interpretive boat tour that takes you out onto Mazinaw Lake.

The tour is run by a Discovery Naturalist and takes about 45 minutes. It is one of the best ways to see the Indigenous Pictographs.

And as I mentioned abover, there is also a ferry service to the Cliff Top Trailhead.

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3. Try Your Hand at Fishing

Mazinaw Lake is a popular fishing lake for Lake Trout, Yellow Pickerel, Small and Large Mouth Bass, Lake Whitefish and Northern Pike.

You will find several places to fish in the day-use area by the boat launch.

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4. Visit the Sacred Pictographs

Bon Echo Provincial Park is home to over 260 pictographs.

These pictographs depict stories full of Indigenous culture and history.

In fact, the park staff encourage you to be respectful of the site as it is a deeply spiritual and sacred place for the Indigenous peoples.

The Mazinaw Rock, which is where you will find the pictographs, was recognized as a National Historic Site in 1982.

As we mentioned above, you can see the pictographs during the park’s Boat Toor. You can also choose to Kayak or canoe to the site.

The pictographs are visible from the water and are pretty much at eye level.

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5. Enjoy a Bike Ride

Unfortunately, there are no designated bike trails at Bon Echo. You are also not allowed to bike on the hiking trails.

You are welcome to ride your bike on any of the roadways throughout the park and campgrounds, however.

We found this to be a great way to see the park and do some photography for the blog!

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6. Go for a Paddle

One of the biggest things that we missed doing at this park (because of the thunderstorms) was taking out our paddleboards.

Mazinaw Lake looked like the perfect place to kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. The water was clean and clear, and pretty still.

And as we mentioned above, you can paddle right up to the Mazinaw Rock to see the pictographs.

There are several places to launch from in the park as well.

And if you didn’t bring your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, you are in luck! The Lagoon has plenty of rentals available, including lifejackets.

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7. Go for a Swim

While there were a few brave souls swimming during our visit, we didn’t do more than dip our toes in.

The beaches were quite clean, and the water was a refreshing temperature.

I’m not sure how deep the water gets, but the beaches do have roped swimming areas.

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8. Take Part in the Discovery Program

From what we can see on the website, the park staff offer a variety of fun, interactive educational programs.

From exploring the hiking trails to stopping by the Visitor Centre to learn about the 1920s Bon Echo Inn, there is plenty to do at Bon Echo for Kids.

They even have popular evening shows at the amphitheatre.

During July and August, kids can pick up a Discovery Activity Book and use the equipment and materials provided to explore the park.

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9. Do Some Birding

While we are not avid birders, Bon Echo is a great place to spot some truly interesting species.

The Peregrine Falcon, a species of concern in Ontario, is often seen nesting on Mazinaw Rock.

Great Crested Flycatchers, Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, Common Loon, Turkey Vultures, kestrels and Red-Tailed Hawks are popular bird sightings.

While we definitely heard the Loons out on the lake, we did not see them to get a photo.

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Is Bon Echo Provincial Park Accessible?

We found the buildings at Bon Echo to be pretty accessible.

All the comfort stations allowed for barrier-free access to both flush toilets and showers.

The Park Store, gatehouse, and Visitor’s Centre were also barrier-free.

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Are Pets Allowed at Bon Echo?

Yes. Dogs are welcome at Bon Echo Provincial Park.

Pets are allowed at the campground and on the hiking trails, but must be leashed at all times.

As we mentioned earlier, there is an awesome off-leash hiking trail specifically for pets.

You will even find a small pet beach area next to South Beach.

Dogs are not allowed on the other beaches, however.

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Is There Winter Camping at Bon Echo?

No. The park is not open for winter camping or other winter activities

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FAQs

What is Bon Echo known for?

Bon Echo Provincial Park is known for its stunning Mazinaw Rock, a massive cliff that rises 100 meters above Mazinaw Lake and features over 260 Indigenous pictographs. The park is also popular for its hiking, canoeing, and scenic views.

How old are the pictographs at Bon Echo?

The pictographs at Bon Echo are estimated to be between 300 to 1,000 years old, and created by Indigenous peoples to depict spiritual symbols and stories. These ancient rock paintings are a significant cultural feature of the park.

Are there bears at Bon Echo?

Yes, black bears can be found at Bon Echo Provincial Park. Visitors are advised to follow bear safety guidelines, such as storing food properly and keeping campsites clean.

How deep is Bon Echo Lake?

With a lake perimeter of over 49 kilometres and a maximum depth of 144.8 metres, Mazinaw Lake (there actually is no Bon Echo Lake) is one of the deepest inland lakes in Ontario.

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Our Park Rating

We give this park 4 out of 5 stars for having:

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Bon Echo Provincial Park Camping – Final Thoughts

Bon Echo was a wonderful surprise.

This park was very well maintained, with a ton of activities available to keep the whole family busy.

We really enjoyed the beautiful forests, the clean lake and the wonderful vibe.

While we didn’t have the most private campsite, we still had a wonderful time.

Our only regret (aside from the crummy weather) was that we didn’t stay longer!

We will definitely go back!

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Pin This Post for Later!

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