Bon Echo Provincial Park Fun Activities - What to Do
A gorgeous golden sunset on our first evening at Bon Echo Provincial Park looking at Lake Mazinaw and the granite formation cliffs. Shot on Canon T5, Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8
Introduction
Planning your 2025 summer plans? Look no further, last summer, my friends and I embarked on a camping trip to Bon Echo Provincial Park. Mesmerized by the breath-taking granite formations, reflections in Lake Mazinaw, and lush greenery surroundings.
I would be lying if I didn't say I was a bit nervous before this trip since it has been many years since my last camping trip and to say the least, I never had a positive experience of all of the camping trips I've been on in the past. However, this trip changed it. Bon Echo Provincial Park piqued our interest with its breathtaking granite formations, glistering reflections of the blue Lake Mazinaw, and the lush greenery surrounding the park. There's no other place like Bon Echo within a reasonable drive from Toronto.
This unique environment made for many adventurous activities available for us to experience!
1. Canoeing, Paddleboarding, Kayaking
Explore Bon Echo Provincial Park's most attractive scenic feature, Lake Mazinaw.
There's no better way to take in Bon Echo than to hit the waters of Lake Mazinaw surrounded by the beautiful 100-metre tall cliffs of Mazinaw Rock stretching 1.5km across. Paddle and explore the scenery of Bon Echo's most attractive feature, whether you are looking to get up close to the Mazinaw Cliffs, reach the start of the Cliff Top Trail, or simply relax fish, and breathe to take in the surroundings on the lake.
If you find yourself paddling close to the cliffs of Mazinaw Rock as we did, you may find some interesting red pictographs on the face of the rocks that were created by the Indigenous people in the area many years ago. Additionally, there is also an engraved tribute to Walt Whitman on one of the rock's bottom faces.
Canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks are available to rent on-site at Bon Echo Provincial Park from Parks Ontario themselves with rental times of up to 4 hours, 8 hours, or 24 hours, providing you with more than adequate time to explore everything Lake Mazinaw has to offer. Rentals are available on a first come first serve basis open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The rental includes an emergency kit, life jacket, and paddles.
Please note: the staff does not encourage individuals to store their phones in the emergency kit as it is not waterproof. Instead, opt for a waterproof bag / dry bag to ensure your belongings and valuables stay dry from water.
Unfortunately, we capsized our canoe with our electronic devices during one of our canoe trips. Having a waterproof bag/dry bag would have been incredibly helpful in preventing water damage, but luckily our devices survived with the weather sealing built into them.
2. Hiking
Bon Echo Provincial Park has many hiking trails of varying length and difficulties to offer, whether you're out for a leisurely hike down to Lake Mazinaw and its beach or taking on the challenge of the Cliff Top Trail hike up to the top of Mazinaw Rock, a 100-metre tall cliff that overlooks Bon Echo's campground.
The Cliff Top Trail is a 1.5km hike ranging in moderate difficulty that offers unparalleled overlooking views of Lake Mazinaw with three different lookout points. The trail is only accessible via water. Canoes and kayaks are available to rent to reach the dock to the trailhead for the Cliff Top Trail. The trail is a mix of paths and stairways to guide hikers up to the top of Mazinaw Rock.
We opted for this hike on one of our days at Bon Echo Provincial Park, with stunning views and a moderate climb to the top as this was one of the main visiting points of our camping trip!
3. Camping
A big one on the list of fun activities at Bon Echo is the camping experience! Bon Echo offers several camping accommodations including but not limited to: backcountry camping, car camping, roofed accommodations/cabins, and standard campgrounds including radio-free areas.
Campsite reservations can be made in advance up to five months before your arrival date. As the summer season approaches, camping reservations are highly recommended to secure your campsite whether that be online, or by phone. The total number of occupants at one campsite is to not exceed more than six individuals as per Ontario Parks' rules for Bon Echo Provincial Park.
We stayed in the radio-free, car-camping Mazinaw Lake Campground. Our site included an electrical hook-up and a short distance walk to the nearest washroom and shower facilities. Other campgrounds include Hardwood Hill, but they do not offer electrical hook-ups.
If you prefer a roofed accommodation, there are several options of rustic cabins to choose from at Bon Echo, as well as soft-sided shelters that make it easy to enjoy the camping immersion without the need to pack and pitch a tent.
Although we did not get to experience backcountry camping, Bon Echo Provincial Parks offer convenient family-friendly canoe and hiking routes for backcountry camping. Sites located at Joeperry and Pearson Lake offer canoe-in campsites, and the 17km Abes and Essens hiking trail has five backcountry campsites around its three loops. These sites offer a truly unique experience of Bon Echo Provincial Park's nature.
4. Fishing
Bon Echo Provincial Park is also well-known for its fishing activity. Lake Mazinaw and the interior lakes of the park: Lake Joeperry is a popular destination for fishing and known for its species of fish including: Northern Pike, Lake Whitefish, Small and Largemouth Bass, Lake Trout and Yellow Pickerel.
However, during peak summer visitor time, boat traffic can be heavy in Lake Mazinaw distributing the wildlife in the lake.
Luck was on our side, we managed to catch some fish off the shore of Lake Mazinaw during the sunset period. A beautiful, peaceful, and calming scenery tying it all together for a great fishing experience.
5. Visit the Visitor Centre!
Last, but not least! Be sure to stop by the Visitor Centre, where you can learn about the history of Bon Echo Provincial Park, how the cliffs and Lake Mazinaw formed, as well as the history of the original Inn at Bon Echo. There's also information to learn about the indigenous pictograph sites found across the Park similar to the ones by cliffs near Lake Mazinaw and the wildlife in the surrounding areas.
