Photo by Kevin Callan

Bonnechere Provincial Park, located near the small hamlet of Killaloe, southeastern Ontario, is a hidden gem amongst the 100 plus operating Ontario Provincial Parks. The main stage is the park’s elongated beach on the north shore of Round Lake. The water is shallow and the scenery is stunning. The park is also situated right at the mouth of the Bonnechere River and provides canoeists and kayakers a perfect place to explore the meandering waterway. The River Loop section is my preferred place to camp in the park, with more rustic non-electrical sites being situated directly along the river. Half the sites allow you to simply slip your boat directly into the river. But those aren’t the best parts for me…

For me, the park’s bounty lies in its countless day hikes available. A dozen quick and easy strolls take you along a lush transitional forest of northern pine and savannah-like deciduous woodlands. The area is also packed full of amazing history of First Nations, loggers, settlers, forest rangers. There are also a few haunted graveyards and far less crowds than its neighbouring Algonquin Provincial Park.

Walks of the Little Bonnechere

Photo by Kevin Callan

Turner’s Road/Basin Depot Road, located just east of the park’s main gate, off Highway 58, is a dusty and twisty back road that takes you to the southeast corner of Algonquin Provincial Park. Along the way, there are a total of 10 hiking trails (marked with a blue trail sign) of varying length and difficulty. Each give you a taste of the history of the river and its people.

My three favourite of the bunch are as follows.

Egg Rock

Photo by Kevin Callan

The view from Egg Rock is a must-see. The trail is only 500 metres out-and-back, but it’s a steep climb up gnarly granite. The ridge top is open and provides an excellent panoramic view of what locals call the “Whispering Winds Lookout,” overlooking Stringer’s Lake, Bonnechere Valley and the Madawaska Highlands. It is one of the spots where surveyor Mr. S. Hazelwood gazed over to the surrounding landscape back in 1874 and recommended that the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway be built through here. He also suggested that the Little Bonnechere River Valley would be excellent agricultural land and promoted it to pioneer families. He was wrong on both accounts. Due to too many steep grades the railway was built along the Ottawa River instead, and it didn’t take long for farmers to move on to other places with far better soil quality. I am glad the surveyor was wrong. This is a beautiful wild section along the southeastern corner of Algonquin Park. The trail access for Egg Rock is 14.7 kilometres along Turner’s Basin Depot Road, from Highway 58.

Basin Depot

Photo by Kevin Callan

Algonquin’s Basin Depot is a historical site that holds the ruins of an old logging shanty-town dating between 1850 and 1913. One of the 10 original buildings is still intact: a well-constructed log home built by the McLachlin Lumber Company in 1892 (making it the oldest standing building in the Algonquin region). It served as a harness shop, schoolhouse and a hospital during a diphtheria epidemic in 1911, and at least seven gravesites hidden in a nearby poplar grove endure as signs of the outbreak.

The access is at the 21.3 marker along Turner’s/Basin Depot Road, from Highway 58. Parking is on a slab of cement that marks the remains of two farm sites. The cabin is located on the right side of the road, just before Basin Creek bridge. You can’t miss it. There’s a short bush trail directly across from the cabin and another shorter trail on the other side of the bridge. Search for the graves and remnants of the old logging depot. Since this trail is in Algonquin Provincial Park, you will have to obtain a day use vehicle permit for Algonquin at the Bonnechere Provincial Park store.

High Falls

Photo by Kevin Callan

A couple of kilometres down the road from the Basin Depot cabin is a trail marker for High Falls on the Little Bonnechere River. Look for the blue trail marker on the left side of the road. The trail is the longest of the bunch (4.4 kilometres to the falls and back). It follows the old Bonnechere Road. There are some rough sections when you get closer to the river, but the overall trail is an easy one. The cascade is small but very pretty—and secluded. Not many people hike here. It’s free flowing now but the falls once had an expansive logging dam and chute to assist the loggers to flush the logs downstream to Round Lake and beyond. Search for the graves and remnants of the old logging depot. Since this trail is in Algonquin Provincial Park you will have to obtain a day use vehicle permit for Algonquin at the Bonnechere Provincial Park store.

For more information on these trails and the others along the Turner’s/Basin Depot Road, click here or purchase the booklet provided by the Friends of Bonnechere in store at Bonnechere Provincial Park.

More Trails to Discover at the Main Campground:

Photo by Kevin Callan

McNaughton FIT (Footprints in Time) Trail

Photo by Kevin Callan

This is the park’s main trail system, an easy two kilometre out-and-back loop that is accessed from the River Loop campground, or a 400 metre hike in from the beach parking lot. It’s named after surveyor James McNaughton who mapped the entire stretch of the Bonnechere River in 1847. He began in March and finished in October on the sandy beach where now modern families swim and sunbath. Most of the trail follows the river and its sandy banks. It’s a great way to view how the waterway has repeatedly bended back upon itself as it approaches the delta and the mouth on Round Lake. Wildlife abounds here. You’ll definitely see turtles, herons and endless bird species.

Nòpiming FIT (Footprints in Time) Trail

Photo by Kevin Callan

Bonnechere Park and Friends of Bonnechere really outdid themselves on this initiative. Well done, everyone! In 2024, they completed the Nòpiming FIT Trail—an 800 metre out-and-back ACCESSIBLE trail. This is not just an ordinary path through the woods; it is a gateway to accessible outdoor experiences for people of all abilities, including those living with low vision, hearing loss and mobility challenges. It also shows deep respect for the Algonquin Peoples who called this area home for 12,000 years. As you walk the trail, there are places that provide traditional teachings and words from the Anishinaabemowin language.

Nàdòbìkana FIT Trail

Photo by Kevin Callan

This trail is similar to the Nòpiming FIT Trail but is shorter in length. It’s also accessed near Bonnechere Provincial Park’s boat launch. The barrier free path has all the accessible amenities, including guide ropes, limestone screening surface and plenty of benches along the way. You can also rent an all-terrain wheelchair for trail use at the park store. Accessible navigation is available through Wi-Fi and the BlindSquare Event app—learn more on the Friends of Bonnechere Park website: Accessible Navigation – Friends of Bonnechere Park.

Check out my latest video of my partner Kristine and my (and the dogs) stay at Bonnechere PP where we visit a few highlights of the park:

READ MORE: Hiking, Ontario Trails, The Happy Camper

Kevin Callan

Kevin Callan is the author of 15 books, including the best-selling The Happy Camper and his incredibly popular series of paddling guides. He’s a notable public speaker and frequent guest on radio and television. Kevin is also a regular contributor, blogger and columnist for explore Magazine and has won several National Magazine Awards. He was made Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada and has recently won several filmmaking awards.

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