Bon Echo Provincial Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bon Echo Provincial Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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Some of the pictographs on Mazinaw Rock
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 Bon Echo Provincial Park
Location in Southern Ontario
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| Location | Cloyne, Ontario, Canada |
| Nearest city | Kaladar, Ontario |
| Area | 66.43 km2 (25.65 sq mi) |
| Established | 1965 |
| Governing body | Ontario Parks |
Bon Echo Provincial Park is a beautiful provincial park in southeastern Ontario, Canada. It's located north of Kaladar, about 6 kilometers (4 miles) north of Cloyne.
The park is famous for its stunning lakes, including part of Mazinaw Lake. This lake is the seventh-deepest in Ontario! On its southeastern shore, you'll find the amazing Mazinaw Rock. This huge rock wall rises 100 meters (330 feet) straight out of the water. It's covered with many ancient pictographs, which are paintings made by Indigenous people.
The unofficial symbol of Bon Echo Park is Nanabozho. He is a special Ojibwe trickster and hero. You can find his image among the more than 260 pictographs on Mazinaw Rock. It's important to know that pictographs are rock paintings, while petroglyphs are carvings in rock. The Mazinaw pictographs were made a National Historic Site of Canada in 1982.
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Park History
The area around Bon Echo was once used by logging companies and farmers. In 1889, Weston A. Price and his wife bought the land. They loved Mazinaw Rock and the way sound echoed across Mazinaw Lake. This is why they named the place "Bon Echo," which means "good echo."
The Prices built a big hotel called the Bon Echo Inn. It was a place for wealthy people to relax and get healthy. Dr. Price had strong religious beliefs, so he didn't allow alcohol at the Inn. Guests were even asked to attend church on Sundays.
A New Vision for Bon Echo
After some years, Dr. Price sold the property to Howard and Flora MacDonald Denison. Flora was a successful businesswoman from Toronto. She was also a strong supporter of women's rights. She even helped start the Canadian Suffrage Association, which worked for women's right to vote.
The Denisons bought the property for $15,000. They wanted to create a place for artists, poets, and writers. Famous guests included James Thurber and members of the Group of Seven artists.
Flora MacDonald Denison greatly admired the poet Walt Whitman. Even though he never visited Bon Echo, Flora had some of his poetry carved into the rock face. Two stonemasons from Aberdeen, Scotland worked all summer in 1919 to complete it. The letters are a foot tall, and you can still see them today!
From Inn to Park
When Flora died in 1921, her son, Merrill Denison, inherited the land. He was a successful businessman too. He kept the inn running until the Great Depression started in 1929. His first wife, Muriel Denison, was an author. She wrote the "Susannah" series, which became famous with Shirley Temple films.
Later, the inn was rented out as a summer hotel. Other parts of the property were used for things like a boys' camp. In 1936, lightning struck the bakehouse, and the inn burned down. It was never rebuilt.
Merrill Denison continued to spend summers at Bon Echo. He used it as a quiet place to write. Even though the property was sometimes a financial challenge, Merrill cared deeply about protecting the land. In 1955, Ontario passed a law allowing land donations for provincial parks. Instead of selling the land for building lots, Merrill donated it to the province in 1959.
Bon Echo Provincial Park officially opened in 1965. A special plaque was placed there. It dedicates the park to Flora MacDonald Denison and Muriel Denison.
Fun Activities
Rock Climbing
In 1956, some adventurous climbers were the first to climb Mazinaw Rock. They paddled across Mazinaw Lake in a canoe. The Alpine Club of Canada still has a special hut on the lake. Rock climbing at Bon Echo is still a very popular activity for the club.
Camping, Hiking, Boating, and Swimming
Bon Echo has over 500 campsites in the Mazinaw and Hardwood Hills areas. Many sites are suitable for RVs, and some have electricity. All sites are close to water and washrooms. There are also comfort stations with showers and laundry. You can find radio-free areas, a visitor center, and a gift shop. The Mugwump ferry takes visitors to the Clifftop Trail across Mazinaw Lake.
You can also stay in heated yurts or cabins. These are great alternatives to tents or RVs. They offer a more protected and comfortable stay. Remember, you can't cut or collect firewood in the park. You need to buy it at the camp offices. Also, don't bring firewood from home because of the emerald ash borer insect.
Backcountry Adventures
Bon Echo is also known for its backcountry camping along the Abes and Essens Trail. These campsites are very basic, with just a picnic table and a campfire area. They don't have running water or electricity. This trail is quite challenging. The ground can be rough and uneven.
The Abes and Essens Trail has three loops: 4 km (2.5 miles), 9 km (5.6 miles), and 17 km (10.6 miles). They connect at different points, so you can choose your route. The paths are not always obvious, but flags mark difficult sections. This trail is best for experienced hikers.
Other easier hiking trails include the Shield Trail and the High Pines Trail. The Clifftop Trail goes along the top of Mazinaw Rock. It offers amazing views of Mazinaw Lake.
You can also rent boats and other gear to explore the park's lakes and waterways. Bon Echo Provincial Park has several beaches along Mazinaw Lake. These include North Beach, Main Beach, and South Beach. The water is usually warmest in August.
Nature and Wildlife
Some lakes on the Abes and Essens trail have rocky bottoms. They were shaped by glaciers long ago. The water in these lakes is very clear and cold. You might see small fish near the shores or around the islands.
In most other lakes, you can find fish like lake trout, yellow pickerel, smallmouth and largemouth bass, lake whitefish, and northern pike. If you're lucky, you might spot larger animals in the more secluded areas. These include white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, red fox, beaver, and raccoons.
Common smaller mammals you'll see are eastern cottontail rabbits, eastern chipmunks, red squirrels, gray squirrels, and voles. Bon Echo is also home to Ontario's only lizard, the five-lined skink.
