Toronto 
Ontario’s parks offer a variety of experiences between each. These include dozens of recreational opportunities for warm months and winter months, unique places or ways to stay overnight, front-country and backcountry adventures, and historical or educational opportunities.
At Bonnechere Provincial Park, visitors get all the best features of Ontario Parks in one relatively small lakeside park.
Learn about the Local History, Culture, and Nature
Bonnechere Provincial Park sits on a part of the Bonnechere River, which meets with Round Lake. There are many other lakes across the Ottawa Valley which are a result of the Bonnechere River. The Bonnechere begins at the Ottawa River and flows almost parallel to it as it extends west. These two large waterways provide Bonnechere Provincial Park and the Ottawa Valley with diverse ecosystems of plants and animals but have also served to attract pioneers, homesteaders, and local industry over the years.
With an abundance of rich local history to learn about, Bonnechere Provincial Park is set up to offer visitors interpretive information about the people, plants, or animals who live(d) here. Beyond the days of pioneers or industry in Ontario, the Ottawa Valley and Bonnechere River Valley have a rich First Nations history.
Hiking & Biking at Bonnechere – Footprints in Time Trails
The large park and three campgrounds are easiest to navigate by bike! Bikes are permitted on all park and campground roads, while the trails are left to hikers and foot traffic. A hike around those trails is the best way to learn about the incredible geological, natural, or cultural history of the Bonnechere River Valley. The park and the Friends of Bonnechere Parks maintain the Footprints in Time Trails.
- The McNaugton Trail is a 2km riverside loop that offers a ton of interpretive information about the nature and history of the Bonnechere area and river valley, specifically about the formation of the river.
- The Nàdòbìkana FIT Trail runs right through the park between the river boat launch and the beach areas at 0.3km.
- Lastly, the Nòpiming FIT Trail is 0.8km from the park gate and ends at a campground road. This is a great opportunity for learning more about the people and cultures who once called the river valley home.
- Those trails within Bonnechere Provincial Park are part of a larger system that extends outside of the park to include more sightseeing along the Bonnechere River. The Omanique’s Mill trail, for example, loops around the shores of the nearby Beaverdam Lake, while the Egg Rock trail will offer sweeping views of much of the valley.
Beach Days at Round Lake
Bonnechere Provincial Park is in a unique location between the river and Round Lake. Both shorelines are easily accessible from the park, and both bodies of water are a source of recreation. The park’s main beach is on Round Lake on the park’s east side. This is also a great place to view the river, meet the lake.
- The beach on Round Lake is all sand with plenty of space for a full day set up of lounge chairs, towels, and a picnic. The swimming area is nice and shallow, too, with gradual drop-offs after the buoys, making it a perfect place to relax in or out of the water on a hot summer day.
- The park store and Visitor Centre are close by for the day’s snacks and drinks or for additional guides to the park. The Visitor Centre offers great historical, natural, and cultural information.
- The beach is also home to picnic tables hidden under the shade of the trees.
Boating & More Fun on the Water
Bonnechere Provincial Park is home to a few amenities that make boating a lot more convenient, such as two boat launches and rentals for canoes or kayaks, as well as the PFDs.
- One boat launch is on the Bonnechere River, while the other is near the beach on Round Lake.
- A popular canoe or kayak route is from the park river boat launch to the Jacks Chute area off Jack Chute Road, west of the park. The canoe or kayak route is an opportunity to explore the small oxbows of the river where the wildlife is often easiest to spot. This commonly includes deer, ducks, or turtles.
- Fishing is permitted from both the Bonnechere River and Round Lake. From these, the catch could be large or small Mouth Bass, pumpkinseed (pond perch), rock bass, pike, pickerel, or lake trout!
Where to Stay: Camping, Cabins, or the Cottage at Bonnechere
Choose between three different campgrounds in which to set up your tent, RV, or trail for the night at Bonnechere. The park has the Tall Pines, River Loop and Sandy Flats campgrounds for regular camping, and offers a cottage retreat experience.
- The Tall Pines Campground is one of the closest to the beach, Visitor Centre, and Park Store. This campground is the only of the three with sites that offer electrical hook-up.
- The River Loop Campground is also quite close to the beach and main buildings while also offering riverside camping.
- Both the Tall Pines and River Loop Campgrounds have full comfort stations with showers, flush toilets, and laundry facilities.
- The Sandy Flats Campground is about a 10-minute walk from the park’s main areas, making it the furthest out of the three. This area has a mini-comfort station with washrooms and showers.
- Comfort camping is also available at Bonnechere Provincial Park with the larger Pine Shores Cottage that can sleep up to six people, or the four rustic cabins that sleep four people.
- Opposite the provincial park on Round Lake are more comfort camping options and regular camping at the Covered Bridge Park.
What to Do Nearby: Exploring Pembroke
As one of the closest major towns to Bonnechere Provincial Park, Pembroke (about 45km from the park) can offer more gorgeous riverside scenery, local dining, more places to stay, and possibly more water fun. Pembroke is northeast of Bonnechere and on the banks of the Ottawa River.
- A large portion of the local restaurants, cafes, and pubs of Pembroke are located on Pembroke Street, which follows the river. Choose between international cuisine, hearty takeout options, family restaurants, cafes, and more.
- The Pembroke waterfront park offers some of the best of the Ottawa River’s scenery, especially at dusk or dawn or during the fall when the trees turn yellow, orange, and red.
- A trail from the Waterfront Park leads up the river to the Riverfront Park and Pembroke’s public beach. Enjoy a day in the water, on the sand, or with a picnic. The park also has a lifeguard on duty during the summer, a playground, campground, and is within walking distance from more local dining.
Eganville (~50 minutes drive) is another option, with Bonnechere Caves and Fourth Chute Falls to explore.
Planning your Trip – Bonnechere Provincial Park
About: Bonnechere Provincial Park is at the meeting of the Bonnechere River and Round Lake. On one side of the park (east) and campgrounds are the shores of Round Lake, with the banks of the river to the other side (north).
The park is part of the larger Ottawa Valley and is in an area rich with all types of history, from geological and natural history to human, cultural, and industrial history. The park is a three-season destination with warm-weather recreation like boating, swimming, hiking, and fishing. The park’s beach is open to paying day-use visitors and campers, as are the two boat launches.
Location and how to get there: 4024 Round Lake Rd. Killaloe, ON K0J 2A0
40km southeast of Pembroke on Round Lake Road.
Bonnechere Provincial Park is located 185 km from Ottawa (2 hr drive), and 240 km from Kingston (3 hours drive) and 350 km from Toronto.
Cost: day use $18 per day per vehicle
Camping varies.
Best time to go: May-October
For more information:
Bonnechere River Provincial Park
