Stone Mills Township
Stargazing and Rural Splendour
North
2 hours from Ottawa; 2 hours from Toronto
Dark Skies & Outdoor Recreation
Open Year-Round
Welcome to Stone Mills Township
Stone Mills Township is a quietly rewarding destination built around an abundance of lakes, rivers, and conservation land. The township stretches from the Napanee River communities in the south to the edge of the Canadian Shield in the north, with the charming village of Tamworth at its centre. Outdoor enthusiasts, stargazers, and anyone looking for a slower pace will find what they are after here.
Traveler Essentials
- Drive Scale: Rural roads connecting diverse hamlets, conservation areas, and lakeside access points across a wide and varied landscape.
- Main Villages: Tamworth serves as the central hub, supported by the historic village of Newburgh to the south and the communities of Erinsville and Enterprise to the north and west.
- Landscape: A gradual transition from fertile agricultural valleys and river communities in the south to the rugged, forested terrain of the Canadian Shield in the north.
- Dark Sky Highlight: Home to the most southerly dark sky site in Ontario, the Lennox & Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area sits on County Road 41 in Erinsville, where the night sky appears as it did over a century ago. Free admission, open year-round from dusk to dawn.
Explore Our Communities
Tamworth
A village with the services of a larger centre and the feel of a small one, with churches, an arena, restaurants, and independent shops along its main streets.
Population: 500 | Central Hub
Newburgh
A historic village settled around 1822 with limestone architecture and a scenic setting along the Napanee River.
Population: 695 | 15 mins south of Tamworth
Erinsville
Gateway to the Dark Sky Viewing Area on County Road 41, with the Sheffield Conservation Area just north and Beaver Lake nearby.
Population: 300 | 5 mins north of Tamworth
Camden East
A welcoming rural community with rolling agricultural land, lakes, and the Napanee River running through it.
Population: 306 | Along the Napanee River
Centreville
A charming hamlet that hosts the annual Centreville Fair, with fairgrounds that serve as a year-round gathering place.
Population: Small hamlet | Rural Stone Mills
Colebrook
Nestled on the banks of the Napanee River north of Yarker, close to the Cataraqui Trail, Camden Lake Provincial Wildlife Area, and Varty Lake.
Population: Small hamlet | Near Yarker
Croydon
A rural farming community centred on the Salmon River, used today for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.
Population: Small hamlet | Rural Stone Mills
Enterprise
A rural community surrounded by farmland with an active ballpark, outdoor rink, and a number of unique local stores.
Population: Small hamlet | Rural Stone Mills
Strathcona
A quiet community that has been home to Strathcona Paper since 1873, one of Lennox & Addington County’s major employers.
Population: Small community | Rural Stone Mills
Yarker
A riverside community where the Napanee River rapids at Yarker Falls draw visitors.
Population: Small community | South Stone Mills
Find Your Stone Mills Vibe
Taste the Place
From a riverside bakery patio in Tamworth to a tavern near the Dark Sky Viewing Area, the food in Stone Mills tends to be made from scratch and served without fuss.
Browse Dining in Stone Mills
- A-One Corner Restaurant: A classic small-town stop in Tamworth worth pulling over for on any drive through Stone Mills.
- Lakeview Tavern: A relaxed, familiar tavern in Erinsville, rooted in the local community and a reliable stop near the Dark Sky Viewing Area.
- Abrams Bakery: A Newburgh bakery that turns up on cycling and road trip itineraries across the county, known for its baked goods and coffee.
- S’Cooper’s Spot: A local stop in Tamworth suited to a quick break on any backroad route through Stone Mills.
- The Blue Door Bakery & Café: Fresh baking, good coffee, and light fare in Tamworth, worth stopping for on any route through the area.
- Stone Corner: Simple, satisfying meals in Camden East, a quiet northern setting that works as a midpoint stop on longer routes.
Into the Wild
The township sits at the point where farmland gives way to Shield terrain, with conservation areas, provincial parks, and river routes spread across the landscape.
Explore Outdoor Activities in Stone Mills
- Sheffield Conservation Area: A 4.5-kilometre looped trail with challenging terrain and wildlife, including songbirds, waterfowl, reptiles, and small mammals. Paddling and fishing also available at 8032 County Road 41, Erinsville.
- Camden Lake Provincial Wildlife Reserve: A natural area at 603 Card Road, Moscow, suited to boating, fishing, paddling, and stargazing.
- Puzzle Lake Provincial Park: A non-operating park northeast of Tamworth supporting 16 provincially rare species, including the five-lined skink, Blanding’s turtle, and bald eagle. Accessible via Norway Lake Road or by water from County Road 15th at Gull Lake.
- Cataraqui Trail: A year-round shared-use trail running from Strathcona to Yarker through Stone Mills, used by hikers, cyclists, and snowmobilers.
- L&A Dark Sky Viewing Area: Ontario’s most southerly dark sky site at 7980 County Road 41 in Erinsville, with a concrete pad for telescopes and cameras. Open year-round, dusk to dawn, free admission.
- Road Cycling: Several L&A County Trail routes pass through Stone Mills, including the Camden, Sheffield, Salmon River, and Flinton Road routes.
Time Travel
Stone Mills takes its name from the mills that shaped its early communities. Several of those communities still carry the character of their 19th-century origins in their buildings and landscape.
Explore History and Heritage in Stone Mills
- Newburgh Historic District: Settled around 1822, Newburgh developed as a local manufacturing centre with mills, a foundry, and tanneries. The limestone architecture along its main street reflects that mid-19th-century period.
- Yarker Falls and Railway Piers: The riverside setting at Yarker includes the Napanee River rapids and the remaining stone piers from a former railway crossing, still visible on the shoreline.
- Centreville Fairgrounds: The annual Centreville Fair has been a community anchor for generations, with the fairgrounds serving as a gathering place year-round.
Makers & Merchants
Tamworth anchors the shopping in Stone Mills, with an independent bookshop, antique dealers, and craft stores spread across the township's communities.
Explore Local Shopping in Stone Mills
- The Book Shop: A quaint, hand-curated used bookshop on Bridge Street East in Tamworth, worth setting aside time for.
- Salvage Garden: Curated architectural and industrial artifacts for unique, one-of-a-kind home and business finds at 2900 County Road 14, Enterprise.
- The Bee Spot: A working apiary at 695A County Road 4 in Tamworth, where visitors can suit up in beekeeping gear and take home raw honey products.
- Lavender Queen Lavender Farm: Five varieties of lavender, baby’s breath, and seasonal gardens with a patio at 3981 County Road 1, Yarker.
- Lorraine Roberts Art: features the award-winning, landscape, floral and abstract paintings by Lorraine Roberts. Book an appointment to view her impressive gallery, located at 12 Petworth Road, Yarker.
Places to Stay
With this much to see and do, a day trip may not be enough. From hotels and B&Bs to lakeside cottage rentals, find the right place to stay and turn your visit into an overnight.
FAQ
What outdoor recreation is available in Stone Mills Township?
Options include hiking at Sheffield Conservation Area, paddling on the Salmon River and Camden Lake, exploring Puzzle Lake Provincial Park, cycling along the Cataraqui Trail and L&A County routes, and stargazing at the Dark Sky Viewing Area in Erinsville.
Is the Dark Sky Viewing Area open every night?
The site is a public space open from dusk to dawn year-round with free admission. The best views occur on clear, moonless nights. The parking lot is plowed through the winter.
Where are the best paddling and fishing spots in Stone Mills?
The Salmon River runs through Croydon and Tamworth with multiple access points. Camden Lake Provincial Wildlife Reserve at 603 Card Road in Moscow has a boat launch. The Cataraqui Trail corridor also provides river access near Yarker.
What independent shops and heritage buildings are in Tamworth?
Tamworth has The Book Shop on Bridge Street East, Five Corner’s Craft and Devon Café on Concession Street South, and the Black Cat Café on Ottawa Street, all within the village’s preserved 19th-century streetscape.