Addington Highlands
The Great North Wilderness
Far North
2.5 hours from Toronto; 2 hours from Ottawa
Peak Summer & Winter
Open Year-Round
Welcome to Addington Highlands
Addington Highlands is an outdoor destination built around water, forest, and space. With over 100 lakes and rivers spread across rugged Canadian Shield terrain, the township draws anglers, paddlers, hikers, mountain bikers, and snowmobilers in every season. Bon Echo Provincial Park anchors the south, the L&A Forest Trails anchor the centre near Flinton, and the communities of Northbrook, Cloyne, Denbigh, and Kaladar provide the services and character of a region that has been shaped by its landscape for generations.
Traveler Essentials
- Drive Scale: Long scenic stretches along Highway 41 through deep forest, with access to remote trails, lakes, and backcountry routes throughout.
- Main Villages: Northbrook and Cloyne serve as the primary service hubs along Highway 41, with Denbigh to the north and Kaladar at the Highway 7 junction.
- Landscape: Rugged Canadian Shield terrain dominated by granite outcroppings, dense mixed forest, and pristine glacial lakes.
Explore Our Communities
Northbrook
A welcoming community with a relaxed character and some genuinely good things to see and do, sitting at the centre of the Highlands along Highway 41.
Population: 600 | Central Hub
Cloyne
The doorstep to Bon Echo Provincial Park, with small shops, essential services, and a giant wooden lawn chair at the north end of the village that fits twelve people at once.
Population: 400 | 5 mins north of Northbrook
Denbigh
A quiet northern village surrounded by Denbigh, Ashby, and other small lakes, close to Rose Hill Nature Reserve and suited to those looking for an authentic rural experience.
Population: 300 | 25 mins north of Northbrook
Flinton
A community on the Skootamatta River corridor, known for the L&A Forest Trails and Deerock Lake, with popular swimming at the local waterfalls.
Population: Small community | West of Northbrook
Kaladar
A junction community at Highway 41 and Highway 7 with a number of long-established businesses, close to Bon Echo Provincial Park and the Kaladar Pine Barrens Conservation Reserve.
Population: Small community | South of Northbrook
Find Your Addington Highlands Vibe
Taste the Place
Dining in the Highlands is straightforward and honest. Whether it is a Gold Seal Chef in Kaladar or a small café in Denbigh, the food is made with care, and the portions are suited to a day outdoors
Browse Dining in Addington Highland
- Kaladar Station: A reliable stop along Highway 7 for travellers moving through the northern part of the county.
- Rosie’s Café & General Store: A Denbigh stop well situated for travellers exploring the northern reaches of the county, including Rose Hill Nature Reserve.
- Lakeside Inn Restaurant & Bar: Located near Bon Echo in Cloyne, a practical dining option for visitors spending time at the park or Mazinaw Lake.
- Spill the Beanz: A coffee house and eatery in Northbrook that draws travellers heading north and makes a good refuelling stop before or after time in the Highlands.
Into the Wild
Addington Highlands is built for outdoor use across every season. The water, trails, and backcountry access here are the reason most visitors come in the first place.
Explore Outdoor Activities in Addington Highland
- Bon Echo Provincial Park: Campsites, trails, beaches, boat tours, and boat rentals centred on the Mazinaw Rock, a 100-metre cliff face with 260 Indigenous pictographs. Located at 16151 Highway 41 in Cloyne.
- L&A Forest Trails: Over 10 kilometres of logging roads and single-track mountain bike trails through 120 acres of Canadian Shield terrain at 100 John Street in Flinton.
- Rose Hill Nature Reserve: A 358-acre remote property near Denbigh with ponds, wetlands, and forest lined with maple, hemlock, spruce, pine, and balsam fir. Suited to hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and picnicking.
- Deerock Lake: A popular fishing lake at 391 Deer Rock Lake Road in Flinton with island campsites accessible only by water.
- The Great Trail: A portion of the longest recreational multi-use trail network in the world passes through Addington Highlands near Kaladar, suited to hiking, cycling, paddling, and cross-country skiing.
- Paddling: Pre-planned paddle routes across the Highlands with access to over 100 lakes and rivers. The Skootamatta River near Flinton is a popular corridor.
Time Travel
The Highlands carry layers of history from Indigenous use of the land to the logging and mining industries that shaped its 19th-century communities.
Explore History and Heritage in Addington Highland
- Cloyne Pioneer Museum: Over 1,000 artifacts covering the region’s evolution from lumber industry beginnings through the mining booms to today, at 14238 Highway 41 in Cloyne.
- Bon Echo Provincial Park — Mazinaw Rock Pictographs: The Mazinaw Rock face holds 260 Indigenous pictographs, best viewed from the water by canoe, kayak, or the park’s interpretive boat tour at 16151 Highway 41 in Cloyne.
- Cloyne Village Character: A small shopping village along Highway 41 with a number of long-established businesses that reflect the character of a community shaped by the lumber era and summer tourism over many decades.
Makers & Merchants
The Highlands has a practical, no-fuss approach to shopping. General stores with local products, artisan woodwork, and outfitter supplies are what you will find here.
Explore Local Shopping in Addington Highland
- Kuriosity Shop: A gathering place for local artists and artisans at 12293 Highway 41 in Northbrook, with genuinely local finds.
- Explorer’s Eco-Emporium 41: Gifts, collectibles, clothing, and accessories at 12047 Highway 41 in Northbrook.
- Glaeser’s Country Store: Groceries, giftware, fishing supplies, and fresh bakery treats every Saturday at 156 Bridge Street in Denbigh.
- Little Boutique:Â offering a curated consignment clothing store in Cloyne.
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 are the best ways to see the Mazinaw Rock pictographs at Bon Echo?
The 260 pictographs on the face of Mazinaw Rock are best viewed from water level by canoe, kayak, or the park’s interpretive boat tour. Day passes include park entrance; boat tours carry a separate fee.
What outdoor activities are available in Addington Highlands year-round?
Summer brings paddling, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and camping across over 100 lakes. Winter brings snowmobiling on the Ridge Runners and Mazinaw Powerline trail networks, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at Rose Hill Nature Reserve.
Where are the L&A Forest Trails and Rose Hill Nature Reserve?
The L&A Forest Trails are at 100 John Street in Flinton. Rose Hill Nature Reserve is on Rose Hill Road near Denbigh, accessed from the Denbigh exit north on Highway 41 for 2.4 km.
Are there boat rentals available on Mazinaw Lake?
Paddleboats, canoes, and kayaks are available to rent at the Bon Echo Lagoon. Calling ahead to reserve is recommended. The Kishkebus Canoe Route is a 21-kilometre challenge accessible from the park for more experienced paddlers.