Field Guide / 041 / 134
RegionHastings Highlands, Ontario
Best WindowMid-May through October for Lake St.…
Verified2026-05-03

Hastings Highlands.

45.23° N77.93° WHastings HighlandsOntario23 activitiesVerified · 2026-05-03
Hastings Highlands landscape
01 — Abstract

Hastings Highlands is a 966-square-kilometre rural township at the south gate of Algonquin country, formed in 2001 by the amalgamation of Bangor / Wicklow and McClure, Herschel, and Monteagle townships and centred on Maynooth at the junction of Highway 62 and Highway 127. Lake St.

Peter Provincial Park, the only operating provincial park inside the township, runs 478 hectares and 65 campsites between the northern shoreline of Lake St. Peter and the southern shoreline of McKenzie Lake — the Lookout Trail (2.5 km, strenuous) and the Cabin Trail (4 km, strenuous) climb out of the campground over the lake.

Egan Chutes Provincial Park, 15 kilometres east of Bancroft on the York River, is the township's nature-reserve flagship — a 1,105-hectare reserve where the river drops through three named chutes (Egan Chute, Flat Rapids, Farm Chute) past Mammoth Rock and the York River Tactite Zone. The Hastings Heritage Trail's northern terminus is at Lake St.

Peter; the 156-kilometre EOTA-managed corridor runs south through Maynooth and Birds Creek toward Glen Ross. The Baptiste–Elephant–Benoir tri-lakes system flows together through the York River and the Ripples channel.

02 — Conditions

Today's read.

Air Quality
23
eu-aqi · low
UV Index
0.8
scale 0–11
Humidity
58%
relative
Visibility
31.3 km
clear
Temp
+1.0°
H 13° · L -4°
Sun
05:45 / 20:31
14h 46m daylight
A+
GOOD DAY TO BE OUTSIDE

Real-time conditions updated; AI field notes unavailable.

9-day high · -4° → 13°
03 — Claims

On the record.

Every claim sourced. Click through to the original.

  1. 01Hastings Highlands is a 966.58-square-kilometre municipality with a 2021 population of 4,385, formed January 1, 2001 by the amalgamation of the former Bangor / Wicklow and McClure, Herschel, and Monteagle townships; Maynooth is the administrative and commercial centre at the junction of Highway 62 and Highway 127.Source ↗
  2. 02Lake St. Peter Provincial Park is a 478-hectare recreational-class park established in 1971, with 65 campsites (26 with electrical hookups), two beaches, and two named hiking trails — Lookout Trail (2.5 km, strenuous) and Cabin Trail (4 km, strenuous) — sitting between Lake St. Peter and McKenzie Lake roughly 40 km north of Bancroft.Source ↗
  3. 03Egan Chutes Provincial Park is a 1,105.96-hectare nature reserve on the York River about 15 km east of Bancroft (within Hastings Highlands), established 1989 and expanded in 2005 with a 778-hectare waterway-class addition protecting 30 kilometres of the York River downstream; three named chutes (Egan Chute, Flat Rapids, Farm Chute) drop the river through the reserve; mineral collecting is prohibited despite the local nepheline, sodalite, biotite, zircon, and blue corundum occurrences.Source ↗
  4. 04The Hastings Heritage Trail's northern terminus is at Lake St. Peter in Hastings Highlands; the trail runs 156 km south to Glen Ross in Quinte West along the abandoned Central Ontario Railway corridor and is managed by the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance.Source ↗
  5. 05The Baptiste–Elephant–Benoir tri-lakes system in Hastings Highlands is connected by the York River and the Ripples channel; Baptiste Lake (61 km perimeter, max depth 103 ft) flows into the York River at High Falls on its east end and produces lake trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, pike, and yellow perch under FMZ 15 regulations.Source ↗
  6. 06Hastings Highlands sits within the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg; the Algonquins of Ontario settlement area covers approximately 36,000 km² and includes Hastings County, with the Bancroft community (Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini) one of ten participating Algonquin communities in the tri-party land claim.Source ↗
04 — Featured

5. activities
worth your time

▲ signature · 0strong · 5also available · 18
HikingStrong
01Mid-May through October at Lake St. …

Hiking

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park carries the township's two named in-park trails — the 2.5-kilometre Lookout Trail to a strenuous lake overlook and the 4-kilometre Cabin Trail (named for an abandoned log cabin) — both rated strenuous. East of Bancroft on Highway 28, Egan Chutes Provincial Park drops the York River through three named chutes; the east-side route runs about 8 km out-and-back past Egan Chute, Flat Rapids, and Farm Chute, while a 1.7-kilometre west-side trail reaches the first chute. The Hastings Heritage Trail's northern terminus at Lake St. Peter opens the 156-kilometre EOTA corridor for walking, jogging, and skiing.

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CampingStrong
02Lake St. Peter Provincial Park 2026 …

Camping

Lake St. Peter Provincial Park runs 65 campsites — 26 with electrical hookups — across 478 hectares between the northern shoreline of Lake St. Peter and the southern shoreline of McKenzie Lake, with two sandy beaches, a comfort station, a trailer sanitation station, and a small park-store at the gatehouse renting canoes. Reservations route through the standard Ontario Parks system. Egan Chutes Provincial Park, the township's non-operating nature reserve, lists six backcountry campsites along the York River — no facilities, no guard rails at the chutes.

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Paddling — FlatwaterStrong
03Mid-May through October

Paddling — Flatwater

Lake St. Peter is the marquee in-municipality flatwater lake — the park gatehouse rents canoes and the campground beach is the put-in. The Baptiste–Elephant–Benoir tri-lakes system (Baptiste 61-kilometre perimeter, max depth 103 feet) connects through the York River and a channel known as the Ripples for multi-day inland-lake paddling. Papineau Lake (Big Point boat launch), Mink Lake, Bark Lake, Kamaniskeg Lake at Combermere, and the Madawaska River through the eastern edge of the township round out the inventory. Below Egan Chutes, a documented 31.5-kilometre York River canoe route runs downstream from Farm Chute toward Conroy Marsh.

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Freshwater FishingStrong
04Bass season opens 4th Saturday of Ju…

Freshwater Fishing

Hastings Highlands sits in Fisheries Management Zone 15 and centres on the Baptiste–Elephant–Benoir tri-lakes — Baptiste Lake (61 km perimeter, max depth 103 ft) holds lake trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, pike, and yellow perch, with pike now displacing the historic muskie. Papineau Lake, Salmon Trout Lake, Graphite Lake, and Diamond Lake fan out across the township with municipal boat launches; the York River through the Egan Chutes corridor adds a stream-and-pool fishery. FMZ 15 sits within the Central Bait Management Zone — live or dead baitfish and leeches may not be transported into or out of the zone.

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Snow AdventureStrong
05Mid-December through mid-March

Snow Adventure

The Hastings Heritage Trail's northern terminus at Lake St. Peter is inside Hastings Highlands — the 156-kilometre OFSC corridor runs south from the township along the abandoned Central Ontario Railway. Hastings Highlands sits in OFSC District 6, with two named local OFSC member clubs — the Mapleleaf Snowskimmers and the Peterson Pathfinders — grooming the township network. OFSC permits are required for snowmobile use; ATV passes through the EOTA cost $150 annual / $75 weekly / $25 daily. Snowshoeing is free year-round on the Heritage Trail and the Lake St. Peter Provincial Park trail network.

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04b — Also available

18. more outings
surveyed.

Activities supported across Hastings Highlands without a featured write-up.

  • 01

    Trail Running

    Hastings Heritage Trail
  • 02

    Walking & Strolling

    Lake St. Peter Provincial Park day-use area
  • 03

    Horseback Riding

    trail-riding
  • 04

    Nature & Discovery

    birding · nature-interpretation
  • 05

    Cycling

    rail-trail
  • 06

    Mountain Biking

    Available
  • 07

    Paddling — Whitewater

    York River chutes inside Egan Chutes Provincial Park (obligatory portages, not runnable)
  • 08

    Sailing & Boating

    motor-boating
  • 09

    Swimming & Beach

    lake-swim · beach-day
  • 10

    Cross-Country & Nordic

    classic-xc
  • 11

    Sky Watching

    stargazing
  • 12

    Seasonal Phenomena

    fall-colours
  • 13

    Wildlife Viewing

    Egan Chutes Provincial Park (bird viewing)
  • 14

    Motorized Touring

    atv-quad-tour · scenic-drive
  • 15

    Indigenous Experiences

    Algonquins of Ontario Settlement Area (Hastings County is included; Bancroft AOO community Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini just south of the township)
  • 16

    Food & Drink

    Available
  • 17

    Heritage & Culture

    heritage-historic-site
  • 18

    Geology & Discovery

    Egan Chutes Provincial Park (nepheline, sodalite, biotite, zircon, blue corundum geology — collecting prohibited)
05 — Curated experiences

Local operators.

Trusted outfitters, guides, and experience providers in Hastings Highlands.

01Water Sports - Kayak/Canoe/SUP

Cruising Canoes Adventure Co

Canoe trips, snowshoeing, camping workshops

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02Fishing

Guided Lines Sport Fishing

Chartered fishing: Lake Trout, Walleye, Salmon on Lake Ontario

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03Water Sports - Boating/Sailing

H2O Getaways

Houseboat rentals, bareboat waterway charters

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04Winter Sports

Highland Wilderness Tours

Guided snowmobile tours

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05General Outdoor

Ideal Bike

Bike rentals

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06General Outdoor

Lakeside Gems Rock Shop

geologist-led rockhounding/mineral collecting field trips

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07Water Sports - Kayak/Canoe/SUP

Limerick Lake Lodge & Marina

boat/kayak rentals, marina services

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08General Outdoor

Malinda's Rockhounding Tours

rockhounding/crystal hunting tours

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09General Outdoor

Miron Valley Stable

Trail riding, riding lessons (English, Dressage, Hunter, Therapeutic)

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10Water Sports - Boating/Sailing

North Shore Reaching Sailing School

ASA sailing courses beginner-advanced, bareboat chartering, custom lessons

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11Water Sports - Kayak/Canoe/SUP

Seven Paddles Kayak & Canoe Rentals

kayak and canoe rentals, group paddle events, wellness kayaking/hiking/yoga

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12ATV/Off-Road

Thrill Seeker ATV Tours

Guided ATV tours all levels, ATV rentals, group events

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13General Outdoor

Tyendinaga Cavern & Caves

Guided cavern tours, walking trails, lookout, picnicking

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