Field Guide / 054 / 134

RegionLimerick, Ontario

Best WindowMay through October for paddling, fi…

Verified2026-05-03

Limerick.

44.88° N77.65° WLimerickOntario22 activitiesVerified · 2026-05-03

01 — Abstract

Limerick is a small Hastings County township off Highway 62 between Madoc and Bancroft, in the southern Canadian Shield's lake-and-forest belt. Two interconnected lakes anchor the township: Limerick Lake — designated a cold-water lake trout spawning lake, with a public launch ramp at the dam and access at Martins Landing — and Steenburg Lake, an island-studded flatwater lake with a public beach off Steenburg Lake North Road and the McGeachie Conservation Area on its shore.

The Crowe Valley Conservation Authority manages McGeachie's 500-acre property, with marked trails through forest, swamp, and beaver ponds. Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance ATV and snowmobile routes thread the township between the Bay of Quinte and Algonquin Park.

The Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery in Ormsby occupies the village's 1880s general store. Bancroft sits a short drive north; Belleville about an hour south; the GTA, Ottawa, and Kingston each a few hours along the regional highway corridors.

Limerick falls within the Algonquins of Ontario unceded land-claim territory.

02 — Conditions

Today's read.

Air Quality

22

eu-aqi · low

UV Index

0.8

scale 0–11

Humidity

66%

relative

Visibility

24.2 km

clear

Temp

+0.6°

H 13° · L -3°

Sun

05:45 / 20:28

14h 43m daylight

A+

GOOD DAY TO BE OUTSIDE

Real-time conditions updated; AI field notes unavailable.

9-day high · -3° → 13°

03 — Claims

On the record.

Every claim sourced. Click through to the original.

04 — Featured

4. activities
worth your time

▲ signature · 0strong · 4also available · 18

Strong

01May through October

Paddling — Flatwater

Steenburg Lake's six islands — Crab, Dewey's, Picket, Bateman's, Uncle Bob's, and Powers — give a multi-island flatwater scope rare for a township this small. The lake drains south via Bass Creek into Limerick Lake, then via Beaver Creek and the Crowe River toward the Bay of Quinte at Trenton, so the local paddling chain is part of a longer Crowe River system. Limerick Lake itself is reachable from the public launch ramp at the dam and Martins Landing on the southwest shore. McGeachie Conservation Area's shoreline forms the northern frame of the Steenburg paddling water.

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Strong

02Lake trout from the third Saturday i…

Freshwater Fishing

Limerick Lake is provincially designated a cold-water lake trout spawning lake — the differentiator that distinguishes this township's fishery from a generic warm-water cottage chain. Lake trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, and pumpkinseed are the documented species. Steenburg Lake adds bass and panfish across an island-studded flatwater shoreline. Both lakes sit inside Fisheries Management Zone 15 — lake trout open the third Saturday in May through September 30, and FMZ 15 falls within the Central Bait Management Zone, which restricts moving baitfish in or out.

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Strong

03Late November through late April whe…

Snow Adventure

The same Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance corridor that carries summer ATV traffic switches to snowmobile use through winter, with the network running between the Bay of Quinte and Algonquin Park and threading Limerick. Snowshoeing on McGeachie Conservation Area's marked trails extends the on-foot season; the conservation area's 500-acre forest, swamp, and beaver-pond mosaic shapes the loop options. Daily, weekly, and annual EOTA cross-country ski passes ($3.50, $15, $35) cover the trail network for skiers.

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Strong

04May through October for ATV; scenic …

Motorized Touring

The Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance maintains a multi-use ATV corridor running from the Bay of Quinte north to Algonquin Park, threading Limerick Township along the way. Daily, weekly, and annual ATV passes ($25, $75, $150) cover the regional system. Highway 62 between Madoc and Bancroft is the township's road spine — a Shield-country drive through Ormsby, St. Ola, and Gilmour with views over the lake chain. Old Hastings Mercantile in Ormsby is a documented stop for both ATV travellers and Highway 62 drivers.

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04b — Also available

18. more outings
surveyed.

Activities supported across Limerick without a featured write-up.

01
Hiking
day-hiking
02
Trail Running
McGeachie Conservation Area
03
Walking & Strolling
Ormsby village core
04
Camping
frontcountry
05
Horseback Riding
Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance corridor (horseback pass available)
06
Nature & Discovery
birding · nature-interpretation
07
Cycling
rail-trail · gravel
08
Sailing & Boating
motor-boating
09
Swimming & Beach
lake-swim
10
Cross-Country & Nordic
classic-xc
11
Sky Watching
stargazing
12
Seasonal Phenomena
fall-colours
13
Wildlife Viewing
McGeachie Conservation Area (wetland wildlife)
14
Indigenous Experiences
Algonquins of Ontario unceded territorial framing (no in-township product)
15
Food & Drink
Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery (penny candy, regional product)
16
Heritage & Culture
heritage-historic-site
17
Geology & Discovery
rockhounding
18
Arts & Craft
artist-studio-tour