Area Attractions

Algonquin Provincial Park is one of the oldest and largest established public parks in Canada. Known throughout the world as a spectacular wilderness destination, it is truly one of the Ontario's greatest treasures. From the beautiful clean lakes and rocky hills, to the howl of the wolf or the call of the loon, this park is an outdoor recreation paradise. The park can be accessed at many areas in and around Barry's Bay Cottage Resort. Close to the resort, interior trips can begin as nearby as the Aylen Lake access mere minutes away off Aylen Lake Road. Alternatively, the Basin Lake Road access to the east and the Shall Lake access to the west are both approximately 35-40 minutes away. If you are interested in adding an Algonquin interior camping trip to the beginning or end of you vacation be sure to let us know or contact www.algonquinbound.com for full outfitting possibilities.

If experiencing a few of Algonquin Park's more popular day attractions is on your mind, then you still have some fantastic options. The breathtaking Barron Canyon and area trails can be found a little over an hour away by car to the east. While to the west, a short 35 minute drive brings you to the East Gate and famous Highway 60 Corridor route. Along the corridor visitors can enjoy the abundance of trails and even spend an afternoon at the park's visitor center.

Perhaps one of the most scenic backroad loops is found a short distance from Carson Lake. The Bark Lake/River Road Loop is loaded with backroad attractions to explore. Starting from the quaint cottage town of Barry's Bay, turn south on Dunn Street (this turns into Siberia Road). Follow this road approximately 5 km until you see an Ontario Hydro "Bark Lake Dam" sign on the right. Turn right - the dam is about 1.2 km down a country dirt road. You may need to park your vehicle near the top of the dam and walk down to the water if you don't have 4 wheel drive. It's well worth the visit! For added adventure after admiring the site, we suggest continuing south down Siberia Road to River Road. This road takes you past the Madawaska Kanu Centre, eventually meeting Kartuzy Road. This windy, scenic road is absolutely stunning when the trees turn colour in the fall. Also en route are the Kartuzy Blue Trails to explore. Allow at least a couple hours to do this driving loop; a full day if you are on your bicycle.

The Barry's Bay Railway Station is one of the few original railway stations left in Ontario. The restored station is now home to the Barry's Bay Tourist Information Centre and conveniently located on Highway 60. The former station was built in 1894 by J.R. Booth to serve the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. This rail line extended from the Ottawa Valley to Lake Huron. Taken over by Canadian National Railways in 1922, the station served the Village until it was closed down in the late 1960's. The historical railway station is symbolic of the development of Barry's Bay from a small settlement into an economically viable town. From 1890 until the 1930's, the rail line was the main transportation route between Montreal and Toronto carrying lumber, wheat, soldiers, liquor and passengers. By 1939, Great Lakes Shipping had become the dominant means of transportation in Ontario and Quebec and resulted in a sharp decline in the use of the rail line.

Barry's Bay is also the final stop of the Opeongo Line Tour. The Opeongo Line is a road that was developed in the 1800's to assist in the colonization of the area between the Village of Castleford and the Village of Barry's Bay. In the Fall, many folks enjoy the lovely ride through the countryside, taking in the Celebration of the Flaming Leaf while visiting many of the local artisans along the way. If you've got the stamina and a good mountain bike, the "Mountain Tour" is even more enjoyable.

The trek starts (or ends) near Carson Lake Provincial Park (look for the Opeongo Line signs just to the east of our main entrance). Continue east on Highway 60 through Barry's Bay and turn right onto Yantha Lake Road. Follow this winding country road through Hopefield, Brudenell, Foymount, Cormac, Clontarf and Esmonde. At Highway 41 turn south to the 132 and go east to Dacre, Shamrock and onto Renfrew. In Renfrew take County Road 20 north to Lac des Chats near Castleford. According to the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association the tour is about 150 kilometers and takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete by automobile. Of course, there are many places to see along the way, so be sure to plan an entire day. Don't forget to take your camera - no matter what time of year, there are some spectacular scenes and a host of wildlife to be spotted.

In addition to the above highlights, here is a list of other area attractions to be sure to check out:

Barry's Bay arts and crafts shops
Bay Days - Held every Long Weekend in May
Killaloe Winterfest - Held Every February
Madawaska Valley Studio Tour - Held every October

For a complete list of local events, be sure to visit www.algonquineast.com or for a list of local on-line services visit www.barrys-bay.com. Our cottage book (available upon arrival) show cases these events and activities in greater detail. We would also like to thank http://www.ontarioresorts.net/ for their support of our business.