WE ALWAYS HAVE CANOE RENTALS AVAILABLE FOR JOE PERRY LAKE AND PEARSON LAKE : (backcountry overnight campers only)
Canoe Rentals for Joe Perry Lake and Pearson Lake in Bon Echo Park are always available. We keep enough canoes on hand to cover every canoe access campsite on Joe Perry Lake, as well as Pearson Lake (adjoining to Joe Perry Lake). Be sure to read all of the instructions below as well
WHEN YOU FIRST ARRIVE AT BON ECHO PARK : canoes remain Locked when not rented, You do have to make a reservation for canoe rentals. Please be sure to arrive during our regular Hours of Operation, as there are no rentals after hours without a valid rental form filled out. You will need a key to unlock your canoe as well
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MOVE CANOES OR PORTAGE TO CAMP AT JOE PERRY LAKE : After you have made a reservation, filled out a rental form at our office we will provide you with instructions for getting your canoe at the Joe Perry Lake Boat Launch. You will not have to put it on your vehicle or portage the canoe. We will get it to the boat launch ready for your trip. All you have to do is drive from our Rental Office to the Joe Perry Lake parking lot, then take the short walk from the parking lot to the boat launch with your camping gear.
WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH YOUR CANOE: When your trip is over, please return your canoe to the Joe Perry Lake boat Launch area where you got it and flip it over to keep it dry. Please pack out all of your garbage in order that the next campers will enjoy their trip as much as you did. Then drive to our Canoe Rental Office to return your pfd, paddles and safety kit, and also to Check In with us to confirm you are back.
This year your rental on Joe Perry lake does include use of canoes at our home office on Mazinaw Lake.
Joe Perry Lake is one of our favourite lakes in the area, and for good reason. The lake is situated in the much larger western section of the Park across the 41 highway.
Our favourite part of Joe Perry Lake, which has served to preserve the wilderness feel of this lake, is that No Motorized Boats are allowed. All of you wilderness backcountry campers looking for a great place for a weekend or a week, this is it.
Joe Perry Lake is a relatively large lake with great access, and excellent moose sighting opportunities, especially in the narrows between Joe Perry and Pearson Lakes.
For the most part it feels like a real wilderness canoe camping experience, Joe Perry Lake is a great choice for first time canoe trippers, and a great choice for the experienced as well, it offers a bit of everything.
There are a lot of campsites so it does not feel crowded on the lake either.
A nice beach on the north side of the lake rounds out the family camping experience here.
The boat launch is great and the campsites are spacious. We are especially thankful for the new launch dock that has made launching on Joe Perry Lake much easier. Thanks to Ontario Parks staff for the new dock.
With 25 campsites it is always best to book your campsite in advance if you can.
You can book your campsite on the Ontario Parks website, (campsite reservations are handled by Ontario Parks, Bon Echo Outfitters handles the canoe rentals)
The west side of the park is huge when compared to the more popular East side near the Bon Echo Rock. Thus there are fewer campsites and much more of a wilderness feel to the west side.
You will drive by the entrance to the Abes and Essen Trail on your way to Joe Perry Lake. Well worth a day hike if you can spare an extra day, there are 3 very nice hike in campsites on the trail.
Good campsites, and wilderness make this part of Bon Echo Provincial Park a must see, and Joe Perry Lake and Pearson Lake are secretly our favourites, enjoy.