Algonquin Park, Ontario’s first provincial park, is a sprawling natural paradise that attracts outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe. With over 7,600 square kilometers of pristine wilderness, the park offers a multitude of activities such as canoeing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping. If you’re planning on Algonquin vacation, these cottages are perfect.
- 1.Environmentally Conscious at Naturally Rugged
- 2.The Cove on Kamaniskeg Lake
- 3.Commanda Lake by North Bay
- 4.Rustling Pines Lakeview Retreat
- 5.Eagle Lake Escape
- 6.Reflections on Oxtongue
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Environmentally Conscious at Naturally Rugged
“Naturally Rugged” is a 2500 square foot, three bedroom, fully off-grid solar powered, eco-centred getaway on 7.5 acres overlooking McMaster Lake, with all the amenities and luxuries of home. Built in 2023 and located 5 minutes from the town of Barry’s Bay, this stunning, three-storey log cottage features 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an open concept kitchen, dining, and living area, expansive covered porch with outdoor dining, lounge, and barbeque. Outside is a firepit, a lawn with lawn games, 475 ft of secluded waterfront with shallow entry, a dock and four kayaks, a SUP, canoe, and a paddleboat.
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The Cove on Kamaniskeg Lake
This newly renovated cottage is tucked into a cove on the shores of Kamaniskeg Lake, minutes from the town of Barry’s Bay in Madawaska Valley. It has cathedral ceilings, beautiful pine wood floors made from the property’s own trees, and a wall of floor to ceiling picture windows with a panoramic lakeview and sunset views. Other amenities include a pergola with roof gazebo, propane barbeque, outdoor fire pit and a patio set. There’s 250 feet of private sandy beach with a shallow entry and gradual walk out for over a hundred feet, a dock and a paddleboat.
Kamaniskeg Lake has very little boat traffic and is great for swimming, fishing (bass/trout/pike), paddling, water sports and pleasure crafting. There is approximately 90 km. of shoreline and a river system that allows portage access to other lakes. For the even more adventurous, the Madawaska River is minutes away with white water rafting.
Nearby are Kawartha Dairy ice cream cones and visit the local artisan shops. There is also a quiet park and children’s playground, tennis courts and a public beach just a 5 minute drive from the cottage. For longer day trips, explore Canada’s first Polish settlement, Wilno, just a 20 minute drive away. Nearby are 3 golf courses, Radcliffe Hills Ski Area, and Algonquin Park.
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Commanda Lake by North Bay
This 3300 square foot, 5 bedroom family cottage is located on the quiet banks of Commanda Lake by North Bay, in the Almaguin Highlands region of northern Ontario. about 10 minutes from the small town of Restoule and the Restoule Provincial Park, and a half hour from the towns of Port Loring or Powassan.
The interior of the cottage is bright, neat and uncluttered with large family rooms on both levels, which both face out to the lake with large windows and walk outs and easy access to either the upper deck or lakeside lawn. The two tiered deck has a choice of shade or sun. A generous-sized master bedroom and second bedroom are on the main level with the remaining 3 bedrooms on the lower level.
Outside, there’s a large open sunny lawn, with a lovely shaded area created by beautiful white birch closer to the lake. There’s a propane barbeque, outdoor fire pit, and 10 outdoor chairs. By the lake, the 140 feet of waterfront consists of a natural shoreline with a gradual lake entry of hard packed sand and rocks. The new dock has a swim ladder, a rowboat, and two kayaks. There’s great fishing on the lake, inc;luding Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye and Northern Pike.
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Rustling Pines Lakeview Retreat
Rustling Pines Lakeview Retreat is a 4-season, 2,700 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2 level cottage on 1.9 acres by Eagle Lake, 15-20 minutes from the little village of South River. It sleeps ten and has southwest exposure. The main level has an electric fireplace and an easy flow from the kitchen/dining room to the living room all along the front of the cottage with large picture windows for tree-top views out to the lake and islands in the distance. There’s an expansive main level deck with a barbeque, dining set, a large overhang roof for shade, and sunset views. The lower level has a spacious family room and games room with foosball, air hockey, a game table with 4 chairs, an assortment of games and movies, and a piano. Also on the lower level is a bedroom that faces the lake with a 2-piece bathroom, a laundry room, and a direct walkout to a covered deck and large front lawn, leading down to the waterfront across a quiet country road.
Outside is a small outdoor fire pit, soccer net, basketball net, badminton net. By the water are two red Muskoka chairs with foot stools and two side log tables, a long dock, a swim raft with a swim ladder, a canoe, a paddleboat, two kayaks, and one child sized kayak. There’s a public boat launch on the lake and great fishing for Walleye, small & large mouth Bass, Lake Whitefish, Perch and Northern Pike.The region has 90 species of birds, such as the Bald Eagle, Heron, and Osprey.
Mikisew Provincial Park is located on the south side of the lake, and has many islands, windswept pine trees, and a backdrop of the Great Canadian shield. Nearby is the Mikisew and Algonquin Provincial Park with 3 beaches and many trails, known as the “Forgotten Trails”, with hiking and cycling. For avid golfers, the Eagle Lake Golf Course is nearby, unique with its 10 hole design. The Eagle Lake Narrows Country Store owned by Fred and Jill and referred to by locals as “The Narrows”, has homemade burgers, all-natural Kawartha Lakes ice cream, and motor boat, paddleboard, kayak and canoe rentals.
For the winter months, 40 minutes north is Laurentian Ski Hill for downhill skiing and 45 minutes south is Arrowhead Provincial Park with ice skating and cross-country ski trails and a tubing hill. “Fire and Ice” skating evenings here are a special experience. There are more cross-country ski trails at Almaguin Community Trails in the nearby town of South River, and February has Ontario’s largest dog sled racing event in Kearney.
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Eagle Lake Escape
This 3,260 square foot, 6 bedroom, 4 bathroom, pet friendly cottage on Eagle Lake by Burk’s Falls, about 20 min’s from the little village of South River sleeps 15 and has maple hardwood floors, soft comfortable leather furniture, and wall to wall windows from this open room look out onto a huge deck with the lake and trees as its backdrop. The master bedroom has a view of the lake from the floor to ceiling sliding door windows leading out to the deck and a large 5-piece ensuite e with double sinks, whirlpool tub and towel warmer. There are 2 more bedrooms and a 4-piece bathroom on the main floor, with another 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (one being a 3-piece ensuite) on the lower level. All the bedrooms have single or double closed closets for excellent storage. There is also a large laundry room, on the lower level, equipped with plenty of folding table space and shelves. To round out the lower level, there is a games room with air hockey, ping pong and foosball tables, and a sitting area with some leather chairs. Outside, there’s a fire pit, two hammocks, a volleyball court, horseshoes, a broomball set for the winter rentals, and outdoor fire pit, a picnic table and 3 double & 4 single Muskoka chairs. The cottage is built close to the shoreline with a gradual expansive lawn leading down to the 170 foot waterfront. There’s two small beach areas with hard-packed sand, a dock with a swim ladder, a rowboat, a canoe, four kayaks, and a paddleboat. The exposure is west which provides sun on the dock from about 10:30am until sunset. Fishing is great on the lake and the public golf course is close by.
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Reflections on Oxtongue
This 2,500 square foot, 3 level, 5 bedroom, 4-season log cottage on 3 acres of land on Oxtongue Lake, 10 minute from the village of Dwight and 30-35 minutes to Huntsville, is called “Reflections on Oxtongue” because the rock face across the lake projects reflections onto the water any time of the day, but especially at sunset. The space was updated during the winter of 2020 with chinked wood walls, rich wood floors, and an open concept kitchen/dining room with a harvest dining table, a wood stove and lake views on one side of the entrance, and the living room and Muskoka room on the other. The Muskoka room has three sides of floor to ceiling windows so that when looking out it feels as if you are on top of the lake. There’s a large covered deck with a barbeque and Muskoka chairs. Outside there’s an outdoor fire pit on a stone patio with ten Muskoka chairs, two lounge chairs and stand-up umbrella, a patio dining table with 6 chairs and umbrella, and a large lakeside stone patio. On the water there are two docks with Muskoka chairs, a swim ladder, lily pad, canoe, paddle boat, two kayaks, two children’s sit-on kayaks, and two stand-up paddle boards. The water has a shallow entry to the side of the dock but is 8 feet deep at the end, perfect for diving. The cottage is located at the northern end of the lake, with little boat traffic.
Algonquin Outfitters and many trails are within walking distance from the cottage and just 2 minutes from OFSA trails for snowmobile enthusiasts in the winter. The West gate entrance to Algonquin Park is just 10-15 minutes away, and Arrowhead Provincial Park is a 35-40 minute drive away, with ice skating, cross-country, ski trails and even a tubing hill.
Booking a cottage is the first step in planning your Algonquin vacation. With so much to do, see, and experience, Algonquin country has something for everyone. Explore cottage country with ease, as we have lots of information that can help you plan your perfect cottage vacation. If we can help in any way, please send us an email or give us a call.
More Reading on Cottage Vacation Planning:
The Ultimate Cottage Packing List
What to Do When it’s Raining on Vacation at the Cottage
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