Calabogie Lake lies at the village of Calabogie, and Black Donald Lake sits upstream behind the Mountain Chute Hydro Dam. The Township of Greater Madawaska lists both among its canoeing and kayaking lakes and names them, with Centennial and Norcan lakes, as the most popular fishing waters on its 65 km Madawaska River system.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Township | Township of Greater Madawaska |
| Public launch | Barnet Park, 5179 Calabogie Road (paid parking for vehicles with boat trailers) |
| Calabogie Lake | Good for canoeing and kayaking; fishing in the lake and the surrounding Madawaska River system |
| Black Donald Lake | Popular for fishing and canoeing or kayaking |
| Black Donald Lake depth | 200 ft deep, held back by the 180 ft high, 1,300 ft wide Mountain Chute Hydro Dam (Township) |
| Species (township-wide) | Walleye, northern pike, small and largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, channel catfish, rock bass and various trout |
| Fisheries Management Zone | The Township links the Zone 15 regulations |
| Hospital | Not confirmed for this guide |
Public access
The Township lists the Barnet Park launch. It names no launch on Black Donald Lake, so ask your host about access there.
| Access point | Lake | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Barnet Park boat launch | Calabogie | 5179 Calabogie Road; HONK Pay to Park; only vehicles with boat trailers pay; about seven acres with two beaches, two gazebos, a picnic shelter and picnic tables |
| Mad River Paddle Co. | Calabogie | 1022 Madawaska Street; rents paddleboards and kayaks and offers lessons |
| Mountain Chute Hydro Dam | Madawaska River | 6 km side trip on Hydro Dam Road to the bridge below the dam |
The Township says some water access points sit on Township land, many on Crown land and some on private property, and it keeps a Google map of them. About 60% of Greater Madawaska is Crown land.
Fishing
Greater Madawaska calls its fishing plentiful and diverse, and lists walleye (pickerel, doré), northern pike, small and largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, channel catfish, rock bass and various trout. It names Black Donald, Centennial, Norcan and Calabogie as the most popular and most easily reached lakes on the river system, with hundreds of smaller, remote lakes beyond them. Its fishing section links the Ontario Fishing Regulations Summary and the Zone 15 regulations; read them before you fish, because we do not restate limits. Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence.
Paddling the Madawaska
The Township describes the Madawaska River as flowing 230 km east from Algonquin Park to the Ottawa River at Arnprior, and calls the 60 km stretch from Griffith to Burnstown one of its most accessible sections. Mad River Paddle Co. on Madawaska Street in Calabogie rents paddleboards and kayaks and offers lessons. A power boat on these lakes needs a driver with proof of competency, usually the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Federal rules limit power and electric boats to 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore in Ontario, except when towing a skier straight out from shore or in canals, buoyed channels and rivers under 100 m wide. Clean, drain and dry the boat and trailer when you move between lakes, and use the Lake Partner map for Secchi depth and phosphorus readings.
Paying to park
Scan the QR code on the Barnet Park parking sign or pay in advance at honkmobile.com. Annual permits use the app’s Long Term Parking option. Paper permits are sold at the Municipal Office (19 Parnell Street), Charbonneau’s Grocery (699 Mill Street) and The Bogie General Store (4709 Calabogie Road).
Black Donald and the dam
On its scenic drive, the Township points to a 6 km side trip down Hydro Dam Road, just before Calabogie Road becomes Centennial Lake Road, to the bridge at the base of the Mountain Chute Hydro Dam. The dam is 180 ft high and 1,300 ft wide and holds back the 200 ft deep Black Donald Lake. Centennial Lake Road then passes Black Donald and Centennial lakes.
Before you book
Ask the host whether the cottage is on Calabogie or Black Donald, and where guests launch, because the Township names a public launch only at Barnet Park on Calabogie Lake.
Nearest town services
We did not confirm a hospital for Calabogie in this guide. See the Ottawa Valley essentials guide for hospitals we did confirm. See Calabogie guide and Hospitals, groceries and essentials in the Ottawa Valley.
FAQ
Where is the public boat launch at Calabogie?
Barnet Park, 5179 Calabogie Road. Checked November 3 2026.
Do I pay to park at the launch?
Only vehicles with boat trailers pay, using HONK Pay to Park. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I rent a paddleboard?
Mad River Paddle Co. at 1022 Madawaska Street rents paddleboards and kayaks. Checked November 3 2026.
Is Black Donald Lake good for fishing?
The Township calls it popular for fishing and paddling. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages on this lake
Browse cottages in Calabogie or the Ottawa Valley region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the Township of Greater Madawaska. The Township of Greater Madawaska requires a licence for short-term rental accommodations under By-law 19-2024, as amended by By-law 62-2024. Read the by-law on the Township’s site before you list. Rules change; confirm with the municipality.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnet Park 5179 Calabogie Rd: HONK Pay to Park, trailers only, about seven acres, two beaches, gazebos, picnic shelter; paper permits at 19 Parnell St, Charbonneau’s 699 Mill St, Bogie General Store 4709 Calabogie Rd; Mad River Paddle Co. 1022 Madawaska St; Calabogie, Centennial, Bagot Long, Black Donald, Wabun for paddling; access points on Township, Crown and private land; 60% Crown land; Madawaska 230 km, Griffith-Burnstown 60 km; Mountain Chute dam 180 ft high, 1300 ft wide, 6 km side trip via Hydro Dam Road; Black Donald 200 ft deep | https://www.greatermadawaska.com/play-and-discover/tourism/things-to-do/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Fishing: species list; 65 km Madawaska River system with Black Donald, Centennial, Norcan and Calabogie most popular; hundreds of remote lakes; links Ontario summary and Zone 15 regulations | https://www.greatermadawaska.com/play-and-discover/tourism/things-to-do/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-licences | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Power boat drivers need proof of competency, most often the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. | https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/pleasure-craft-operator-card | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Power boats may not exceed 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore, with exceptions such as towing a skier straight out from shore and canals and buoyed channels. | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2008-120/FullText.html | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Clean, drain, dry: boat, motor and trailer | https://www.ontario.ca/page/invasive-species-ontario | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Lake Partner map: Secchi depth and total phosphorus from Lake Partner Program sampling sites | https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-lake-partner | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Fish ON-Line is the Government of Ontario’s lake-by-lake fish information tool. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-use-fish-line | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | Greater Madawaska office 613-752-2222 | https://www.greatermadawaska.com/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | Greater Madawaska requires an STR licence under By-law 19-2024, amended by 62-2024 (matches township_rules_dataset.json greater-madawaska, confirmed; no MAT per mat_status_2026-11-03.json) | https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/greatermadawaska-ca/media/ftxiov5m/19-2024-licence-regulate-and-govern-short-term-rental-accommodations.pdf | 2026-11-03 |
Photo: Dong Zhu, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).