This guide covers the Renfrew County lake country of the Madawaska and Bonnechere rivers: the Townships of Greater Madawaska and Madawaska Valley, and the Bonnechere area near Killaloe and Eganville. It covers areas outside the City of Ottawa only. It gathers the places our other Ottawa Valley guides cover, each from the operator’s own pages.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Scope | Areas outside the City of Ottawa |
| Provincial park | Bonnechere Provincial Park, Killaloe: May 8 to October 18, 2026 |
| Caves | Bonnechere Caves, Eganville: guided one-hour tours; reopens the May long weekend in 2027 |
| Ski and trails | Calabogie Peaks and the Township of Greater Madawaska trails |
| Lakes | Kamaniskeg, Bark, Wadsworth and Paugh (Madawaska Valley); Calabogie and Black Donald (Greater Madawaska) |
| Fisheries Management Zone 15 | Includes Pembroke |
Quick answer
Camp or paddle at Bonnechere Provincial Park, tour the caves at Eganville, hike and ski around Calabogie, and swim and launch around Barry’s Bay.
Parks and caves
Bonnechere Provincial Park has 129 car-camping sites, a sandy beach on Round Lake, canoe and kayak rentals, and a leisurely paddle to Jack’s Chute, about 3 km. Its McNaugton Trail follows the Bonnechere River past 13 giant footprints with interpretive posts. Bonnechere Caves, a separate attraction on Fourth Chute Road near Eganville, runs one-hour guided tours with up to 25 other visitors and one young guide; tickets are first come, first served, and the caves stay cool on the hottest summer days. See Bonnechere Provincial Park and Bonnechere Caves.
Calabogie and the Madawaska River
Calabogie offers the Barnet Park boat launch and two beaches, the Manitou Trail (9 km), Griffith Uplands (a 10 km loop over four mountains), the 18 km Madawaska Nordic Trail and the K&P Trail to Renfrew. Calabogie Peaks Resort runs skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking. The Township describes the Madawaska River as flowing 230 km east from Algonquin Park to the Ottawa River at Arnprior, and points to a 6 km side trip to the 180 ft Mountain Chute Hydro Dam, which holds back the 200 ft deep Black Donald Lake. See Calabogie guide and Calabogie and Black Donald lakes.
Barry’s Bay and the Madawaska Valley
The Township of Madawaska Valley lists the Barry’s Bay Public Boat Launch on Kamaniskeg Lake, beaches at Lakeshore Park, Mayflower Park, Reeve’s Park and Wadsworth Lake, and the multi-use CN Trail. Renfrew County District Health Unit monitors water quality weekly in summer at three listed beaches. The Township also lists Wilno Heritage Park, run by the Wilno Heritage Society with a museum open seasonally, and Water Tower Park in Barry’s Bay, home to what it calls Ontario’s last remaining wooden water tower. See Barry’s Bay and Madawaska Valley.
Fishing
Zone 15 includes Pembroke and is part of the Central Bait Management Zone, so baitfish and leeches may not be moved into or out of it. Dead and preserved baitfish and leeches are exempt. Read the zone page for the lake you plan to fish. Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence.
Hospitals and essentials
Our essentials guide lists hospitals in Barry’s Bay (St. Francis Memorial, a 20-bed community hospital), Renfrew, Arnprior and Pembroke, with their phone numbers. See Hospitals, groceries and essentials in the Ottawa Valley.
FAQ
Does this guide cover the City of Ottawa?
No. It covers areas outside the City of Ottawa. Checked November 3 2026.
Where is Bonnechere Provincial Park?
4024 Round Lake Road, Killaloe. Checked November 3 2026.
Which fishing zone includes Pembroke?
Zone 15. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages in this area
Browse the Ottawa Valley region or cottages near White Lake.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the township where the cottage sits. The Township of Greater Madawaska (Calabogie) requires a licence for short-term rental accommodations under By-law 19-2024, as amended by By-law 62-2024. Our dataset has no confirmed rule yet for Madawaska Valley or the Bonnechere-area townships, so confirm with the clerk before you list. Rules change; confirm with the municipality.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bonnechere PP May 8-Oct 18 2026; 129 car sites; rentals; 4024 Round Lake Road, Killaloe | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/bonnechere | 2026-11-03 |
| 1a | Sandy beach on Round Lake; Jack’s Chute about 3 km; McNaugton Trail 13 giant footprints (re-pointed from main page to activities page) | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/bonnechere/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Bonnechere Caves: 1247 Fourth Chute Rd, Eganville; guided one-hour tours; up to 25 visitors and one young guide; first come first served; cool in summer; reopens May long weekend 2027 | https://www.bonnecherecaves.com/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Calabogie: Barnet Park launch and two beaches; Manitou 9 km; Griffith Uplands 10 km over four mountains; Madawaska Nordic 18 km; K&P to Renfrew; Calabogie Peaks skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking; Madawaska River 230 km to Arnprior; Mountain Chute dam 180 ft, 6 km side trip; Black Donald 200 ft deep | https://www.greatermadawaska.com/play-and-discover/tourism/things-to-do/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Madawaska Valley: Barry’s Bay launch on Kamaniskeg Lake; Lakeshore, Mayflower, Reeve’s, Wadsworth beaches; CN Trail multi-use; DHU weekly monitoring at three beaches; Wilno Heritage Park museum; Water Tower Park | https://www.madawaskavalley.ca/recreation-tourism/parks-beaches-and-boat-launches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Zone 15 includes Pembroke; Central Bait Management Zone; dead and preserved baitfish and leeches exempt | https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-15 | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-licences | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | St. Francis Memorial Hospital 20-bed community hospital, Barry’s Bay | https://hastingshighlands.ca/living-here/health-care | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Greater Madawaska requires an STR licence under By-law 19-2024, amended by 62-2024 (dataset greater-madawaska, confirmed) | 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 |