Camping at Silent Lake Provincial Park
Seeking meditative serenity amidst Ontario’s acclaimed lakes and forests? Look no further than Silent Lake Provincial Park.
The park is located in the Municipality of Highlands East in Haliburton County. It is situated 20 minutes outside of Bancroft, and it is about 2.5 hours away from Toronto. The appeal here is the park’s calm lake and beautiful rocky shores surrounded by pine trees. It is certainly emphasized as a staple for quiet seekers because Silent Lake Provincial Park certainly lives up to its name; no motorboats (electric or gas) are permitted here. I highly recommend this place to anyone who needs a little escape from all of the chaos in the city. It is a wonderful location to practice meditation, yoga, and other mindful practices.
It is a little tough to find in depth history about this park. It was established as a provincial park in 1975, designed to provide outdoor recreation opportunities in the Haliburton area, while also preserving the natural elements and tranquility of the land.
Campsites
Things To Do
Things To Note
Eco Camping Tips
Gallery
Campsites
There are two main campgrounds to choose from here, Granite Ridge and Pincer Bay. Granite Ridge mainly contains car campsites (with a loop of walk-in campsites), and Pincer Bay is designed entirely as a walk-in campground. It consists of 2 loops of walk-in campsites. A walk-in campground is one in which you leave your car at a communal parking lot, and you have to hike up to your campsite with all of your belongings.
For those who prefer more of a glamping experience, they do also have camp cabins (sleep 5) and yurts (sleep 6).
Both campgrounds contain vault toilets, water stations, a centrally located comfort station with flush toilets, showers and laundry facilities, and garbage facilities. (We had some trouble finding our garbage station).
We had a great experience checking in, as we normally do with Ontario Parks. The staff was polite and accommodating, and we were able to pick up our firewood easily. We opted for a spot in the Pincer Bay walk-in campground, which was at the end of the park. Luckily, our spot was a short 5 minute walk from the parking lot (I believe that all of the sites here are like this). Though, it did get a little bit challenging after a few trips, since our lot was at the top of a hill inside the forest. The mosquitos were also a complete terror, which did not help. Sadly, they remained a terror during the entirety of the trip, which is to be expected from a completely forested campsite. They were so relentless that they were biting me through my bug suit!
The lot itself was so beautiful. It was surrounded by trees and the soothing sounds of Silent Lake were present at all times; the lake itself was only about a 5 minute walk outside of the forest! The campsite next to us on the hill was really close by (see photo below), so it wasn’t very private. This did not bother us though, as we spent most of the evening by the lake. It almost felt like a backcountry experience, if it weren’t for chatter from the several campsites around us. There were also a lot of very brave chipmunks running around; one even came and sat on our bags.
Our bathroom situation was vault toilets (only with sanitizer), which were located beside the walk-in parking lot. There were 2 stands with lockers halfway up to the campsites, where people could store their items instead of walking back to the car. This was well designed.
The real highlight for us was the tranquil nature of the lake (I know I keep saying that, but it truly makes the park stand out). The lake opening closest to us contained a small boat launch for kayaks and canoes. There were also a few racks of boats and a little hut, where people can rent the boats onsite during the day. I found this very convenient, as everything was well concentrated in one place - you grab and you go! We spent our evening sitting on the rocks, reading, and watching the abundance of clouds swirl around as the sky slowly revealed cotton candy colours.
The only downfall of our camping was that we did hear some distant car traffic when we were falling asleep. It affected the ambience a little, but we were not in the backcountry after all. Not a downfall but we also heard quite a few animals passing by our tent, which was a little eerie and intriguing!
We stayed at the Pincer Bay Walk-In Campground - lot 76 (July 12th - 13th)
Things to Do
There is a large variety of activities at Silent Lake, which appeal to everyone’s outdoor adventure needs. Whether that is spending all day on/in the lake, exploring the trails, seeking the thrill of mountain biking, or simply relaxing in the sunshine!
Boating is wonderful here (kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding). The lake is about 2.5 km in length, and there are various waterways to explore. There are short portage routes to Quiet Lake and Soft Lake, which depend on the water levels.
Mountain Biking (and regular biking). One of the highlights of this park is its distinguished mountain biking trail, which consists of 2 loops: one is 11km (moderate) and the other 17 km (difficult).
There is great fishing here, as the lake is full of trout and small/largemouth bass.
There are hiking trails for all levels, whether someone is looking to do a leisurely walk or aiming to challenge themselves on trickier terrain.
There are 2 sandy beaches that are great for picnics, sun tanning, and swimming. One of the beaches is at the day use area, which contains floating docks and a comfort station..
Hiking is popular at the park and there are 3 defined trails: Lakehead Loop Trail (1.5 km - easy linear walking trail along the lakeshore), Bonnie’s Pond Trail (3km - easy loop through the forest to a lookout point), and Lakeshore Hiking Trail (15 km - moderate loop that is rugged and challenging, passing through meadows, forests, and swamps - with lookout points on the way).
We were aiming to hike the Lakeshore Hiking Trail, however, we ultimately decided to enjoy the morning at the lakefront near us instead, as we wanted to give ourselves time for our plans in Bancroft that day. We’ll definitely be back to do some hiking at this park!
Since we arrived in the evening, we decided to wake up before the sun the next day. We wanted to take advantage of the essence and utmost silence of the lake before continuing our journey that day. The pre-sunrise atmosphere here is absolutely magical; the stillness and harmony were warm and comforting, even though the morning was cool. There is something very special about watching the creatures of the earth rise into their morning routines, the light slowly illuminate each crevice, and the environment increasingly build its symphony of sounds.
It is a great park to visit in the winter as well, as they have over 34 km of well maintained cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. And ice fishing is permitted on the lake.
Things to Note
Prepare for the bugs, especially if you are staying at the forested walk-in campground. The mosquitoes here were the worst out of all of the parks we visited.
Some of the campsites (at least in our section - including ours) were very close together, and noise does travel. This did not bother us too much, but make sure you look at pictures before you book your site if this isn’t comfortable for you!
For larger groups, there are 2 campsites that share a driveway and firepit. They can hold up to 12 people and need to be reserved together.
There is a Kawartha Dairy about 15 minutes away from the park, near Bancroft.
The town of Bancroft is about 20 minutes away, and it makes for a nice little day trip. While there, check out ‘Eagle’s Nest Lookout,’ ‘Egan Falls,’ and for crystal enthusiasts, check out ‘Princess Sodalite Mine.’
About an hour south of the park you can find the Whetung Ojibwa Centre in the Curve Lake Reserve. It is an incredible museum and store, where you can find Native crafts, fine art, jewelry, moccasins, leather work, sculptures, and more great items from Indigenous creators. I highly recommend it!
Eco Camping Tips:
Opt for biodegradable and natural soap, toothpaste, sunscreen, bug repellent, and anything that may end up on the ground/in the water.
Try to buy organic food when possible, as to avoid pesticides and other chemicals that can be harmful for the environment. Also try to pack meals in larger containers (BPA-free), rather than purchasing single-use packaged items.
Remember to never leave food products outside, as animals can get to it.
Bring reusable sandwich bags, water bottles, cutlery, straws, etc. (if able). Also opt for reusable dishes and cups that you can quickly wash and wipe.
Bring a large water jug and fill it up at the water stations (if there are no stations, bring extra jugs of water).
Buy sleeping bags made of recycled materials.
Purchase camping stoves that can be refilled and reused.
Sort out your garbage and recycling. Ontario parks has bins for both.
Do not remove branches or bark from trees for fires. Use the dead brush on the ground and buy firewood from the park. Avoid bringing in outside firewood, as it can carry invasive and non-native species.
Never burn trash or anything that can contain chemicals, such as plastic or anything with toxic ink, paint, or glue on it.
Natural fire starters (instead of using lighter fluid): ethical soy/beeswax inside egg cartons, recycled woodchips, dried orange peels, cinnamon sticks/anise stars, pinecones & pine needles, shredded (plastic-free) paper/sawdust, and smudge sticks/sage.
Always use the fire pits, and not any other space.
Always pick up your trash! Make sure to scan the entire area before leaving.
Always have extra bags on hand for trash.
A few bug spray alternatives that I love are: peppermint oil, lime oil, citronella (a staple), tea tree oil, lavender, and eucalyptus oil. For an all natural bug repellent, you can literally mix a few essential oils with some witch hazel or rose water (or simply, regular water).
I always recommend reading about the history of a location (making sure to read about and acknowledge the Indigenous groups it belongs to), information about delicate species and environments, and how to respect and protect the land and others.
You can find the park details here: Ontario Parks
Detailed Park Breakdown here: Silent Lake Park Management
I would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to the ancestral lands in the traditional territory of the Williams Treaties First Nations, which includes the Mississaugas (Alderville, Hiawatha, Scugog Island and Curve Lake First Nations) and Chippewas (Beausoleil, Georgina Island and Rama First Nations), and within the Kawartha Nishnawbe asserted traditional territory. I wish to recognize the long history of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Ontario, and show respect to them today, with the understanding that they will always belong to them - whether physically or in spirit.
Stay tuned for the next adventure.