features and attractions
Steenburg Lake Community Association
Steenburg Lake has an active Community Association that spends time planning fun events all summer long. It boasts an excellent web page with maps, web cams, photos, local weather, etc. It is a must visit before you start your holiday!
Located on the north shore of Steenburg Lake, the McGeachie Conservation Area offers excellent hiking and biking trails for all. It's about a 30 minute bike ride to get there.
*2023 - SOME TRAILS ARE CLOSED FROM THE STORM LAST MAY
Trudy's General Store - 2023 - TRUDY'S IS CURRENTLY CLOSED AND FOR SALE
St. Ola's Station
12 St Ola Rd, Gilmour, ON K0L 1W0
Go to Hwy 62 and go North for about 500 meters.
St. Ola's Station - your one stop shop for staple food items, ice, cold drinks, ice cream, homemade meals - great pizza, & more! There is some incredible baked daily goods here! The also have 18 litre jugs of water, and dew worms. They recently obtained the Beer Store and LCBO and now sell gas. This is the new go to place for local shopping. Across from Trudy's.
Call: 613-474-1635
*I think that they are closed on Mondays
The Rock Cut Variety and Grocery *2023 - THE ROCK CUT IS NOW CLOSED AND FOR SALE
The Gate Family Restaurant
*HAS ADDED A SMALL VARIETY STORE 2023 - carry 18 litre jugs of water and worms
Is also to the south, just past The Rock Cut. If you are out of food or just don't feel like cooking, this is a great option. Their food is great and their baked good are incredible!
Call: 613-474-4283
21162 ON-62, Gilmour, ON K0L 1W0
*I think that they are closed on Mondays
Bruni's Boat Launch at 1035A North Steenburg Lake Road. It offers a good spot to launch your boat if you bring your own. The donation fee is $20.00 total for putting your boat in and taking it back out. They sell worms and a few other things like ice, pop and water. If your timing is right, they may have some delicious homemade baking and fresh vegetables. Homemade, wood fired pizzas are available in 2024 on Saturday nights - but beware - they may book up weeks in advance in the summer months. Just call or text Selena to find out what's available: 905-441-3202.
There is a free public boat launch at the beach on North Steenburg Lake Road which is only a 5-10 minute canoe paddle from our cottages, but the launch is not open in July or August. The Caverly dock is plenty deep enough to accommodate another boat. Our 17 foot bowrider sits in 4 feet of water. For your convenience on the fridge of each cottage you will find a laminated map of the lake that shows all marked hazards to boats.
HASTINGS RESORT IS CLOSED!
Limerick Lake Lodge and Marina
A little further up the highway (about 10 minutes away), or along the railway multi-use trail, you'll find Limerick Lake Lodge and Marina. It has a store that offers good supplies for the cottagers on Limerick Lake. The owner for many years George Offshack has retired and new owners have been renovating in 2021. Boat and motor rentals can be arranged - check their website for rates.
Bancroft and District Chamber of Commerce
This website offers a detailed list of what is available in the Bancroft District. You may want to read or download the on-line Destination Guide before your visit (a print copy is usually available at the cottage). In Bancroft, you will find many cute stores and if you are looking for a quality souvenir from your holiday.
Bancroft is known as the gem capital of Canada and if you happen to be in Bancroft on the Civic Holiday in August, you will see why with this video - The Bancroft Gemboree! Hundreds of vendors will line the street selling everything relating to gems. Here is some more information from The Travel Files. A trip to Lakeside Gems to see the wide assortment of samples for sale and get expert knowledge from Linda. This is a good first stop in your rock hounding adventure. She is located in downtown Bancroft is a wealth of knowledge. A similar adventure begins at the Princess Sodalite Mine and Rock Shop, where you can browse the gift shop or prospect and pay for only samples taken or purchased at their store. Andy has a great selection of souvenir gemstones. Some of our guests last year enjoyed the Guided Rock Hound Trip offered by the Bancroft Chamber of Commerce. It takes place on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and costs about $25. per family. As you become a more experienced 'rock hound' you may want to visit a more challenging place to pick for rocks - The Bear Lake Diggings - you may find this video of Bear Lake interesting.
Bancroft Village Playhouse
Several of our guests have enjoyed watching live community theater at The Bancroft Village Playhouse.
There are several golf courses within 30 minutes of our cottages.
The Bancroft Golf Course Better bring your over-sized driver for the 18th hole - par 5 - 633 yards!
River's Edge Golf and Country Club has been sold and renamed to Bancroft Ridge Golf Club. The new owners have invested a considerable amount of time and money renovating the building and grounds.
Marvel Rapids Golf Course
West Highland Golf Course
If you need a little 'pampering' perhaps a half day at the Grail Springs Spa is in order.
If you have some time to do a little research this North Hastings (county) website promotes Tourism and Arts & Culture and has many ideas for activities within a short drive http://www.northhastings.com/
Other Points of Interest:
The Art Gallery of Bancroft
Wollaston and Limerick Public Library
Township of Limerick - Waste Department https://limerick.ca/departments/waste-department/
The Township of Limerick Community Landfill site is located at 89 Limerick Lake Road and is open year-round. Your bag of clear garbage does not require an orange tag if you are brining in a blue box of recycle also.
Summer Waste Site Hours | May ~ August
- 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Wed., Sat., Sun. & Holiday Monday
Winter Waste Site Hours | Sept. ~ April
- 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Wed., Sat., Sun. & Holiday Mon.
If you are in to Geocaching, there are many caches in the area. Some even have gems! If you want to learn more click here!
For what's going on locally, try Bancroft This Week.com
10 things that you may like do, but did not know about!
1. Hike on the short trail near the cottage - go left out of the driveway, follow the road, it turns right at the end and then you will see a trail through the woods - when you come to a road turn right - it is the road that you drove in to the cottage. This short hike will only take about 15 minutes. - Unfortunately this trail was closed and fenced in the fall of 2021. It may be accessible in 2025
* For a more challenging Hike or rugged bike go to the nearby McGechie Conservation Area. It is only an 7 minute car ride away on the north shore of Steenburg Lake - if you are really courageous you could mountain bike or canoe there! It is about a 25 minute bike ride from our cottages to the Conservation Area.
The McGeachie Conservation Area, was graciously donated to the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority in 1994, by Jack and Ethel McGeachie. The 358 acres of land on the north shore of Steenburg Lake, has since been added to by another 100 acres, also donated by the McGeachie family, is blessed with acres of wetland, a creek, beaver ponds, mature forest, nature trails and a historic homestead that was built in the 1860's.
2. Canoe / Kayak - leave our dock and go to the right - it is about a 10 minute paddle to the public beach - a nice place to have a picnic, play in the sand or just hang out.
3. Fish off the dock or swim raft or the rowboat or the paddle boat - buy some worms at Trudy’s and use our poles and tackle.
4. Take in one of the local mines or Chamber of Commerce guided tour. See the flyers in the binder for details. The Princess Sodalite mine is a good place for beginners - 5 minutes North East of Bancroft on Hwy 62.
5. Visit the Coe Hill sports pavilion and play some ball hockey or tennis or pickle ball - it is a beautiful outdoor ice rink in the winter time with roof and boards. Coe Hill is about 15 minutes away - 10 minutes North on Hwy 62 and then 5 minutes East on Hwy 620.
6. Visit St. Ola's Station or The Rustic Roadside - only 5 minutes away and has amazing home made butter tarts! Go to the highway and travel 1 km North.
7. Try Geocaching! All you need is GPS unit or an app on your smartphone. Kids love getting outdoors and hunting for that treasure! You’ll find more information to get you started in our binder.
8. If you are up for a drive, the Town of Whitney is the back door to Algonquin park, and is 50 minutes North of Bancroft. If you have never been, it is a true jewel of Ontario. Get yourself a park newspaper at the East Gate. The logging museum is just inside the East Gate of the park. It is a 2km walk (stroller accessible) with various interactive stops along the circuit.
9. Smores at the campfire - need we say more? (Graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate) - all available at Trudy’s!
10. Count stars on the dock - find the Big Dipper and the North Star - or if you can’t - use your free iPhone App to help you!
