We're all about summer vibes here in Hastings County and our bucket list is packed with must-do experiences. Ready to make the most of the season? Start with our top 8 things to do this summer.
1. Go caving in Tyendinaga
Ontario’s largest cavern is located just north of Shannonville, and for the past 30 years Charles and Elizabeth Koch have opened it up for exploration. Tyendinaga Cavern & Caves is a beginner-level site, though, so no professional spelunking equipment or abilities needed. Your 45-minute guided tour begins outside the entrance, where you’ll find fossils dating back 450 million years. Descending the stairs, you’ll feel the temperature drop and eventually come to an underground wishing well, where you can drop in a coin. The tour ends down a tiny side passage in total darkness. In between, you’ll hear about how the cavern formed, how it’s preserved, stories of the area, and more.
2. Kayak down the Madawaska
The first whitewater paddling school in the world was established on a beautiful tree-lined stretch of the Madawaska River back in 1972. Madawaska Kanu Centre is alive and one of the best spots to learn how to paddle Class I to Class III rapids in North America. The fully certified guides offer multiple paddling courses and organized trips for beginners, intermediates, experts, ideal for families and groups. Bonus: their property boasts an on site cafe great café and hiking trail that flows through a forest of hardwood and pine right beside the river to enjoy.
3. Search for treasure in Bancroft
Since 1999, Lakeside Gems has been a haven for mineral collectors worldwide. And no wonder. It’s in Bancroft, the “Mineral Capital of Canada” and one of the best places to find Canadian blue sodalite. But the rock shop is more than just a dealer of minerals, gemstones, and all of the equipment rockhounds need. For the past few years, Lakeside Gems has also been offering geologist-led mineral collecting field trips for families and individuals. Your day-long excursion begins with a short presentation on rockhounding in Bancroft before you drive to a field site. There, you’ll learn about the hobby, how to collect, what tools to use, and how to identify minerals.
4. Swim at a backroad beach
While Hastings County may be known for pristine lakes, we don’t usually think of its sand-swept shorelines. You're in luck, we have a few beautiful beaches here off the beaten path. Visit Fosters Lake Beach, north of McArthurs Mills after a stunning drive through old growth forests and over rolling hills. It’s a secluded, quiet and relatively long sandy beach with a covered picnic area, built-in stone barbecues, and grassy areas. Diamond Lake Beach may be smaller and busier than Fosters Lake Beach, but it has a nice sandy bottom and gorgeous sunsets. Papineau Public Beach and Wollaston Lake Beach are two other sandy splendours, well worth the drive.
5. Reel in a catch at Limerick Lake
With such great fishing across the region, it’s tough to pick just one of Hastings’ 180 lakes to drop a line. You can’t go wrong with Limerick Lake, just 30 minutes south of Bancroft. There are five interconnected lakes here, all with some of the best small and large mouth bass fishing you’ll find in Eastern Ontario. Four of the lakes also contain naturally-spawning lake trout. For your one-stop fishing destination, visit Limerick Lake Lodge and Marina. This legendary family-owned business has cottages and lodge room rentals, as well as rental boats and motors, live bait, tackle, guides, gas, and a snack bar. Water taxi services are also available.
6. Catch a live performance
With four theatres across Hastings County, you'll find winning productions, laugh-out-loud comedies, talented cast members and rockin summer concerts. There's no shortage of concerts and shows to see this summer, and don't miss two free outdoor shows at the Tweed Outdoor Stage. Both Stirling Festival Theatre and Tweed & Co. have a full lineup of theatre productions, comedy shows and rock concerts on the bill for this summer. Follow our Events page to see what's on or visit Stirling Festival Theatre or Tweed and Co.'s websites.
7. Hike 156 km across Hastings County
If you want to get the full view of Hastings County, pull on your hiking boots, strap on a backpack, and hit the Hastings Heritage Trail. It’s a 156-kilometre-long trail that follows an old rail line from Glen Ross in the south to Lake St. Peter in the north. Hiking the full length will take you several days, of course, but you can also do it in sections as there are access points all along the way. Either way, you’ll march through stunning sections of the Canadian Shield and come across wetlands, waterfalls, and ghost towns like Brinklow. Just remember that this is a multi-use trail, so keep your eye out for cyclists, horseback riders, and ATVers.
8. Go off-road on a UTV
Explore the trails near Bancroft by UTV with Bancroft Offroad Tours and see the scenic trails like never before. Available for all skill levels, book a guided tour on one of their 2 or 4 hour experiences for a fun adventure. All safety briefings and learning the key riding skills are included before you head out on a carefully selected route for a relaxed ride. Take in the rugged trails, discover hidden gems and bathe in the beautify views, this adventure experience is perfect for families or friends and sure to be a fun filled adventure.
Take a glamping road trip
It’ll be tough to tackle this entire bucket list in a day or two, so why not stay for a few days? Try the new style of glamorous camping, aka 'glamping' while also experiencing the wilds of nature. Read our post here for several choices. From riverside and forest yurts to off-grid cabins and campers, you might want to combine a few of them into a road trip that takes you right across Hastings County. Chances are they’ll make you want to return next summer to start a whole new bucket list.
