Cloyne: Pioneer History and Nature

Cloyne brings together pioneer history and places to swim and hike. In the centre of the hamlet is the Pioneer Museum and Archives, opposite the post office and next to Barrie Township Hall. In Cloyne itself, the swimming area at Marble Lake and the Abes and Essens Lake Trail offer different ways to enjoy nature; nearby Bon Echo Provincial Park has additional trails and the pictographs at Mazinaw Rock. When choosing a vacation rental, consider whether you want your stay to focus on the museum and local history or more on the water and longer excursions.

Pioneer History in the Centre of Cloyne

The Pioneer Museum and Archives offers a tangible introduction to the area’s history. Its collections include artefacts and documents about the area’s history since settlement began in the 1850s. The focus is on settlement and pioneer life, mining, logging, tourism, and the construction of the Addington Road. A diorama of the Gilmour Tramway shows logs being transported from Lake Mazinaw in the Mississippi River watershed to Pringle Lake, and then onward to Lake Skootamatta in the Moira River watershed. The exhibit makes it easy to follow a logging route between two watersheds. The exhibits are complemented by a reconstructed early schoolhouse and a domestic area featuring an early pioneer kitchen. Alongside transport and collection history, these areas offer concrete insights into everyday life.

The Cloyne Pioneer Museum is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from late June through Labour Day. Plan your visit during these hours and confirm the schedule before you travel.

Swimming Area and Hiking Trails in Cloyne

Marble Lake beach is a quiet swimming area on Marble Lake Road, north of Road 506, and is suitable for swimming. The Abes and Essens Lake Trail has three loops of 4, 9 and 17 km. There are five campsites along the trail for overnight hikes. The different trail lengths give you several specific options for planning a hike; the campsites also make the trail suitable for overnight hikes.

Mazinaw Rock and Active Days at Bon Echo Provincial Park

Nearby Bon Echo Provincial Park is home to the 100-metre-high Mazinaw Rock, a striking natural and cultural landmark with more than 260 Indigenous pictographs. The pictographs can be reached by canoe, kayak or boat. Check current access conditions before setting out. The 21 km Kishkebus Canoe Route is a moderately to highly challenging, approximately six-hour loop for a day trip. It passes pictographs on the way to the quiet waters of the nature reserve on the east side of the park. One portage on the route is 1.5 km long.

The park’s hiking trails range from 1 to 17 km. This means that, in addition to the three specific loops on the Abes and Essens Lake Trail in town, you can choose from trails with a wider range of lengths in the nearby park. At the Visitor Centre, visitors can learn more about the park’s history; Discovery programs are also offered. Overnight options include RV, car and backcountry camping, as well as roofed accommodations. Some remote campsites can be reached by canoe or on foot. Depending on your interests, you can combine a visit to the park with hiking, a stop at the Visitor Centre or different forms of camping.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Battersea, Sharbot Lake, Sydenham, Kingston, Mountain Grove, Wolfe Island.

Back to the main travel overview: Frontenac County.