Silent Lake Provincial Park is a perfect slice of tranquility
We had the opportunity to camp for two nights at Silent Lake Provincial Park for Aman's birthday weekend in August 2021. Friends of his (a couple and their dog) dropped by for a visit, and it was a perfect place for their dog to get a little activity into her day, what with the pleasant swimming Silent Lake provides. The Lake is "silent" because no motorboats are allowed - this makes for a tranquil, serene location to simply be, for a few days. We spent many hours simply sitting on the rocks lining the shores of Silent Lake, as the sun set, turning blue skies into vibrant shades of orange, the reflection mirrored such that lake and sky simply melded into one large canvas.
We also spent a day hiking, and taking a canoe out onto the lake. Keiko the dog even had a go and she loved it! The facilities were clean and pleasant and the campsite was quite private.
Rating: 9/10
Where is Silent Lake Provincial Park?
Silent Lake Provincial Park is located in southeastern Ontario, in the Highlands region, just southwest of Bancroft. Silent Lake is a very small lake when you compare it to the five Great Lakes. On your way up from Toronto, the closest town you'll pass is Apsley in the North Kawarthas. The park is about halfway between Toronto and Ottawa.
Silent Lake Provincial Park is located on the Canadian Shield. The Shield is the remnants of an ancient mountain range that once, billions of years ago, covered large swathes of Canada. It has since eroded, and what is left behind are the characteristic rock formations, which are actually exposed ancient continental crust that comprise the landscape across southeastern, central and northern Ontario.
Read more about Charleston Lake, another provincial park that is located just at the end of the Shield, where it connects to the Adirondack mountains.
Activities At Silent Lake Provincial Park
Canoeing
We took the canoe out onto the lake. Even for a scaredy-cat like me (I don't do well around bodies of water, since I can only really swim in controlled environments, like a pool 😦!), the calm lake made for a safe, easy boating experience. It was a beautiful calm day out on the lake. The canoes can be rented up at the main office, and then picked up by the canoe launch area. Life jackets are also available.
Hiking
Lakehead Loop
Lakehead Loop is an easy 1.5km walk around the lake, with great views.
Chilling by the lake
On our second day, we sat by the lake a little too long - a storm rolled in and started pouring rain. We had to unpack our tents in the rain, which wasn't super pleasant but at least it didn't storm overnight!
The weekend at Silent Lake Provincial Park was truly refreshing, leaving us ready to tackle another workweek. It is a lovely park that is definitely worth multiple visits.
