Napanee to Bon Echo Adventure: Custom Hiking & Canoe Tour

Summary

Custom Day Trip: Canoeing, Hiking & Local Gems Near Napanee

You’ll get picked up in Napanee for a flexible adventure packed with hiking along riverside art trails, meeting alpacas on a family farm, canoeing past ancient rock paintings at Bon Echo Provincial Park, and enjoying a fresh local lunch—all with plenty of time for photos and surprises tailored just for your group.

What’s the experience like?

It’s not every day you get picked up right on time by someone who actually knows the backroads out of Napanee. By 10 am, we were already stretching our legs at Springside Park. The air had that fresh river smell—kind of earthy, a bit sweet from the wildflowers along the path. Our guide pointed out these painted pallets tucked between trees and benches—turns out, local artists made them for a town art project. We counted at least a dozen before we even hit the falls. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a train rumbling over the trestle bridge just as you spot a heron fishing below.

The next stop was downtown Napanee. Some of us ducked into jewelry shops and home décor stores (I found a mug with a loon on it—couldn’t resist). You can skip shopping if it’s not your thing; nobody rushes you here. Then came the museum—the old county jail. It’s got this cool limestone chill inside, and you can actually step into one of the cells for a photo. Our guide shared stories from old gaol reports—some pretty wild stuff from over a century ago.

We made our way to Hickory Lane Alpaca Farm after that. You can’t help but smile when an alpaca sniffs your hand or tries to nibble your sleeve. The owners are happy to chat about how they ended up raising alpacas in Ontario (ask them about their first winter here). Their little shop sells homemade soaps and soft wool socks—I grabbed some as gifts.

The drive north to Bon Echo is just under an hour but goes fast with good company and playlists. Lunch was waiting for us at the beach—fresh sandwiches from Napanee, plus gluten-free options for my friend who needed it. After eating, we paddled out in canoes for a scavenger hunt along Mazinaw Lake’s edge, searching for those ancient pictographs painted on the rocks. The water was calm, but there was this echo when you called out near the cliffs—kind of eerie but cool.

Later, we hiked through shaded trails to the visitor centre where displays tell stories about Indigenous history in the park. Some folks went swimming at the sandy beach while others took longer hikes through pine-scented woods. Before heading back, our guide snapped group photos (no extra charge) and handed out sparklers and bubbles if anyone wanted a mini celebration by the lake.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Napanee Hikes and Shopping

• Hike along Napanee River and Springside Park Falls
• Visit historical museum and old jail
• Explore Hickory Lane Alpaca Farm

Day 2 — Bon Echo Provincial Park Adventure

• Drive to Bon Echo Provincial Park and picnic lunch
• Canoe scavenger hunt for pictograph paintings
• Hike to visitor center and learn indigenous history
• Optional longer hike or swim at Mazinaw Lake beach

Top questions

Can we customize which stops we make during the tour?

Absolutely! You decide which stops or activities fit your group best—we’ll adjust as needed.

Is lunch included? What if I have dietary restrictions?

Yes! Lunch is freshly made in Napanee with options for all dietary needs—just let us know ahead of time.

Do I need canoe experience?

Nope! Canoes fit 2-3 people each and our guide will give tips before you head out.

Can you accommodate special occasions like birthdays?

Definitely—we decorate both van and picnic area for birthdays or other celebrations if you’d like!

What’s included

Your ride from Napanee (and back), guided hikes, all entrance fees, canoe rental (for 2-3 people per boat), fresh local lunch tailored to dietary needs, personal photography throughout the day (photos sent after), plus themed decorations if celebrating something special—and yes, sparklers and bubbles too!