Eastern Ontario

Welcome to the Third Edition of the Eastern Ontario Backroad Mapbook. Inside this guidebook is the most comprehensive outdoor recreation resource available for the eastern part of Ontario.

Eastern Ontario has long been referred to as a hidden gem of outdoor recreation in this province. From the rugged hills of the Canadian Shield and Madawaska Highlands to the low-lying rivers of the Ottawa Valley and St Lawrence Lowlands, the area holds a lifetime worth of outdoor fun just waiting to be discovered.

For those looking to get away from it all, it is not all that difficult to find seclusion in Eastern Ontario. There is a well-established series of trail systems, canoe routes and winter routes that link the major urban centres and smaller towns to the freedom of the outdoors. From here, the scenic vistas, peaceful solitude and abundance of wildlife and wilderness can be appreciated.

Throughout Eastern Ontario is a scattering of small towns and settlements that have been the heart and soul of the region for many years. In addition to the collection of smaller communities, visitors will find larger cities that tend to fall along the periphery of the province. Ottawa, the nation’s capital, is by far the largest city in the area and has developed an outstanding series of urban trails and green spaces for local residents and visitors to enjoy. Kingston, Bancroft, Belleville, Brockville, Hawkesbury and Pembroke are some of the bigger cities and towns in the area. These communities follow the Capital Region’s lead in maintaining quality trails and park spaces that allow city dwellers and visitors a chance to enjoy the outdoors.

The detailed maps found in this book help people explore the area with confidence. In addition to highlighting the logging or bush road networks, trail systems and recreation opportunities, they also feature relief topography to help you pick out prominent land features. Another unique feature of the maps is that all recreation activities are symboled and labelled, allowing for quick and easy referencing when researching a specific area.

At the back of the book, readers will find a comprehensive reference section that includes information on paddling routes, lake and stream fishing, parks and conservation areas, multi-use trails (hiking, biking and ATVing), wildlife viewing and winter recreation. New to the third edition are sections dedicated to hunting and backroad attractions as well as new maps covering Bancroft north past Barry’s Bay, now including crown land data. These are the most obvious new addition, but throughout the book are tweaks, changes and additions that make this publication a most invaluable resource.

From hardcore outdoorsmen to armchair adventurers, the Eastern Ontario Backroad Mapbook is design to help you find new places to explore, from popular parks to rarely visited lakes and streams in this wonderful, but often overlooked, section of Ontario. So dig right in and find the adventure that awaits you in Eastern Ontario.