There is this transformation that happens to the Township of North Algona Wilberforce in the summer. I was once told that the normal population of the Township of North Algona Wilberforce is around 3,000 people. Whereas I was told that in the summer, the population can go up to 12,000 people. As a result, the township takes on a whole new life and soul in the summer. In the summer, the Township of North Algona Wilberforce definitely takes on a resort/cottage vibe, which I absolutely love! It is like everyone is on vacation and in a great mood!
I am one of the lucky 3,000 people who get to call the Township of North Algona Wilberforce home year-round - for now, until we make the migration out West, but that is a blog post for another time. I absolutely love this township and it has come a long, long way in the four years that I have lived here. What it lacks in things like garbage pick-up, it makes up for in abundant lakes, the most stunning green spaces and oodles of friendly people. People who think that the Township of North Algona Wilberforce is just comprised of farm fields are sorely mistaken. Clearly, my bias is showing, but I am not even going to apologize for it!
This is the second feature of the Township of North Algona Wilberforce. Here is the link to the first blog post that has many other options of things to do, places to stay and other dining options - link.
Without further delay consisting of my ramblings, I present to you: Summer Life in North Algona Wilberforce.
Where to Stay
Honestly, Sands on Golden Lake is an excellent accommodation option regardless of the time of year. It is located on Golden Lake and boasts some fantastic views. Seriously, the sunsets and the pink sky that spans across Golden Lake are incredible. There are several lodging options at Sands of Golden Lake, which include: rooms, chalets and cottages. This resort also has a spa, restaurant and can host events (like weddings) and conferences. Recently, I visited a gal pal who was staying at Sands on Golden Lake in one of the chalets. I was thoroughly impressed with both the size of the chalet and the cleanliness.
My gal pal and I also sauntered over to the on-site restaurant, where we feasted to our hearts\' content. Fun fact, Tuesdays are wing night! I ended up going with the Greek pita. It came out of the kitchen relatively quickly and was absolutely delicious! It was nice too because there are also some wicked views of the lake from the restaurant. We were able to catch the sunset while we were eating our meal, which was a real treat!
For more information about Sands on Golden Lake and any of the services they offer, please check out their website here.
Greysmere Cottage on Golden Lake
This cottage is located on Golden Lake and has two bedrooms, which both have queen-sized beds. Hello, best friends vacation! Amenities of this cottage include a full kitchen that is equipped with modern appliances, screened porch, dock, BBQ, fire pit, outdoor shower and easy access for swimming! I have swum in Golden Lake before and I did not find it cold like some of the lakes within the Ottawa Valley. An important note about this lodging option is that they do not permit any animals to come join on the vacation…” no exceptions.” So if you want to travel with your pup, I suggest checking out one of the lodging options that I mention. For more information on this lodging option, check out the Airbnb listing here.
Also located on Golden Lake, this cottage can accommodate up to six people (four total beds and two bathrooms). This cottage is available to be booked during all of the seasons, which is perfect if you are not a huge fan of the summer heat. Amenities for this lodging option include a fully equipped kitchen, wireless internet, washer & dryer, radiant heated floors, air conditioning, on-demand hot water, ambient wood stove, propane BBQ, two kayaks, a private beach, dock and a nearby public boat launch. I should add that this Airbnb listing is indeed dog friendly, so if you are looking for a vacation for the full family, including your pup…then this is the spot for you! For more information about this Airbnb listing, check out the website here.
Located on Highway 60, Frontier Trails Camp is sure to be fun for the whole family. Frontier Trails is home to 100 acres of land, including endless groomed riding and hiking trails and a sandy beach. According to the Frontier Trails website "campers choose the length of stay, type of program, and camp electives reflecting a variety of outdoor interests and abilities. At the end of each session, parents are invited to attend Rodeo Day, to share in the fun and accomplishments of campers." Frontier Trails also offers several RVs for rent. For more information, check out their website here.
What to do
Water and Dirt Festival
New this year is the Water and Dirt Festival, which is a collaborative festival, which includes the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association, the Town of Petawawa, the City of Pembroke, the Township of Laurentian Valley, and the Township of North Algona Wilberforce. Through the Water and Dirt Festival, there are a variety of events that are associated with water and dirt. The water events are the Upper Ottawa River Race, Kayak Fishing Tournament, Petawawa Extreme Slalom and Doggy Paddle. The dirt events are SXS Roll Forever, Petawawa Triathlon, Forest Lea Trail Run and Forest Lea Enduro.
The events taking place in the Township of North Algona Wilberforce are the Doggy Paddle, and Kayak Fishing Tournament. This event is set to take place on Sunday, August 14 at Melissa Bishop Park. The Township of North Algona Wilberforce is partnering with the Ontario SPCA Renfrew Country Animal Centre. There is an individual event and a community relay race. Registration is $45 and includes an event t-shirt, event swag and a locally catered lunch. All funds raised go to support animals in need through the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre. For every $50 raised, registrants will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win some stellar prizes. For more information about the Doggy Paddle, check out the event page here.
Kayak Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, August 6 at Melissa Bishop Park. The cost to participate is $100. 50% goes to the winner of the tournament and the other 50% is donated to the Soldier On Foundation. There is free tent camping available on the baseball diamond at the park. The format of the tournament is a 5-bass catch-release run and gun. The longest stringer wins. This is a kayak-only tournament. Fish must be at least 12” to be accepted. For more information about this event, check out the event website here.
Gear-Lending Hub
One of the coolest things that have sprung up in recent years is these gear-lending hubs. The Township of North Algona Wilberforce has their own gear lending hub. Available to borrow through the lending hub are kayaks (single, double, kids), soft roof racks, stand-up paddle boards, bicycles, hiking poles, soccer balls and footballs. The lending hub is located at Melissa Bishop Park from 1 July to 14 August. From 15 August to 1 September, it is located at 3310 Lake Dome Road in Golden Lake. For more information about the gear-lending hub, please check out the Township of North Algona Wilberforce’s Facebook page here.
Hiking
One of my favourite spots to hike (besides Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre, obviously) is along the Pakkotinna trail system. These trails are multi-use trails, meaning they are used by hikers, ATV and UTV riders. I love the variety in this trail system. I have hiked along some of the intermediate and the most difficult trails. They are classified for ATVs, but they are also challenging for humans too! I remember going on a 30 km hike with some girlfriends and we were faced with a super steep uphill where the trail consisted of sand and loose rock. It was a bit of a gut check, to put it mildly.
If you do want to hike along the Pakkotinna, I recommend planning your route as there are 104 km of trails in this system. The best way to do this is by consulting the RCATV trail map online. The map details the hazards, lookouts, classification of the trail and other pertinent information. This map can be found at the website link here. Happy hiking!
Where to eat
The Cottage Cup
Located along Highway 60 in Golden Lake, the Cottage Cup is an absolute staple of the Ottawa Valley and the Township of North Algona Wilberforce. The Cottage Cup is not only a great place to go shopping, but they also have the best black bean burger I have ever had. If you are skeptical and think that you must have meat in your burger, just give it a try and you will know what the heck I am talking about! I also highly recommend the waffle fries. They are delicious and a fun side pairing with any meal selection. The Cottage Cup also serves up Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream and the best butter tarts in the Ottawa Valley (I said what I said). If you are heading to or coming back from hiking the Pakkotinna, The Cottage Cup is the perfect refuel stop!
Golden Lake Chinese Restaurant
Located along Highway 60 and super close to the Pakkotinna is the Golden Lake Chinese Restaurant. Golden Lake Chinese Restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday and is normally open from 11:00 to 8:00 pm. Whenever I visit, the staff are always beyond kind and the food is cooked really well. I personally am a fan of their combination plates. For example, you can get a single combination plate that includes an egg roll, chicken fried rice and sweet & sour wontons. I know, I am drooling too! I should also mention that they do have gluten-free and vegetarian options on their menu. Golden Lake Chinese Restaurant is the perfect spot to take a group of people as there is guaranteed to be something on the menu for everyone! I should also add that right across the road is a designated picnic area. Can you say Chinese food picnic? I sure can! For more information about Golden Lake Chinese Restaurant, check out their Facebook page here.
Up Next
Continuing on with our community profiles, the summer edition is the Township of Killaloe-Hagarty-Richards. Known as the official birthplace of BeaverTails, the Township of Killaloe-Hagarty-Richards is both rich in history and in nature. I cannot wait to share this blog post with you - it is going to be great!
Also, I would absolutely love to hear from you in the comment section below. Have you explored anywhere in the Township of North Algona Wilberforce? Do you have any funny anecdotes or personal stories? Have you ever been skating on Lake Dore? Let me know, one of my favourite things is hearing your stories.