Rock Lake
Rock Lake, Algonquin Park ~ Once seen, forever in the heart!
Rock Lake has a perimeter of approximately 22.5 km, a mean depth of 7.9 metres and maximum depth of 34.7 metres. The lake has an area of approximately 507.3 ha. Rock Lake is a motor restricted lake, allowing motors of up to 20hp. View the lake depth map.
Rock Lake was once on route for the Ottawa, Arnprior and Perry Sound Railway, one of the busiest railways in its time. Built between 1892 and 1895 by JR Booth, it is said to have been its busiest (with trains every 20 minutes) during WWI. During this time it was used to transport troops, and grains.. The railway was last used in 1974, and now is part of the Old Railway Bike Trail, which starts at Rock Lake and ends near Cache Lake.
Just at the entrance to Rock Lake, one will find the Booth Rock Trail. This 5.1km trail ascends to a large cliff named Booth’s Rock, and provides magnificent views of Rock and Whitefish lake, before descending and looping back to the starting point.
Also on Rock Lake, one can take in the Petroglyphs on the beautiful Rock face.
Algonquin Park Land Leases
In 1905 provisions were made that the “minister may lease suitable points for the erection of summer cottages, on the approval of the superintendent of the Park.” Subsequently the first two cottages were leased on Canoe Lake in 1905. Conditions of the leases were that the leaseholders were to be charged annually and that the leases ran for 21 years with the option to renew. Vacant lots were to be left between cottage lots so that canoeists needing a place could stop. Cottages were not permitted in the Park’s interior, and followed the HWY 60 corridor.
By 1930 a few cottages had appeared on Rock Lake. Today Rock Lake is home to approximately 24 land lease cottages.
In 2016 a new agreement with the government was struck. For land lease holders this meant: new leases to be signed, leaseholders being required to pay for a new property survey, inspection of septics, leaseholders not allowed to rent the cottages, leaseholders being unable to occupy the cottage year round, and that the leaseholders had up to 3 years to complete the new lease requirements at which time they could submitt and application to extend the lease to 2038. For more information on landleases in Algonquin Park, see this site. While these requirements may seem to be alot, the Algonquin Park Cottagers have a resource called the “Cottagers Toolkit.” and Algonquin Park land lease holders can also become members of the APRA, Algonquin Park Residents Association.
For more information on Algonquin Park Cottages for sale, please contact The Parker Team at 705-349-0054.
