Oxtongue Lake is the last lake before the western entrance to Algonquin Park; Ragged Falls is at the north end of the lake. The lake, trails and several points of interest in art and local history offer distinct focuses for a stay in the area.
The Lake, Water and Beetle Lake Trail
Oxtongue Lake offers opportunities for swimming, and its shores are mostly sandy. If you would also like to plan time on the Beetle Lake Trail, it currently has two 2.5 km loop routes, each with an out-and-back section, one on each side of the lake. Be aware of a temporary route change due to a bridge on the trail; check the current route before setting out.
The parking lot for the Beetle Lake Trail is at 1035 Algonquin Outfitters Road. The western trailhead is just beyond the Algonquin Outfitters store. The parking lot address and the note about the western trailhead are two separate reference points for planning.
Local History and Art in Oxtongue Lake
The Oxtongue Lake Schoolhouse was a one-room schoolhouse clad in stone. In the 1970s, the community took over the building for use as a community centre. Its history thus connects its former use as a school with its later use by the community.
Art also reflects a range of local connections. The Oxtongue River mural at the Oxtongue Lake Community Centre is a community mural by Gerry Lantaigne and Janine Marson. At Algonquin Outfitters - Oxtongue Lake, you can also find “Northern River” by Gerry Lantaigne, a work connected to Tom Thomson. The two works offer different points of connection to the theme of art.
The A.J. Casson Plaque of Honour is at the west end of the Oxtongue Lake Bridge near Algonquin Outfitters Road. It features the painting created there and includes quotations and factual information about the painting and A.J. Casson.
An Oxtongue Lake for Arts & Culture plaque was unveiled at the 2016 Canada Day celebrations. It honours explorer and cartographer David Thompson: he travelled over 90,000 kilometres across North America on foot, by canoe and on horseback, and travelled along the Oxtongue River and Oxtongue Lake. The “Tom Thomson and Northern River” plaque is also located nearby on the Oxtongue River.
More to Discover in the Wider Haliburton County
In the wider Haliburton County, the Haliburton Sculpture Forest in Glebe Park, near the community of Haliburton, offers a different cultural focus. The outdoor collection includes sculptures by Canadian and international artists. The trails are suitable for hiking and cycling in spring, summer and fall, and for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing in winter. The seasonal change offers a concrete point of comparison if you would like to combine cultural stops with outdoor activities.
The Minden Hills Museum & Heritage Village offers another focus. It comprises five historic buildings that were relocated here to preserve and celebrate Minden’s history. These include Bowron House, a log cabin from the 1860s with a working wood stove, Stanhope Schoolhouse and exhibits in the Stirling Bank building. Self-guided tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from the long weekend in May through the Thanksgiving weekend; hands-on activities are available daily in June, July and August. Opening hours and activities may change, so it is a good idea to check the latest visitor information before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Highland Grove, Harcourt, Tory Hill, Carnarvon, Cardiff, Minden, Haliburton
Go to the wider travel overview: Haliburton County.
