Greater Madawaska.
Greater Madawaska is a Renfrew County township strung along the Madawaska River between the Algonquin Highlands and the Ottawa Valley, anchored by the village of Calabogie at the eastern end of Calabogie Lake. The township was formed in 2001 by the amalgamation of five former townships and covers 1,018 km² of Canadian Shield bedrock — the largest township by area in Renfrew County.
Calabogie Peaks Resort, founded in 1969 on the slope above Calabogie Lake, has the highest vertical drop among public ski hills in Ontario at 238 m and runs 24 trails plus the longest beginner trail in Ontario; about four kilometres east of the village, Calabogie Motorsports Park lays out the longest road course in Canada at 5.050 km, hosting CASC-OR regional racing through summer and the Calabogie Summer Classic in August. The Eagle's Nest / Manitou Mountain / Skywalk lookout — a 120 m quartzite cliff above Calabogie Lake — is the township's headline hike.
Downstream of Aumonds Bay toward Griffith, the Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park's 36 canoe-in campsites turn the river itself into a multi-day flatwater route through 1,200 ha of waterway-class Crown land. The K&P Rail Trail's western terminus is in Calabogie, on the former Kingston & Pembroke Railway corridor.
Today's read.
Real-time conditions updated; AI field notes unavailable.
On the record.
Every claim sourced. Click through to the original.
- 01Greater Madawaska is a township in Renfrew County formed January 1, 2001 by the amalgamation of the former townships of Bagot, Blythfield, Brougham, Griffith, and Matawatchan; with a land area of 1,018.15 km² it is the largest township by area in Renfrew County.Source ↗
- 02Calabogie Peaks Resort, founded in 1969 in the township of Greater Madawaska, has the highest vertical drop among public ski hills in Ontario at 238 m (781 ft), with 24 trails served by two chairlifts and a carpet — including Ontario's longest beginner trail.Source ↗
- 03Calabogie Motorsports Park, opened in September 2006 about 4 km east of the village of Calabogie, has a 5.050 km (3.138 mi) road course — the longest in Canada — and hosted the Castrol Canadian Touring Championship from 2007 to 2009 plus the opening rounds of the Canadian Superbike Championship in 2008–2009.Source ↗
- 04Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park is a non-operating waterway-class park covering 1,200 ha of Crown land along the Madawaska River between Aumonds Bay and Griffith, with 36 canoe-in campsites (first come, first served) and the Griffith Uplands Trail; the park is managed by the superintendent of Bonnechere Provincial Park.Source ↗
- 05The K&P Rail Trail is a multi-use rail-trail on the former Kingston & Pembroke Railway corridor; the County of Renfrew purchased the right-of-way from Canadian Pacific Railway in 2001 and the Renfrew–Calabogie section runs roughly 32 km, terminating in the village of Calabogie at the western end of the long-distance K&P system.Source ↗
- 06Calabogie Lake was created by damming the Madawaska River; the chain of lakes through the township from upstream to downstream runs Centennial Lake → Black Donald Lake → Norcan Lake → Calabogie Lake.Source ↗
- 07Greater Madawaska sits within the Algonquins of Ontario settlement area; the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation reserve at Golden Lake is in the adjacent municipality of North Algona Wilberforce, not within Greater Madawaska.Source ↗
7. activities
worth your time
StrongHiking
The Eagle's Nest / Manitou Mountain / Skywalk lookout network sits on a 120 m quartzite cliff above Calabogie Lake. Eagle's Nest itself is a 1.5 km approach on an old logging road climbing gradually to the principal lookout; combined with the Manitou Mountain and Skywalk trails, the loop strings together several rim viewpoints over the lake and the Madawaska valley. The Township of Greater Madawaska maintains the trails and the trailhead is free to park. The 6 km Griffith Uplands Trail, inside Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park at the western end of the township, adds a quieter forest hike.
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StrongCycling
The K&P Rail Trail's Renfrew–Calabogie section runs roughly 32 km on the former Kingston & Pembroke Railway corridor, terminating at the village of Calabogie. Land purchased by the County of Renfrew from Canadian Pacific Railway in 2001 forms the basis of the rail-trail, which carries a flat gravel surface through wooded country and lake margins. The Calabogie end is the western anchor of the long-distance K&P system that runs south through Lanark Highlands and Frontenac County toward Kingston.
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StrongPaddling — Flatwater
The Madawaska River through the township threads a chain of dammed lakes — Centennial, Black Donald, Norcan, and Calabogie — that paddle as flatwater between dams. Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park, between Aumonds Bay and Griffith, is a non-operating waterway park with 36 canoe-in campsites scattered along the riverbanks (first come, first served) — a multi-day flatwater route through 1,200 ha of Crown land. Calabogie Lake itself supports day paddling, kayak rentals, and SUP from the village waterfront.
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StrongSailing & Boating
Calabogie Lake — created by damming the Madawaska in the village — is the township's primary sailing and motorboating water, with public and resort launches and the Calabogie Peaks lakefront dock. The lake supports day sailing, motorboating, and waterskiing through summer; the township's larger lake chain (Black Donald, Centennial) adds quieter cruising waters.
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StrongFreshwater Fishing
The Madawaska River and its lake chain — Calabogie, Black Donald, Centennial — sit in Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 15. The waters carry smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and northern pike, with lake trout in the deeper reaches of Black Donald. The Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park canoe-in campsite system makes multi-day boat-camping fishing trips practical along the river between Aumonds Bay and Griffith.
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▲ SignatureDownhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Calabogie Peaks Resort sits on the slope above Calabogie Lake, four-season operations on a hill founded in 1969. The vertical drop measures 238 m (781 ft) — the highest among public ski hills in Ontario — across 24 trails served by two chairlifts and a carpet, with Ontario's longest beginner trail running off the upper hill back toward the lake. Ski-in/ski-out condos and hotel suites at the base put lodging directly on the lake.
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▲ SignatureMotorized Touring
Calabogie Motorsports Park's 5.050 km circuit, four kilometres east of the village, is the longest road course in Canada. The track opened in September 2006 and ran the Castrol Canadian Touring Championship from 2007 to 2009 plus opening rounds of the Canadian Superbike Championship in 2008–2009; it now anchors the Ontario club-racing calendar with CASC-OR regional series, BMW / Porsche / Viper club track days, the high-performance driving school, and the August Calabogie Summer Classic — the biggest weekend of the year on the circuit.
Read field guide arrow_outward18. more outings
surveyed.
Activities supported across Greater Madawaska without a featured write-up.
- 01
Trail Running
K&P Rail Trail (flat gravel) - 02
Walking & Strolling
Calabogie village waterfront - 03
Camping
backcountry · frontcountry - 04
Horseback Riding
K&P Rail Trail (multi-use; horses permitted) - 05
Nature & Discovery
nature-interpretation - 06
Mountain Biking
cross-country · downhill - 07
Rock Climbing
Eagle's Nest / Manitou cliff (informal local routes) - 08
Paddling — Whitewater
Madawaska River through township (largely flatwater between dams; isolated rapids on Lower Madawaska section) - 09
Diving & Snorkeling
Black Donald Lake (drowned village curiosity dives) - 10
Swimming & Beach
lake-swim · beach-day - 11
Cross-Country & Nordic
classic-xc - 12
Snow Adventure
snowshoeing - 13
Seasonal Phenomena
fall-colours - 14
Wildlife Viewing
Lower Madawaska River corridor (moose, beaver, waterfowl) - 15
Indigenous Experiences
Algonquins of Ontario settlement-area context (Pikwakanagan First Nation reserve at Golden Lake is in adjacent North Algona Wilberforce, not in-township) - 16
Food & Drink
Village of Calabogie restaurants and cafes - 17
Heritage & Culture
heritage-historic-site - 18
Geology & Discovery
rockhounding
Local operators.
Trusted outfitters, guides, and experience providers in Greater Madawaska.
Mad River Paddle Co.
Kayak, canoe, and SUP rentals, lessons, and weekly group paddles in Calabogie and the Ottawa Valley
View on AER arrow_outwardTom Irwin Adventure Tours
Guided ATV, Side-by-Side and snowmobile tours from Calabogie into the Madawaska Highlands, half-day or full-day, machines and trailside lunch included
View on AER arrow_outwardCanadian Voyageur Adventures
Canoe excursions, sea kayak tripping, instruction, team building
Visit website arrow_outwardRiver's Edge Canoe & Kayak Co.
Canoe and kayak rentals
Visit website arrow_outwardUrban Sport Calabogie
ATV & UTV rentals (likely boats/PWC too)
Visit website arrow_outwardOn the map.
Greater Madawaskaand the local operators we've mapped nearby.
Key resources.
- greatermadawaska.comTownship of Greater Madawaska — recreation, parks, K&P trail notices
- calabogiemotorsports.comCalabogie Motorsports Park — track schedule, events, CASC-OR series
- ontario.caOntario Fishing Regulations Summary — Fisheries Management Zone 15
- countyofrenfrew.on.caCounty of Renfrew — K&P Trail upgrades and notices