Limerick.
Limerick is a small Hastings County township off Highway 62 between Madoc and Bancroft, in the southern Canadian Shield's lake-and-forest belt. Two interconnected lakes anchor the township: Limerick Lake — designated a cold-water lake trout spawning lake, with a public launch ramp at the dam and access at Martins Landing — and Steenburg Lake, an island-studded flatwater lake with a public beach off Steenburg Lake North Road and the McGeachie Conservation Area on its shore.
The Crowe Valley Conservation Authority manages McGeachie's 500-acre property, with marked trails through forest, swamp, and beaver ponds. Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance ATV and snowmobile routes thread the township between the Bay of Quinte and Algonquin Park.
The Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery in Ormsby occupies the village's 1880s general store. Bancroft sits a short drive north; Belleville about an hour south; the GTA, Ottawa, and Kingston each a few hours along the regional highway corridors.
Limerick falls within the Algonquins of Ontario unceded land-claim territory.
Today's read.
Real-time conditions updated; AI field notes unavailable.
On the record.
Every claim sourced. Click through to the original.
- 01Limerick Lake is a cold-water lake trout spawning lake holding lake trout alongside smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, and pumpkinseed — fished under Fisheries Management Zone 15.Source ↗
- 02McGeachie Conservation Area covers 500 acres on Steenburg Lake, donated by Jack and Ethel McGeachie in 1994 and managed by the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority.Source ↗
- 03The Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance maintains a multi-use trail network from the Bay of Quinte north to Algonquin Park, with annual ATV passes at $150.Source ↗
- 04Hastings County and Limerick Township sit within the Algonquins of Ontario unceded land-claim territory of approximately 36,000 km² in eastern Ontario, currently in final-stage treaty negotiations following a 2016 agreement-in-principle.Source ↗
- 05The Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery occupies the 1880s general store in Ormsby, restored and reopened by Lillian and Gary Pattison in July 2003.Source ↗
4. activities
worth your time
StrongPaddling — Flatwater
Steenburg Lake's six islands — Crab, Dewey's, Picket, Bateman's, Uncle Bob's, and Powers — give a multi-island flatwater scope rare for a township this small. The lake drains south via Bass Creek into Limerick Lake, then via Beaver Creek and the Crowe River toward the Bay of Quinte at Trenton, so the local paddling chain is part of a longer Crowe River system. Limerick Lake itself is reachable from the public launch ramp at the dam and Martins Landing on the southwest shore. McGeachie Conservation Area's shoreline forms the northern frame of the Steenburg paddling water.
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StrongFreshwater Fishing
Limerick Lake is provincially designated a cold-water lake trout spawning lake — the differentiator that distinguishes this township's fishery from a generic warm-water cottage chain. Lake trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, yellow perch, rock bass, and pumpkinseed are the documented species. Steenburg Lake adds bass and panfish across an island-studded flatwater shoreline. Both lakes sit inside Fisheries Management Zone 15 — lake trout open the third Saturday in May through September 30, and FMZ 15 falls within the Central Bait Management Zone, which restricts moving baitfish in or out.
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StrongSnow Adventure
The same Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance corridor that carries summer ATV traffic switches to snowmobile use through winter, with the network running between the Bay of Quinte and Algonquin Park and threading Limerick. Snowshoeing on McGeachie Conservation Area's marked trails extends the on-foot season; the conservation area's 500-acre forest, swamp, and beaver-pond mosaic shapes the loop options. Daily, weekly, and annual EOTA cross-country ski passes ($3.50, $15, $35) cover the trail network for skiers.
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StrongMotorized Touring
The Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance maintains a multi-use ATV corridor running from the Bay of Quinte north to Algonquin Park, threading Limerick Township along the way. Daily, weekly, and annual ATV passes ($25, $75, $150) cover the regional system. Highway 62 between Madoc and Bancroft is the township's road spine — a Shield-country drive through Ormsby, St. Ola, and Gilmour with views over the lake chain. Old Hastings Mercantile in Ormsby is a documented stop for both ATV travellers and Highway 62 drivers.
Read field guide arrow_outward18. more outings
surveyed.
Activities supported across Limerick without a featured write-up.
- 01
Hiking
day-hiking - 02
Trail Running
McGeachie Conservation Area - 03
Walking & Strolling
Ormsby village core - 04
Camping
frontcountry - 05
Horseback Riding
Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance corridor (horseback pass available) - 06
Nature & Discovery
birding · nature-interpretation - 07
Cycling
rail-trail · gravel - 08
Sailing & Boating
motor-boating - 09
Swimming & Beach
lake-swim - 10
Cross-Country & Nordic
classic-xc - 11
Sky Watching
stargazing - 12
Seasonal Phenomena
fall-colours - 13
Wildlife Viewing
McGeachie Conservation Area (wetland wildlife) - 14
Indigenous Experiences
Algonquins of Ontario unceded territorial framing (no in-township product) - 15
Food & Drink
Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery (penny candy, regional product) - 16
Heritage & Culture
heritage-historic-site - 17
Geology & Discovery
rockhounding - 18
Arts & Craft
artist-studio-tour
Local operators.
Trusted outfitters, guides, and experience providers in Limerick.
Ideal Bike, Inc.
Local Trek dealer with multi-day bike rentals and a four-tier service menu in Prince Edward County and Quinte
View on AER arrow_outwardLimerick Lake Lodge & Marina
Kayak, SUP, and canoe rentals on Limerick Lake from a 106-slip full-service marina near Bancroft
View on AER arrow_outwardMalinda's Rockhounding Tours
rockhounding/crystal hunting tours
Visit website arrow_outwardOn the map.
Limerickand the local operators we've mapped nearby.