Maynooth - township municipality in Hastings County, Ontario, Canada

Maynooth is the principal community in Hastings Highlands township in eastern Ontario. The township has about 4,100 residents (2016).

Understand

Maynooth, named for the eponymous town in Ireland, was long a way point for visitors en route to Algonquin Provincial Park. The Maynooth railway station, built in 1907 by the Central Ontario Railway, was acquired by Canadian Northern Railway which later became part of the Canadian National Railway. This section of railway was abandoned in 1984; there are proposals to re-purpose the historic station as an interpretive centre.

Get in

Maynooth is on Ontario Highway 62, north of Belleville, Madoc and Bancroft.

Maynooth is 30 minutes from the Highway 60 entrance to Algonquin Park.

Get around

Maynooth is extremely small and everything there is within easy walking distance.

See

Do

Maynooth is a good place to base visits to Algonquin Provincial Park with beautiful canoeing, kayaking, camping and hiking.

• Highland Wilderness Tours, 239 East Lake Rd, 45.2517°, -77.9358°, +1-613-338-2330, info@ridethewilderness.com. Horse camps and trail riding, dog sledding, snowmobiling tours, and cabin rentals. 2018-06-29
• Lake St. Peter Provincial Park, 356 Lake St. Peter Rd. Sandy beaches, hiking trails, and lake trout or bass fishing. Canoes and kayaks can be rented from the park office. Motorboats are permitted on the lake, and can be launched from the park. 64 large campsites for car or RV camping are available, with several sites along the lake shore. Staying here can also be an alternative to camping in Algonquin Park; the park's east gate on the Highway 60 corridor through the park is about 35 km away by car, and a valid camping permit allows day-use access when visitor capacity is available. 2023-03-12
• Snowmobiling. The Maple Leaf Snow Skimmers Club's trail network spans over 280 km of picturesque trails from the hub at Lake St. Peter northwest to Whitney, north to Madawaska, east to Combermere, south to Bancroft, west to Martins Mill and southeast to Baptiste Lake. Permits are required. 2020-06-30

Buy

• Maynooth General Store, 33001 Hwy 62, 45.2312°, -77.9377°, +1 613-338-2862, maynoothgeneralstore@gmail.com. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-5PM. Sells groceries, clothing, souvenirs and gifts. 2023-02-01
• Madawaska Art Shop, Junction Hwy 62 and Hwy 127, 45.23094°, -77.93883°, +1 613-338-2555, info@madawaska-art-shop.com. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Sculptures, art glass, jewellery, pottery, wood carvings, metal wall art, pine furniture and crate design bunk beds. 2023-02-01

Eat

• SunRun Cafe and Bakery, 33021 Hwy 62, 45.23157°, -77.93641°, +1 343-476-0220, sunruncafe@gmail.com. Th-Su 8AM-2PM. Breakfast, soup, salads, & sandwiches using many ingredients from their farm. 2023-02-01
• Memories Bakery & Tea Room, 33057 Hwy 62, 45.2323°, -77.9342°, +1 613-412-9700. F 9AM-4PM, Sa 9AM-1PM. Sandwiches, soups, pies, and baked goods. Hearty home-style meals served on Wednesdays, by reservation only. 2023-02-01
• Algonquin Gourmet Butter Tarts, 45.2359°, -77.9203°, +1 613-689-4049, algonquingourmetbuttertarts@gmail.com. Jun-Sep: F-Su 10AM-4PM. The butter tart is a traditional Canadian treat, especially popular in Ontario's cottage country. Maynooth's bakers use a recipe that goes back three generations. 2023-02-01

Drink

The local hostel owners have set up a pub for guests and non-guests.

• The Arlington, 32990 Hwy 62, +1 613-338-2080. F Sa 7PM-1AM. Live music (Rockie, indie, etc.) 2018-06-29

Sleep

• The Arlington Hotel and Pub, 32990 Hwy 62 (at Old Hastings Rd/Hwy 127), 45.230853°, -77.938108°, +1 613 338-2080. Check-in: 3-11:30PM, check-out: 11AM. Hostel in century-old building. Hiking, mountain biking and canoeing trips to Algonquin Park. Free Wi-Fi. Dorms $40, private rooms $90-172 2023-02-01
• McAlpine House, 32 Maynooth Station Rd, 45.2373°, -77.9153°, +1 613-338-3331, lija1@sympatico.ca. A year-round bed and breakfast in an 1873 historical home. Full guest kitchen, dining area, 4 bedrooms with satellite TV and Wi-Fi. Large shared washroom. With breakfast/without: single $80, double from $95 2018-06-29

Connect

• Hastings Highlands Public Library, 33011 Highway 62 N, 45.23140°, -77.93731°, +1 613-338-2262. Tu-Th 10AM-6PM, F Sa 10AM-3PM. Local library with free Internet.

Go next

• Bancroft - a cottage country town south on Highway 62.
• Belleville - to the south, on the Bay of Quinte.
• Haliburton Highlands - a vast rural area, with many lakes and forests providing more outdoor adventure for campers and cottagers.
• Peterborough - less than two hours away to the south, on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
• Renfrew and Pembroke - about an hour and a half away, east toward the Ottawa River.