Off-Grid Forest Cabin on Beautiful Lake in Almaguin Highlands

This jewel of rustic cabin charm is situated close to the shore of a beautiful trout lake sheltered within the majestic hardwood hills of the Almaguin Highlands three hours north of Toronto and ten minutes northeast of South River off the road leading to the Kawawaymog (Round Lake) Algonquin Park Access Point.

As you relax on the spacious front deck, or paddle the provided canoe on the misty waters of the nearby lake, you will be astonished by the silence of the forest, punctuated by the song of various birds, the call of the loon, and the distinctive nightime calls of the Great Horned or Barred owls that call this Eden their home. On a clear night you will be mesmerized by the Milky Way and countless stars. Perhaps you will spot a moose wandering past or hear the distant calls of a wolf pack.

Ideal guests are those who have camping/off-grid cabin experience and welcome the opportunity to independently hike the last kilometer or ride their ATV from the ATV trailhead through the undulating landscape of towering Carolinian forest. People who enjoy the solitude and self-reliance of wilderness living but appreciate the comforts of an off-grid cabin lifestyle that provides shelter from rain, a warming wood stove, an indoor toilet, a comfortable bed, propane cooktop and BBQ cooking, an electric cooler for perishables or beverages, and capacity to stay connected to the outside world and social media will love this location as comparable to a remote location in Algonquin Park. Whether you are seeking a quiet wilderness retreat for just yourself or up to seven additional guests, a few days of birdwatching, trout fishing, biking, ATV or snowmobile adventure along the endless kilometers of crown land forest trails and paths, this cabin fits the bill. There are only two other private dwellings in the local area located on the other side of the lake.

This sturdy 800 square foot cabin features a single room open concept design with double bunks along the walls for up to eight people (two foam mattresses provided) and a double bed with foam mattress. A long dining table with benches sits in the centre of the room. A modest 2KW solar power system provides dimming LED lighting in the dining/sleeping area, kitchen/sink area and over the worktable, a 30 litre cooler set to 38F, boosted cellular signal and enough capacity to charge or power phones/laptop or similar devices via DC or AC (inverter) power plus run the continuous fan that operates the Separatt toilet. There is a wood stove for heat on cold nights (fire-starter and firewood provided), a ‘mud room’ at the entrance, and a rustic kitchen with double sink and cupboards. A propane two-burner outdoor cooktop plus outdoor BBQ (propane provided) are available for use on the front deck. The indoor Separatt toilet is separated from the living quarters by a privacy wall. For those who prefer more privacy or insist on standing up to pee there is an outhouse about 60 feet from the cabin. The basic amenities of a food cooler, water filter/dispenser, French press, dishes, coffee cups and tumblers, cooking utensils, cutlery and cookware are provided as well as a supply of basic consumables such as toilet paper, paper towels, aluminum foil, garbage bags, etc. There is a small floating dock and access to one canoe/paddles/adult lifejackets. The cabin has wireless trail camera security in the exterior environment only. Guests can access the 3G/LTE Rogers wireless signal for texting/email, phone calls and light web surfing using their own device and data. We have carried out video conferencing via Zoom and Messenger from this site.

Guests should bring sleeping bags/bedding, pillow, towels, food, beverages and any gear they need for outdoor pursuits. There is a modest supply of 36 litres of filtered water provided. There are two large containers of chlorine-treated lakewater for doing dishes, which can be refilled at the lake.

Feedback and recommendations from both guests and potential guests for how to improve your cabin experience are welcome and encouraged.

Access:
Access to the cabin starts from a trailhead on a publicly maintained roadway. From there guests using a vehicle (preferably AWD) with adequate clearance (6") can drive 1.7 kilometers along an unserviced forestry road to the parking area and ATV trailhead and travel either on foot or by off-road vehicle if they have one, along a marked ATV bush trail through rolling hardwood hills for a distance of one kilometer to the cabin, depending on seasonal trail conditions. We ask ATV operators to treat the trail gently for the benefit and enjoyment of future guests. These access trails are definitely NOT to be used for ‘mudding’ – there are lots of other places to do that. It is IMPOSSIBLE for street vehicles to drive up to the cabin.

The Natural Hazards of Rustic Remote Cabin Use:
Travelling to and staying at a remote cabin has many inherent risks for serious injury or death which all users are solely responsible for becoming aware of, mitigate and by renting the property agree to assume all liability, including for any children who accompany them. The cabin is equipped with alarms for smoke and carbon-monoxide and basic first aid kit. Among many others, inherent risks include: trips, slips and falls on uneven slippery or muddy ground, getting lost, forest fire, trees/branches falling, drowning/hypothermia in the lake, injury from extreme heat or cold, bee/blackfly and mosquito bites, interaction with the abundant wildlife who call this area home, including moose, bear, deer, racoon, squirrel, porcupine, skunk, marten, foxes, wolves, coyotes, and extremely rarely cougar, etc. The cabin deck and steps can be slippery at any time, especially after rain, dew or snowfall and present a risk for falls. Fire safety both indoors and outside are the sole responsibility of the guest(s). Fire bans must always be respected and no fire can be made at any time unless in the designated portable steel fire pit, and always with water at hand and never left unattended unless and until confirmed to be completely extinguished. The propane cookstove and BBQ should only be used outdoors where there is adequate ventilation, to avoid carbon monoxide danger. EMS services are likely to be more than two hours away, winter weather events may render the cabin suddenly inaccessible for an extended period, and internet services may fail unexpectedly. If you plan to go exploring along the miles of beautiful wilderness trails, make appropriate provision to avoid getting lost, such as topographical map, compass, GPS, etc. Many areas do not have cellular services.
Users should be aware of the potential for hunting activity in the area, especially during the autumn rifle deer and moose hunting seasons and wear appropriate flourescent orange vests and hats when not at the cabin.


Rules:
1. Pets are welcome but should be under direct supervision or constrained from wandering off. Avoiding pet interaction with local wildlife is the guest’s sole responsibility.
2. Children are welcome provided they are under direct supervision of adults who take 100% responsibility for the liability posed by all the hazards and risks.
3. All garbage must be safely disposed of either through burning or packing out. It is strictly forbidden to dump garbage in the outhouse, bury or abandon in the forest environment or leave in the cabin. This is not only a matter of responsible ‘no trace’ use of the environment but also a safety risk since trash will attract nuisance bears and other critters.
4. No smoking in the cabin. Smoking permitted on the deck and dock. If you must smoke elsewhere, do not discard your butts and be aware of forest fire risk.
5. Absolutely no cutting down of trees for any purpose.
6. The access trail is not to be used for ATV ‘mudding’ and must be treated as gently as possible.
7. Any fishing or hunting must be conducted in full compliance of all regulations and licensing requirements.
8. The firepit may only be used when it is not windy and there is no fire ban. The fire flames must be kept below 24” height within the confines of the established firepit and must be supervised at all times until it is confirmed to be completely extinguished.
9. The cabin is to be left broom-swept and tidy. All cabin amenities and equipment used by the guests are to be clean, returned to their original storage location and if found locked up at first use, shall be re-secured with the same locks before departure.

Rates:
Base rate is $100.00/night. Check-in is noon and check-out is 11:00 AM.. Per diem rate will be reduced by 25% from May 21 – June 30th as this period is the height of ‘blackfly and mosquito season'.

Payment Schedule:
One third at time of booking, one third three months prior to reservation, one third one month prior to reservation.

Cancellation prior to one month of booking will be refunded at 75% of payment received. Cancellation less than one month prior to booking will result in 50% refund.