Bear Lake Ontario

Bear Lake Sunrise Callander Beach Screaming Heads on Midlothian Road Rocks on the shore in the Kearney Area
St Olaf's church in Bear Lake Ontario

St. Olaf's Church Our most visible landmark, was completed in 1876, and is one of the oldest churches in the Almaguin Highlands.

Bear Lake Ontario, formerly called Jarlsberg, in the old township of Monteith, is a quiet community originally colonized by Norwegian settlers in the late 1860's. Some of the original buildings, the church, schoolhouse and first barn built in the area, are not only still standing and easily seen by the passing traveler, but if you stop and ask, you may view them during the summer months.

The Seguin (Park to Park) Trail follows the old J.R Booth Exploratory Rail line.  It runs just north of the village and skirts the bottom of the Bear Lake Peatlands Conservation Reserve, a large area designated as a protected zone by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Just to the south of the lake is the newly designated Monteith Forest Conservation Reserve, a large forest of eastern hemlock growing on gently rolling hills of deep glacially deposited sand. 

The area in and around Bear Lake boasts five pioneer cemeteries with one located just east of the community, providing a unique record of mostly Swedish and German settlers.


More information


Bear Lake Map Bear Lake Events St. Olaf's on Facebook


Park to Park Trail

Bear Lake Residents Association

McMurrich Monteith Township



The Region The Communities


News stories of interest For Area Residents


McMurrich/Monteith approves hydro design for Horn Lake development

Looking for accommodations?

Here is some of our B&B's in the Almaguin Highlands.

Bed & Breakfasts