What a great gem with amazing hosts
We were looking for a last-minute escape from the city, and The Hemlock Ridge was exactly what we needed to unwind. We brought our truck with a rooftop tent, and our friend arrived with her Jeep and trailer—also rooftop tent-equipped. Both setups fit perfectly, with lots of flat space and room to spread out.
The outhouse was, no joke, the cleanest we’ve ever encountered while camping. The picnic table at our site was spotless and came in super handy—we didn’t even need to pull out our own gear. It’s little touches like that that make a big difference.
At night, the area was beautifully quiet, with zero light pollution and a breathtaking view of the stars. Our dogs were in absolute heaven—roaming, sniffing, and exploring the open space.
The location is ideal for anyone looking to adventure: you can hit trails by foot, Jeep, ATV, or side-by-side right from the site. Maynooth is just minutes away, and Bancroft is a short drive, so you’re remote but still have access to essentials.
Sean was a fantastic host—welcoming, helpful, and offering firewood on site at a very fair price. He’s currently working on developing more campsites across his expansive property, and we’re already planning to return to check them out.
This is hands-down one of the best off-grid camping spots we’ve visited—quiet, clean, dog-friendly, and overlander-approved. Highly recommend staying at The Hemlock Ridge!