The Park at Land’escapes is a new private, all-season, members-only backcountry wilderness park in Ontario. The 26,400 acre Backcountry park located near Bancroft, Ontario allows members to camp, hike, bike, paddle, and ski year-round.

“When this once in a lifetime opportunity came up to purchase 65,530 acres of some of Hasting County’s most magnificent wilderness, I knew I had to step up. It fulfilled a lifelong dream of bringing together an exclusive community of outdoor enthusiasts with a passion for protecting nature and its inhabitants, while being able to enjoy low-impact, all-season outdoor recreational activities. With 26,400 acres to explore throughout the year, our members will be able to discover something new and exciting with each visit.”

— Ben Samann, founder of Land’escapes

Currently there are over 150 km of marked and mapped trails for beginners to intermediate-level hikers as well as sparkling blue lakes and unchartered wetlands offering endless paddling trips. No motorized vehicles are permitted at The Park to preserve its landscape and to adhere to its 100-year-rule of leaving no trace behind to preserve its landscape and protect wildlife for generations to come.

There are two levels of membership available…

Unlimited Membership costs $10,000 per year. It provides the member and up to three of their guests unlimited visits to The Park all-year round, along with full access to its many premium amenities and services to enrich and elevate its member’s outdoor experiences.

Limited Membership is available for $6,000 per year and offers access to The Park for the member and up to three guests, outside of peak times and when sites are available. Limited members have paid access to The Park’s amenities and services.

The Park’s premium amenities and services include:

A Gear Library stocked with essential gear ranging from canoes, tents, cooking systems, and all-season recreational equipment that members can borrow if they’ve forgotten something at home or if they want to try something new.
Beginner to Intermediate-level Workshops and Classes led by The Park’s experienced Rangers including basic 30-minute, 101-style demos on Camping, Campfires, Paddling & Portaging and even an ATWEY class (“Animals That Will EAT You”) that provides tips on how to deal with different animal encounters safely and respectfully. Intermediate Workshops and Classes feature a number of 1–3-hour classes with topics like Ultralight Camping, Advanced Paddling, Wilderness Cooking, and Backcountry Survival Tactics.
VIP Specialty Workshops and Certification Programs will be available for purchase to Unlimited Members only.
Guided Trips & Experiences are offered throughout the year and are designed to help members get to know other members, set-up camp, and explore different areas of The Park. Unlimited Members get one complimentary Guided Group Trip and up to three Discover The Park experiences. Coming soon is a customizable Backcountry Butler Guided Trip & Experience for Unlimited Members offering endless possibilities!

As a thank you for signing up during the inaugural year, there is 10% off the membership and you will receive a $500 Wild Rock Outfitters gift card.

There will only 100 memberships to The Park for 2022 (this will grow to 250 at some point in the future), in an effort to provide a true wilderness experience for members, while individually aligning with each member’s interests, lifestyles, and schedules void of restrictive policies.

Conservation is at the forefront of this project, and considering the land was previously used for industrial timber harvesting, they are looking to do their part to rehabilitate the entire 67,000 acres of sprawling landscape. To learn more about the conservation efforts, head over to Land'escapes’ website. These lands will be managed and cared for by The Nature Conservancy of Canada who will also allow access for hunting on these properties through their partnership with OFAH.

There will be upcoming workshops such as Camping 101, Paddling & Portaging 101 and Compass Use 101 as well as classes such as Ultralight Camping, Advanced Paddling, and Foraging.

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