Hotels in Bancroft, Ontario

A little about Bancroft...

Bancroft is a town on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2001, the population was 4,089. In 1996, the population was 4,080 (-0.2% population change). The area of the town was 227.85 square kilometres.

Located in Ontario's Haliburton Hills, part of the Canadian Shield, Bancroft is well known in Canada as an excellent location for rockhounding. Bancroft styles itself as the "mineral capital of Canada" and holds an annual event in August called the Rockhound Gemboree.

There is also a Mineral Museum in Bancroft dedicated to the area's storied mining history. There is little active mining going on today.

A popular local location is a craggy lookout called Eagle's Nest a short distance north of the city; however, the road is steep and generally impassable in the winter. "Egan's Chute" lies north-east of the town on Highway 62. The Chute is a small gorge which the York River churns through, creating white water falls.

The lakes surrounding Bancroft are dotted with cottages, mostly seasonally occupied.

Bancroft lies in a region criss-crossed with snowmobile trails, making it a hub for snowmobilers in the winter months. In the summer these trails are used by hikers and ATV enthusiasts. The local curling club has existed for over 30 years, and has hosted increasingly notable bonspiels - including a recent (winter 2005) Ontario Regional Men's Championship. The area now sports one 9 hole golf course, and one 18 hole golf course.

In 2004, Bancroft won TVOntario's "Most Talented Town in Ontario" contest. A large number of artists and artisans live in the surrounding area, and when exhibiting together in events like the "Fall Studio Tour" the local talent is quite remarkable.

The town has the Bancroft Village Playhouse - a theatre which has been hosting sold out plays and musicals since the early 1990's.