Barry's Bay
The service centre of the upper Madawaska Valley, on the shores of Kamaniskeg Lake — roughly an hour north of Bancroft.
Quick answer: Barry's Bay is a community in the Township of Madawaska Valley on Kamaniskeg Lake, roughly an hour north of Bancroft via Highways 62 and 60. With a hospital, shops, restaurants, and a restored historic railway station, it is the service centre of the upper Madawaska Valley — known for Polish and Kashub heritage and easy access to Algonquin Park. Wade Kovacic, Sales Representative with CENTURY 21 Granite Realty Group Inc., Brokerage, helps buyers and sellers in Barry's Bay and the Madawaska Valley.
About Barry's Bay
Barry's Bay sits at the north end of Kamaniskeg Lake in the Township of Madawaska Valley, Renfrew County. The area is part of Algonquin homeland, and European settlement grew with the 19th-century Ottawa Valley timber economy and the Opeongo colonization road; the community was incorporated as a village in 1933 and joined the Township of Madawaska Valley in 2001. Today about 1,084 people live in the community itself, and it serves as the commercial and service centre for the surrounding valley.
Why Buyers Choose Barry's Bay
Full small-town services — including St. Francis Memorial Hospital, shops, restaurants, and a pharmacy — paired with Kamaniskeg Lake at the doorstep and Algonquin Park within easy reach. The valley's Polish and Kashub heritage, visible in churches, food traditions, and community life, gives Barry's Bay a distinct cultural character, and the restored railway station anchors a historic downtown.
Property Types
In-town homes close to services, waterfront properties on Kamaniskeg Lake, and cottages throughout the Madawaska Valley.
Nearby
Combermere sits at the southeast end of Kamaniskeg Lake, Bark Lake and the Madawaska River are close by, and the East Gate of Algonquin Park is a short drive away. The area is known for snowmobile and ATV trail networks.
Barry's Bay FAQs
Where is Barry's Bay, Ontario?
Barry's Bay is a community in the Township of Madawaska Valley, Renfrew County — on Highway 60, roughly an hour north of Bancroft and two hours west of Ottawa.
What lake is Barry's Bay on?
Kamaniskeg Lake — about 13 km long and up to 40 metres deep, with Barry's Bay at its north end and Combermere to the southeast. The Madawaska River flows through it.
What is Barry's Bay known for?
As the service centre of the upper Madawaska Valley, for its Polish and Kashub settler heritage, the restored historic railway station, and access to Kamaniskeg Lake and Algonquin Park.
Does Barry's Bay have a hospital?
Yes — St. Francis Memorial Hospital serves the Barry's Bay area, alongside shops, restaurants, a pharmacy, and other local services.
What is there to do near Barry's Bay?
Boating and fishing on Kamaniskeg Lake, snowmobiling and ATVing on extensive trail networks, exploring the Madawaska Valley's backroads and small communities, and day trips into Algonquin Park.
Thinking of Buying or Selling in Barry's Bay?
Get a free, no-obligation home valuation from Wade Kovacic, Sales Representative with CENTURY 21 Granite Realty Group Inc., Brokerage — based on recent comparable sales in the area, not an automated guess. Or sign up for free listing alerts and be first to know when new Barry's Bay properties hit the market.