This cottage resort FAQ answers the questions guests ask us most about staying at Ogopogo Resort on Mountain Lake in Minden. You will find details on booking and payment, the cottages, our policies, getting here, groceries, health care, boating, ice fishing and the Haliburton Highlands. Because every stay is a little different, please contact us if you do not see your question here. We are a small, family-run cottage resort, and we are always happy to help.
Booking and Paying for Your Cottage Resort Stay
Is it cheaper to book direct?
Yes, always. Booking on our own website or by phone is the lowest price we offer. Third party booking sites charge up to 20 percent more than our direct rate, because their rates carry the commission they charge us. Call us at (705) 990-1234 or (866) 405-8938, or book right here.
How do I pay, and is a deposit required?
We take 30 percent up front to confirm your booking, preferably by e-transfer. Visa and Mastercard are also accepted. We process the remaining balance 48 hours before check in.
What time is check-in and check-out?
Check in is at 4 p.m. Check out is at 10 a.m. in high season (mid June to mid September) and 11 a.m. at all other times, including the Christmas and New Year period. If you expect to arrive later than 4 p.m., please call so we can make arrangements.
Is there a minimum stay?
Outside July and August the minimum stay is 2 nights, or 3 nights on a long weekend. July and August are booked as full weeks, Saturday to Saturday.
How many people can stay in each cottage?
Regular occupancy is 2 in the studio cottage, 2 in the one-bedroom lakefront cottage, 5 in the two-bedroom lakeside cottages and 6 in the three-bedroom Garden Court cottages. Each has a pull-out bed for additional guests at an extra charge, to a maximum of 3, 4, 7 and 8 people.
What does an extra guest cost?
Guests above the regular occupancy are $30 per person per night, or $150 per person per week. Day visitors are $20 per person per day.
Can I have visitors during my stay?
Yes. Day visitors are welcome at $20 per person per day. Please let us know in advance so we know who is on the property.
What is the cancellation policy?
The full policy is on our Rates page. In short, cancellations more than 60 days before a high season stay, or more than 30 days before a low season stay, are refunded less an administrative fee. Closer to arrival the deposit, and in some cases the balance, is forfeited.
The Cottages
What is included in the cottage?
Every cottage has a full kitchen with cookware, dishes and serveware, salt and pepper, a gas fireplace, a three-piece bathroom, a TV, its own propane BBQ with propane included, and a covered deck with a lake or garden view. We provide bed linens and bath towels. Bring your own beach towels, food and toiletries. Our cottage packing list has the full rundown.
Is there a BBQ?
Yes. Every cottage has its own propane BBQ and we supply the propane. Nothing to bring and nothing to buy.
Is there a firepit, and is firewood provided?
Yes. We have a communal firepit that we set up fresh and ready to light every day, and we supply the firewood.
Do I need to bring my own linens?
No. We provide bed linens and bath towels. Beach towels are the one thing to bring in spring, summer and fall.
Is the water safe to drink?
The water here is excellent, and we would rather you drank it than carried bottled water in. It comes from a deep well, is commercially treated with double filtration, ultraviolet light and chlorination, and is independently tested every month.
Is there wifi?
Yes. The resort has Starlink wifi.
Which cottages have a Jacuzzi tub?
Two of the three two-bedroom lakeside cottages have a Jacuzzi tub in the master bedroom, and the studio cottage has one as well.
Are the cottages open year round?
Yes. All eight cottages are winterized and heated, and we welcome guests in all four seasons.
Cottage Resort Policies
Are pets allowed?
No. We do not allow pets at Ogopogo Resort, so that every cottage stays comfortable for guests with allergies.
Are glass bottles allowed?
We ask that you buy cans rather than bottles for your drinks. Broken glass around the beach, pool and firepit is a real hazard, especially with children on the property.
Is smoking allowed?
Guests may smoke outside only.
Is the resort wheelchair accessible?
The property is rural and the cottages have steps, so the resort is not wheelchair accessible. Please call us to talk through your needs before booking.
Getting to the Cottage Resort, Parking and Winter
How far is Ogopogo Resort from Toronto?
The resort is about 2.5 hours from the Greater Toronto Area. We are at 1023 Ogopogo Lane on Mountain Lake, about 7 minutes from Minden Hills and 20 minutes from the Village of Haliburton.
Are the roads plowed in winter?
Yes, and we keep them well plowed. We sit directly on Highway 35, a main thoroughfare that is cleared as a priority all winter. The cottages are winterized and heated, so a winter stay here is straightforward.
Is there parking?
Yes. The resort sits on 5 acres with free parking on site. There is no street parking of any kind, so every vehicle parks on the property.
Can I charge my electric vehicle?
Yes. We offer Level 2 charging up to 19.2 kW for guests, for an additional fee. Let us know in advance so we can have it ready.
Groceries and Supplies Near the Cottage Resort
Where is the closest grocery store?
Minden has two, both about 7 minutes away on Highway 35 and both on your way in.
Foodland, 12325 Highway 35, Minden, (705) 286-1121. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Easton’s Valu-mart, 12646 Highway 35, Minden, (705) 286-3388. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
If you are arriving late, Todd’s Your Independent Grocer in Haliburton keeps the longest hours of the three, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. It is 5121 County Road 21, Haliburton, (705) 455-9775, about 20 minutes from us.
Hours change with the season, so please call the store to confirm if you are arriving near closing. Minden also has an LCBO and a pharmacy.
Health and Emergencies
Where is the nearest hospital or clinic?
In an emergency, call 911.
The nearest emergency department is at Haliburton Hospital, 7199 Gelert Road, Haliburton, (705) 457-1392. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round, and is about 20 minutes from the resort. Minden does not have an emergency department.
For something urgent that is not an emergency, the Minden Urgent Care Clinic is about 7 minutes away, off Deep Bay Road at the Minden health services site, (705) 286-2140 extension 4001. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week on a first come, first served basis, and any Canadian resident can be seen. Registration closes at 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are held for follow-up appointments. Please call ahead to confirm, as clinic hours depend on staffing.
On the Water
Are boats included?
Canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and paddleboards are free for guests. Fishing boat rentals are available for an additional fee.
Can I bring my own boat?
Yes. We provide dock space for guest boats at $20 per day or $100 per week.
What fish are in Mountain Lake?
Mountain Lake fishes well in every season. In summer you can catch smallmouth bass, Haliburton Gold lake trout, pickerel, pike and tiger muskie. Through the ice in winter, guests catch pickerel, burbot and Haliburton Gold lake trout. Bring your own rods, reels and bait. You need an Ontario fishing licence.
Is there a beach and a pool?
Yes. The resort has a private sandy beach on Mountain Lake and a heated outdoor pool. The pool is for registered guests, not the public.
Winter and Ice Fishing
Do you offer ice fishing?
Yes. Our heated ice fishing huts sit 150 to 200 metres from our shore, within easy walking distance of your cottage. In winter, Mountain Lake has pickerel, whitefish, burbot and Haliburton Gold lake trout.
What does an ice fishing hut cost, and what is included?
Huts are $55 per person per day, with a minimum of 2 people. That includes the heated hut and live minnows for bait. We do not supply fishing gear, so bring your own rods and tackle.
Is there a weekend rate for the ice fishing huts?
Yes. Cottage guests who reserve a hut for Friday afternoon and evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning before check-out pay only a 2-day rate of $110 per person. The weekend rate covers the hut only, not your cottage, and is available only with a cottage rental.
Are there set times for the ice fishing huts?
No. Unlike many ice fishing operators, we set no time limits. Head out each day and stay well into the evening. Many guests fish for part of the day, play a game of hockey on our rink on the lake, then head back to the huts at dusk.
How do I reserve an ice fishing hut?
Always book in advance, because huts are limited. Reserve your cottage online, then call us at (705) 990-1234 or toll-free at 1-866-405-8938 to add your huts.
Do you provide snowshoes?
Yes, at no extra cost. The groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails at Twin Lakes Nordic Ski Trails are just across the road, about 500 metres from the resort.
Is there downhill skiing nearby?
Yes. Registered guests receive discounted lift tickets and ski rentals at Sir Sam’s Ski / Ride.
Can we go dog sledding?
Yes. We recommend Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton. Their purebred Siberian huskies lead 2-hour, half-day and full-day tours, moonlit runs and multi-day adventures. Tours fill quickly, especially on weekends, so book directly with Winterdance well in advance.
Exploring the Area Around Our Cottage Resort
Are there a lot of bugs?
Blackflies are around for a few weeks in late spring and mosquitoes are most active at dusk in early summer. The lake breeze keeps the waterfront comfortable through midsummer, and the cottages are screened. Pack bug spray in spring and early summer.
Is Ogopogo a good place for a couple, or just families?
Both. Families fill the resort through July and August, and the rest of the year is quieter and mostly couples. The studio cottage was built for couples, with a Jacuzzi tub, a fireplace and lake views.
What is there to do nearby?
Golf, hiking and biking trails, Sir Sam’s Ski / Ride about 30 minutes away, the Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre, the Highlands Summer Festival and the Kinmount theatre and movie museum. Our Activities page lists everything season by season.
Still packing? See our cottage packing list for what we provide and what to bring. Anything we have not answered here, call us at (705) 990-1234 or toll free at (866) 405-8938. Booking with us directly is always the best rate.