Protected Property
WESTERMAIN WOODS
Located on the west side of Lake of Bays, Westermain Woods is a significant natural area made up of two protected parcels of land.
One parcel, Needlers Point, includes 14.6 acres and approximately 740 feet of natural shoreline on Lake of Bays. The second parcel consists of 333.75 acres of forested land located west of South Portage Road. Although physically separated, the two parcels have long been stewarded together under a shared conservation vision.
Westermain Woods supports a high level of biodiversity at the local, municipal, and provincial scales. Field investigations have documented more than 244 species, including seven Species at Risk, one provincially tracked species, and two regionally rare species—highlighting the site’s importance as a stronghold for conservation.
For many years, private landowners carefully maintained the forest in a natural state. The District of Muskoka recognizes Westermain Woods as a Muskoka Heritage Area, reflecting its ecological significance and long-standing stewardship.
Stewardship and Protection
Westermain Woods was collectively owned by seven individuals, each of whom also owned a waterfront lot on Lake of Bays within the forested lands. In 1977, the property was incorporated as a non-profit organization with a mandate to care for and protect both parcels. A board composed of the seven lot owners oversaw the lands, adopting a Managed Forest Plan and establishing an easement that provided exclusive access rights to the owners while ensuring long-term protection of the forest.
The Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation has retained the goals and objectives of the original Management Plan, which requires that the land be held in an undeveloped state. The existing easement continues to provide access rights to the seven waterfront property owners.
Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation Forest Management Plan
To protect the ecological integrity of Westermain Woods, the property is not open for general public access. Access is limited to qualified naturalists conducting scientific study, and the Foundation may occasionally host guided nature events led by experienced local naturalists.
History of Westermain Woods
Westermain Woods reflects more than a century of careful stewardship and a shared commitment to conservation. The lands trace back to 1908, when George Needler acquired portions of the forested backlands near Lake of Bays. Ownership later passed to his daughter, Mary Needler Hinde, whose vision helped shape the long-term protection of the property.
In the early 1970s, a group of like-minded families came together to preserve the forest in a largely undeveloped state while allowing for limited residential use along the shoreline. Following a complex, six-year planning and approval process, seven waterfront cottage lots were created, while more than 330 acres of inland forest and significant shoreline were permanently retained as shared natural lands.
In 1977, Westermain Woods was incorporated as a non-profit organization with a mandate to protect its forests, waters, wildlife, and natural character. Over the decades, the lands have been managed through conservation-focused plans and selective forestry practices designed to maintain forest health and ecological integrity.