Service Disruption

Please note the Stanhope Municipal Airport will be closed for runway painting between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 7. This may limit access to the Airport's front parking lot, which would also limit access to the public water refill station located there. 

Effective at noon on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025, there will be a total fire ban throughout the County of Haliburton, including the townships of Algonquin Highlands, Minden Hills, Highlands East and Dysart et al. This means no outdoor burning any time of day or night. 

Please note the Algonquin Highlands Administrative Office at 1123 North Shore Road will be closed on Monday, August 4 for the civic holiday, re-opening to the public at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5. 

Please note construction fencing has now been installed around the Dorset Tower and work has begun on the installation of a lightning strike protection system on the structure. This means that as of today (Tuesday, July 29) visitors are no longer able to to climb the Tower. This construction project is scheduled to conclude Friday, August 8.

While construction work on the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower is set to commence within coming days, for the time being, visitors are still able to climb the Tower. We will inform the community via social media and the Township of Algonquin Highlands website when the construction barriers are in place, so please continue to check these spaces for details. The project - which will see a lightning strike protection system installed at the Tower - will be completed by Aug. 8.

Please note the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower will undergo the installation of a lightning strike protection system, as well as structural upgrades, during the latter half of July and into August.

Please note the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower will close to the public on Wednesday, July 16 to allow for the installation of a lightning strike protection system on the structure, as well as structural upgrades. It is anticipated this construction project will last until Friday, August 8. 

Please note that the stairlift at the Dorset Recreation Centre is currently out of order. The stairlift requires major repairs, and a timeline for those repairs is not yet known. We apologize for any inconvenience and will keep the community apprised of progress on the required work. 

Please note the swimming advisory that was issued for the beach at Halls Lake's Elvin Johnson Park on Thursday, June 26 due to elevated bacteria levels has been lifted. The beach is once again fully open and safe for swimming.