No one knows exactly how long Eagle Lake has been here, but according to local historian, Marion Morris, editor of Journey through Whispering Pines (1875-2000) a History of Machar Township, Algonquin natives were the first inhabitants of the Mikisew Park area. They had traveled a long established canoe route from Georgian Bay to Lake Nipissing and from Deer Lake up the Distress River to Eagle Lake. Translated from the language of the Algonquins, Mikisew means ‘Golden Eagle’.

As to the ‘Pioneer Settlement’, in 1881, Henry Tough and William Thornton Smyth took up settlement in the area now known as Mikisew Provincial Park. Through the years, several sawmills have been on the lake, and in the south end, you can still see logs in the water.

Quite a few descendants of original families still have cottages or residences on this lake. You will see names like Bagshaw, Morris, Angus, Quirt, and McLean still on the lake as names of bays, roads, points. There is a lot of history on Eagle Lake and many references can be found in Journey Through Whispering Pines.