Kawartha Lakes.
The City of Kawartha Lakes is a single-tier Ontario municipality covering the former Victoria County, with Lindsay as the county seat and Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Coboconk, Omemee, and Kirkfield as anchor towns along a chain of Trent–Severn lakes — Sturgeon, Cameron, Balsam, Pigeon, and Scugog. The Trent–Severn Waterway runs straight through the municipality with Lock 32 at Bobcaygeon (the first lock built on the system, 1833), Lock 34 at Fenelon Falls beside the falls, Lock 35 at Rosedale, and the Kirkfield Lift Lock at Lock 36 — one of two hydraulic lift locks operating on the waterway.
Balsam Lake is the highest navigable point on the Trent–Severn at 256.3 m. Ken Reid Conservation Area on Lake Scugog and Balsam Lake, Indian Point, and Emily provincial parks anchor the trail and shoreline experience inside the municipality.
The Victoria Rail Trail runs 56 km from Lindsay to Kinmount along the former Victoria Railway corridor. A short drive from Peterborough; a few hours from the GTA via the major highway corridor north from Highway 401.
Today's read.
Real-time conditions updated; AI field notes unavailable.
On the record.
Every claim sourced. Click through to the original.
- 01The Kirkfield Lift Lock (Lock 36) is one of two hydraulic lift locks in operation on the Trent–Severn Waterway, with a lift of 14.9 m.Source ↗
- 02Balsam Lake is the highest navigable point on the Trent–Severn Waterway, at 256.3 m above sea level.Source ↗
- 03The Trent–Severn Waterway is a 386 km navigation channel and National Historic Site connecting Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay at Port Severn, with 44 locks.Source ↗
- 04Lock 32 at Bobcaygeon was the first lock built on the Trent–Severn Waterway, completed in 1833.Source ↗
- 05The Victoria Rail Trail runs 56 km from Lindsay to Kinmount along the former Victoria Railway corridor.Source ↗
8. activities
worth your time
StrongHiking
Ken Reid Conservation Area carries 12 km of multi-use trails on 285 hectares of Lake Scugog headwater wetland. Balsam Lake Provincial Park's Lookout Trail and Plantation Trail run inside the campground, and Indian Point Provincial Park's day-use peninsula on Balsam Lake offers shoreline walking. The Pigeon River Headwaters Conservation Area and Omemee Wetland Trail extend day-hike access through the southern Pigeon River corridor. The Victoria Rail Trail's 56 km Lindsay–Kinmount corridor doubles as the region's longest walking route along the former Victoria Railway alignment.
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StrongCamping
Balsam Lake Provincial Park and Emily Provincial Park are the two operating Ontario Parks frontcountry campgrounds inside the municipality. Balsam Lake's campground sits on the watershed-summit lake at the highest navigable point on the Trent–Severn; Emily's campground sits on the Pigeon River south of Omemee. Both run reservations through the Ontario Parks system and operate roughly mid-May through mid-October. Day-use access continues outside the camping season at Balsam Lake and Indian Point.
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StrongCycling
The Victoria Rail Trail runs 56 km from Lindsay to Kinmount along the former Victoria Railway corridor — the longest single rail-trail inside the municipality and a Trans Canada Trail link. North of Lindsay, the trail follows the rail alignment through Fenelon Falls and on toward Kinmount in the Land Between transition zone. The corridor is multi-use and shared with snowmobiles in winter. Combined with the Trans Canada Trail through Lindsay, the rail-trail network anchors regional cycling without on-road exposure.
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StrongPaddling — Flatwater
Sturgeon, Cameron, Balsam, Pigeon, and Lake Scugog form the central Kawartha lake chain inside the municipality, all connected by Trent–Severn Waterway navigation. The Pigeon River through Omemee and the Burnt River into Cameron Lake at Fenelon Falls add tributary paddling beyond the lakes themselves. Balsam Lake at 256.3 m is the highest navigable point on the Trent–Severn — the watershed-summit lake on the system. Most paddling launches share lockstation access points with motor traffic, so weekday and shoulder-season trips read quieter.
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▲ SignatureSailing & Boating
The Trent–Severn Waterway is a 386 km Parks Canada–managed navigation channel with 44 locks, and Kawartha Lakes carries the central reach: Lock 32 at Bobcaygeon (the first lock built on the system, 1833), Lock 34 at Fenelon Falls, Lock 35 at Rosedale, and the Kirkfield Lift Lock at Lock 36 — one of two hydraulic lift locks in operation on the waterway, with a lift of 14.9 m. Balsam Lake is the highest navigable point on the system at 256.3 m. Sturgeon, Cameron, Pigeon, and Scugog lakes form the connecting cruising waters between the locks.
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StrongSwimming & Beach
Balsam Lake Provincial Park's beach sits at the highest navigable point on the Trent–Severn Waterway. Emily Provincial Park's beach is on the Pigeon River near Omemee, paired with the park's frontcountry campground. Indian Point Provincial Park's day-use shoreline runs along the Balsam Lake peninsula and is open without camping infrastructure. All three are operated under Ontario Parks day-use rules; Indian Point is non-operating (day-use only).
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▲ SignatureFreshwater Fishing
Sturgeon Lake, Pigeon Lake, Balsam Lake, Lake Scugog, and Cameron Lake are the connected mixed warmwater fisheries inside the municipality, all in Ontario Fisheries Management Zone 17. Target species across the chain are muskellunge, walleye, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass; Balsam Lake also produces lake trout. The connected Trent–Severn navigation lets a boat work multiple lakes in one trip without trailering. Species-specific seasons, size, and possession limits are set by the FMZ 17 regulations summary.
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▲ SignatureHeritage & Culture
The Trent–Severn Waterway is a Parks Canada–managed National Historic Site, and Kawartha Lakes carries the central engineering features inside the municipality — the Kirkfield Lift Lock at Lock 36 (one of two hydraulic lift locks in operation on the Trent–Severn, with a lift of 14.9 m), Lock 32 at Bobcaygeon (the first lock built on the system, 1833), and Lock 34 at Fenelon Falls beside the falls. Together the locks frame the Trent–Severn cottage-cruising corridor through the central Kawarthas.
Read field guide arrow_outward13. more outings
surveyed.
Activities supported across Kawartha Lakes without a featured write-up.
- 01
Trail Running
Ken Reid Conservation Area - 02
Walking & Strolling
Bobcaygeon waterfront - 03
Nature & Discovery
birding - 04
Mountain Biking
Ken Reid Conservation Area (informal use) - 05
Surf & Wind
windsurfing - 06
Cross-Country & Nordic
classic-xc - 07
Snow Adventure
snowshoeing · snowmobiling - 08
Seasonal Phenomena
fall-colours - 09
Wildlife Viewing
raptor-eagle - 10
Motorized Touring
scenic-drive - 11
Indigenous Experiences
first-nations-guided-experience - 12
Food & Drink
brewery · farmers-market - 13
Geology & Discovery
Land Between limestone-Shield transition north of Kirkfield
Local operators.
Trusted outfitters, guides, and experience providers in Kawartha Lakes.
2B Fishing
Guided Kawartha Lakes fishing charters across eight lakes for bass, walleye, pike, and muskie
View on AER arrow_outwardEgan Houseboat Rentals
Houseboat rentals on the Trent-Severn Waterway from Omemee, Ontario — four boat classes sleeping 4 to 15 people, no boating license required
View on AER arrow_outwardFenelon Falls Marina
Yamaha Elite family-run marina on Cameron Lake in the Kawarthas, with pontoon, deck, and fishing boat rentals
View on AER arrow_outwardGOAT Angling Adventures
Guided bass, muskie, and walleye charters across six Kawartha lakes with a Canada/US Walleye Champion guide
View on AER arrow_outwardJesse Kerr Fishing
Guided musky, walleye, and bass charters on Cameron, Balsam, and Sturgeon lakes from Fenelon Falls in the Kawartha Lakes
View on AER arrow_outwardR&J Stables
Therapeutic horseback riding, summer camp, and private trail rides on a 60-acre Kawartha Lakes farm
View on AER arrow_outwardRiverview Kayaking
Guided Nonquon River kayaking paired with infrared sauna, reiki, and reflexology at a family-run wellness centre in Seagrave
View on AER arrow_outwardRooted Heart
ANFT-certified forest bathing and private yoga in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, led by an ecologist-trained guide
View on AER arrow_outwardWild Rock Outfitters
Independent Peterborough outdoor outfitter with Shimano bike service, daily Kawarthas rentals, and a Canada-wide used-gear trade-in
View on AER arrow_outwardWildhart Equestrian
Small-herd horse boarding on 98 acres near Fenelon Falls with a 65 x 128 ft indoor arena
View on AER arrow_outwardBuckeye Boat Rentals
Pontoon boat rentals, jet skis, fishing boats, SUPs, kayaks, tubes, wakeboards
Visit website arrow_outwardTrail Tours
ATV and dirt bike tours, rentals, training
Visit website arrow_outwardKey resources.
- parks.canada.caTrent–Severn Waterway National Historic Site — locking through, navigation season, Kirkfield and Bobcaygeon lockstations — Parks Canada
- ontarioparks.caBalsam Lake Provincial Park — campground, beach, paddling — Ontario Parks
- ontario.caOntario Fishing Regulations Summary — Fisheries Management Zone 17 (Kawartha Lakes)
- kawarthalakestourism.caKawartha Lakes Tourism — destination overview