Growing up in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario, I always felt incredibly fortunate to have such stunning bodies of water in my backyard. From fishing to boating to simply enjoying the view, the lakes in this region have always played a major role in my life. Here we highlight some of the top lakes in the Kawartha Lakes region and all that they have to offer. The team at CottageLINK Rental Management is here to help you search for the perfect Kawartha Lakes cottage rental!
Of course, there is lots more to do away from the lakes in the Kawartha Lakes Region! If you can tear yourself away from the cottage, why not enjoy a meal out? Here are the best restaurants to enjoy at your Kawartha Lakes cottage rental. Or why not visit one of these Kawartha Lakes craft breweries?
On to the lakes!
Sturgeon Lake | Kawartha Lakes | Ontario
Sturgeon Lake is a large Y-shaped lake with a town located at each of its three large arms – Lindsay to the south, Fenelon Falls to the northwest, and Bobcaygeon to the east end. It is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, which flows into the lake through the locks at Fenelon Falls, and exits into Pigeon Lake to the east through the locks in Bobcaygeon. Sturgeon Lake is a relatively shallow lake, with a maximum depth of 35 feet.
Due to its size, Sturgeon Lake attracts a number of boats, and you’ll find it’s quite busy during the summer season, particularly on weekends, with boat traffic and with the number of communities you can travel to by boat.
With its large size and abundance of fish habitat, Sturgeon Lake is known as a very good fishing lake, with muskie, bass and walleye being the primary sport fish anglers find there.
Sturgeon Lake, being shallow, warms up quickly and the swimming is great in places where the waterfront has a limestone base. The lake can be weedy, especially along the southern arm, although there are a few sandbars that many swimmers enjoy along the northern shores.
Pigeon Lake | Kawartha Lakes | Ontario
Part of a three lake chain that includes Buckhorn Lake and Chemong Lake, Pigeon Lake straddles the border between Kawartha and Kawartha Lakes, with the western shore belonging to Kawartha Lakes, and the eastern shore to Kawartha Region.
While Pigeon Lake is known for good fishing, and you’ll find muskie, small and largemouth bass, walleye and panfish, you can also find good swimming. Omemee Beach is a beautiful sandy beach located at the mouth of the Pigeon River, and is one of the best places to go on that lake for swimming. The park also features a skate park, picnic shelters, and a playground.
Cameron Lake | Kawartha Lakes | Ontario
Cameron Lake is also connected to the Trent-Severn Waterway. The waterway enters Cameron Lake at Lock 34 at Fenelon Falls, and exits from the northwest corner at Lock 35 – Rosedale. The lake is an ideal size for watersports, being large enough to provide plenty of room for boating, but not so large that waves become a major issue.
Cameron Lake is home to a range of fish species, including small and large-mouth bass, walleye, northern pike and muskie. It also has more sand-bottomed waterfront than any other lake in the western Kawarthas, which makes this an ideal lake for child-friendly swimming.
Balsam Lake | Kawartha Lakes | Ontario
Balsam Lake is famous for being the highest elevation ocean-navigable body of water on earth! Occupying the highest point on the Trent-Severn Waterway, water flows out of the lake at both connection points – at the north-west end near Kirkfield and at the eastern end at Rosedale. The primary source for the lake is from the Gull River system which originates in Haliburton, to the north.
Balsam Lake has more of a “cottagey” feel than Cameron and Sturgeon lakes, which have a higher proportion of year-round homes surrounding their shores. It also has water that is noticeably clearer than many other lakes along the Waterway.
Lake Dalrymple | Kawartha Lakes | Ontario
Lake Dalrymple is comprised of two distinct sections – Upper Lake Dalrymple, which is more southerly, and Lower Lake Dalrymple, the more northerly half of the lake.
Lake Dalrymple is primarily spring-fed, with several small tributaries flowing into the lake. Upper Lake Dalrymple is quite shallow and stands of wild rice are common, with a maximum depth of just 20 feet. Lower Lake Dalrymple is deeper than Upper Lake Dalrymple, with depths of 20 or more feet throughout much of the lake, and a maximum depth of 35 feet.
One of the most distinguishing features of Lower Lake Dalrymple is Avery Point, the very narrow two-kilometer peninsula that bisects Lower Lake Dalrymple. The waterfront properties along Avery Point therefore enjoy the rare benefit of having waterfront exposure on both sides!
Canal Lake | Kawartha Lakes | Ontario
The most westerly lake on the Kawartha Lakes section of the Trent-Severn Waterway is Canal Lake. Lake Simcoe is the next lake to the west (although you must pass through a series of locks and swing bridges on your way there by boat), and Kirkfield’s Lock 36 to the east, heading into Mitchell and Balsam lakes.
Canal Lake is quite shallow, with a maximum depth of 15 feet. It was created during the construction of the Trent-Severn Waterway in the late 1800s. Since the lake is so shallow, the pathway for larger boats to navigate through the lake is marked with buoys. The area has a limestone topography, so cottages on it tend to be on quite level lots without much of a slope to the water, making them more easily accessible than more rocky and hilly shorelines.
In conclusion, the Kawartha Lakes region is well worth a visit, and there are many different lakes to choose from. Close enough to the GTA to travel to, even for those not wanting to spend hours in traffic, it’s home to some of the most beautiful lakes in Ontario, many having the additional benefit of being part of the Trent Severn Waterway. From fishing, swimming, and boating, to hiking, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this beautiful region.
Arrange your stay at one of CottageLINK Rental Management’s beautiful Kawartha Lakes cottage rentals today, and start exploring the region for yourself!
