Charming lakeside community offers outdoor adventures and scenic beauty
Welcome to Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, where families discover a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. Imagine your loved ones soaking up the sun on a pristine sandy beach, the gentle sounds of lake waves setting the mood for a carefree day. With more than 250 lakes, including the magnificent Sturgeon Lake, there’s endless opportunity for water-based excitement.
Step back in time with a visit to the Kawartha Settlers’ Village in Bobcaygeon, where restored 19th-century buildings invite you to experience local history firsthand. Treat your family to the irresistible taste of homemade butter tarts at the Kawartha Buttertart Factory, a beloved local favorite for over two decades.
Discover hidden treasures such as the Devil’s Lake Lookout in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, where sweeping views of pine forests provide the perfect backdrop for family photos. From paddling the calm waters of Chandos Lake to pedaling together along the scenic Trans Canada Trail, Kawartha Lakes is a destination where cherished family memories are made.
Nearby cities
Fenelon Falls
Fenelon Falls sits at the junction of Cameron and Sturgeon Lakes, where the Trent-Severn Waterway drops through a limestone gorge at Lock 34. It's a genuine village with walkable streets, a craft brewery in a 200-year-old building, outdoor theatre, and a beach park—making it one of the more complete bases in the Kawarthas for families, couples, and groups who want a lake and a town in equal measure.
Bobcaygeon
Bobcaygeon sits where Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes converge around Lock 32 of the Trent-Severn Waterway—one of the busiest and most watchable locks in Canada. It's a reliable two-hour drive from Toronto, well-suited to families with a boat in mind, couples escaping Muskoka prices, and dog owners who want a real yard and a dock of their own.
Buckhorn
Buckhorn wraps around Lock 31 of the Trent-Severn Waterway on the granite edge of the Canadian Shield, where Upper and Lower Buckhorn Lakes push into pine-and-rock shorelines that feel closer to Muskoka than most Kawartha towns. It's a serious fishing destination—bass, walleye, and muskie—and a rewarding base for paddlers, families willing to trade a sandy beach for flat granite ledges, and couples looking for a quieter waterway town.
Peterborough
Peterborough anchors the southern end of the Kawartha Lakes system on the Otonabee River and Little Lake, where the Trent-Severn Waterway's famous hydraulic lift lock rises 19.8 metres above the city. The Canadian Canoe Museum reopened on the Little Lake waterfront in 2024. The annual MusicFest and Kawartha Craft Beer Festival use Del Crary Park as their stage. It's the most complete city in the region and the most connected gateway to cottage country—genuinely worth staying in rather than just driving through.
