Kawartha Lakes

Day Trips

Start your day with a stroll along the Scugog River, enjoying the gentle sounds of flowing water and birdsong. Stop at a local café for freshly baked pastries and a cup of fair trade coffee. Learn about the town’s history at the Kawartha Settlers’ Village open-air museum.

Rent a bike and cycle along the Great Trail, taking in serene lakeside views and lush forests. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the banks of the river, watching paddle boarders drift by. Visit the McDonald Stewart Art Centre to admire local artworks and rotating exhibits.

Dine on farm-to-table cuisine at a riverside bistro, sampling regional cheeses and craft beer. Take a sunset cruise on a pontoon boat for a tranquil perspective of downtown Lindsay. Round off the night with live music at a cozy pub, mingling with friendly locals.

Rise early to catch the sunrise over Balsam Lake at the provincial park lookout. Hike one of the park’s scenic trails through pine forests and along marsh edges, keeping an eye out for turtles. Enjoy granola, fresh fruit, and coffee at a picnic table overlooking the water.

Rent a canoe or kayak to explore hidden coves and quiet inlets. Stop on a sandy beach for a swim in the clear, shallow waters. Dry off and relax under a shady tree while reading a novel or sketching the landscape.

Light a campfire in the designated fire ring and grill sausages over the flames. Roast marshmallows and make s’mores while swapping stories under the stars. Listen for loon calls echoing across the lake as the night settles in.

Drive to the town of Fenelon Falls and grab fresh bagels and espresso from a local bakery. Walk to the iconic Bridal Veil and Cameron Falls, snapping photos from the viewing platforms. Browse artisanal shops downtown for handcrafted pottery and preserves.

Join a guided jet boat tour on Sturgeon Lake for an adrenaline-pumping ride. Learn about the lock system connecting the Kawartha Lakes, and try navigating small rapids. Afterward, savor fish and chips by the marina while watching boats pass through the locks.

Dine at a waterfront restaurant featuring trout sourced from local fisheries. Take a peaceful evening stroll along the waterfront trail with fairy lights guiding your path. Finish with a gelato cone from a nearby dessert shop.

Head to Bobcaygeon and start with homemade waffles at a historic inn. Walk the Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge and enjoy views of the canal locks. Learn about the Trent-Severn Waterway at the visitor centre.

Rent a boat for cruising the canal, stopping to watch lock operations up close. Pause for lunch at a floating café, sampling light salads and cold lemonade. Explore local art galleries featuring regional painters and sculptors.

Join a guided sunset paddle in a glass-bottom kayak to spot fish and aquatic plants. Return to shore for hearty cottage pie and artisanal dessert at a nearby bistro. End the night at a lakeside bar listening to folk music around an outdoor firepit.

Visit a family-run dairy farm for a guided tour of udders, milking parlors, and cheese aging rooms. Taste freshly churned butter and sample farmstead cheddar. Meet friendly calves in the petting area.

Head to a neighbouring organic farm for a U-pick experience, gathering strawberries, raspberries, and apples. Enjoy a rustic lunch of farm-fresh salads, artisanal bread, and honey drizzled yogurt. Take a tractor ride through fields of wildflowers and vegetables.

Attend a farm-to-table cooking class teaching seasonal recipes using your harvest. Share a communal meal under string lights in a barnyard setting. Sip on locally crafted ciders while chatting with the farmer hosts.

Set out early to Pigeon Lake Conservation Area for birdwatching at dawn on the boardwalk trails. Spot herons, migratory ducks, and warblers in the wetland habitat. Fuel up with yogurt parfaits and fresh berries at a picnic shelter.

Drive to Petroglyphs Provincial Park and hike to the ancient rock carvings of the Serpent Mounds. Listen to an interpretive guide explain the Indigenous history and spiritual significance of the site. Bring a bagged lunch to enjoy at shaded tables near the visitor centre.

Return to Pigeon Lake for a relaxing paddle in a double kayak, gliding through lily pads. Picnic on a secluded beach with cheese, cured meats, and crisp apples. Watch the sky blush pink as the sun sets behind distant hills.

Board a heritage boat cruise departing from Fenelon Falls, traveling the Trent-Severn Waterway. Learn about the canal’s engineering marvels and historic locks. Sip on complimentary coffee and tea as you glide past verdant shorelines.

Disembark at Sturgeon Point for a light lunch at a lakeside pub. Walk along the shoreline trail to spot wild orchids and painted turtles sunning on logs. Shop for souvenirs at small craft stores housed in restored boathouses.

Reboard the boat for a twilight cruise, enjoying amber light reflecting on calm waters. Mingle with fellow passengers over hors d’oeuvres provided on board. Step ashore at your starting point feeling soothed by a day on the water.

Rise at dawn to join a guided photography tour through Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Capture images of moose, deer, and beavers in misty marshlands. Learn camera techniques from a professional nature photographer.

Stop at scenic lookout points over lakes and forests for landscape shots. Picnic on granola bars and sandwiches while swapping photo tips with the group. Visit a local conservation centre to learn about regional wildlife protection efforts.

Return to your lodge and review your best shots over tea. Share highlights and receive feedback from your guide during a relaxed slide show session. Unwind on the deck with soft music and the promise of tomorrow’s adventures.

Drive to Woodville for its bustling farmers’ market offering baked goods, fresh veggies, and handcrafted soaps. Chat with vendors about heirloom tomato varieties and artisanal jams. Sample homemade muffins and fruit preserves.

Visit Bobcaygeon’s weekly craft fair featuring woodworkers, potters, and jewelry makers. Enjoy a light lunch of soup made from local produce at a vintage storefront eatery. Continue to Young’s Point to browse boutique shops in a heritage building.

Head back toward Fenelon Falls for dinner at a family-owned Italian trattoria. Savor homemade pasta dishes paired with Ontario wine. Finish with espresso and tiramisu in a cozy candlelit corner.

Pack up camp and launch a canoe for a multi-day trip on the Kawartha Lakes chain. Paddle across calm waters toward your designated campground. Snack on trail mix and cheese while taking breaks to admire shoreline wildflowers.

Set up your tent at a waterfront campsite in a provincial park. Go for a short nature walk, spotting dragonflies and blue herons. Return for a lakeside lunch of grilled sandwiches and cold melon slices.

Build a campfire and cook foil-wrapped fish fillets over glowing embers. Share stories and play acoustic guitar around the campfire circle. Drift to sleep in your tent to the rhythmic lapping of waves against the shore.