Paddling — Flatwater.
Lake Scugog itself — about 68 km² and averaging 1.4 m deep — is the regional flatwater anchor: shallow, weedy, and full of marsh-edge backwaters that paddle differently from the deeper Kawartha lakes downstream. Public launches on the southwest shore at the Port Perry waterfront put a canoe, kayak, or SUP straight into the south basin.
The Nonquon River and the Scugog River outflow add quieter wetland and connecting water.
The brief.
Lake Scugog is forgiving water for beginners and family paddlers because of its shallowness, but the same shallowness raises wind-and-wave fetch quickly when weather moves through — pay attention to forecasts. Marsh-edge paddling around Scugog Island and the south basin holds the most interesting wildlife.
The Nonquon River (Kawartha Region Conservation Authority watershed of about 145 km², about 169 km of total watercourse length) flows in from the west through marsh corridors that read as quieter water than the open lake. The Scugog River drains north out of the lake into Sturgeon Lake and the Trent–Severn Waterway — a multi-day paddle-and-portage route into the broader Kawartha chain rather than a Scugog-only day trip.
Best season is June through September.
3. places.
- 01
Lake Scugog (south basin and main basin)
~68 km² shallow lake; public launches on the Port Perry waterfront on the southwest shore; marsh-edge paddling around Scugog Island.
- 02
Nonquon River
Kawartha Region Conservation Authority watershed (~145 km², ~169 km of total watercourse) flowing into Lake Scugog from the west; quiet marsh-corridor flatwater.
- 03
Scugog River (north outflow)
Drains Lake Scugog north into Sturgeon Lake and the Trent–Severn Waterway; longer-trip connector.
Today's read.
Temperature (2.6°C) below the typical range.
By the book.
- 01Lake Scugog is shallow open water — wind-and-wave conditions can change quickly with weather. Check forecasts before launching.Source ↗
- 02Scugog River navigation into the Trent–Severn Waterway operates under Parks Canada navigation rules and the published TSW navigation season (roughly mid-May through mid-October).Source ↗