Trent Lakes.
Trent Lakes is the northern Peterborough County township where Buckhorn Lock 31 separates Buckhorn Lake from Lower Buckhorn Lake on the Trent-Severn Waterway, and where the chain of interconnected Kawartha lakes — Buckhorn, Lower Buckhorn, Pigeon, Catchacoma, and Crystal — runs north toward the Shield. The village of Buckhorn anchors the lockstation community, with Lakehurst, Catchacoma, Crystal Lake, and Flynn's Corners scattered through the township's cottage-country interior.
Catchacoma Lake on the township's north side is the principal Trent-Lakes-side access into Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park's backcountry canoe network, while the Buckhorn / Lower Buckhorn / Pigeon Lake reach carries the Trent-Severn cruising and fishing traffic. Most of it is a short drive north of Peterborough or a few hours northeast of the GTA via Highway 115 / 28.
Today's read.
Real-time conditions updated; AI field notes unavailable.
On the record.
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- 01The Trent-Severn Waterway is a 386 km Parks Canada–operated heritage canal between Trenton on Lake Ontario and Port Severn on Georgian Bay, with 44 lockstations; Buckhorn Lock 31 sits inside Trent Lakes between Buckhorn Lake and Lower Buckhorn Lake.Source ↗
- 02The Township of Trent Lakes was formed in 1998 by amalgamation of Galway, Cavendish and Harvey townships; it covers approximately 711 km² in northern Peterborough County.Source ↗
- 03Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is a 37,587-hectare non-operating wilderness-class provincial park designated under the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park Act in 2003; the park extends into the northern part of Trent Lakes from Catchacoma Lake.Source ↗
- 04Trent Lakes lies within Fisheries Management Zone 15 (Haliburton Highlands & Kawarthas), supporting walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskellunge, lake trout, and brook trout under FMZ 15 seasons.Source ↗
5. activities
worth your time
Camping
Catchacoma Lake on the township's north side is the principal Trent-Lakes-side gateway into Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park's backcountry canoe-camping network, with designated interior campsites accessed by paddle from Catchacoma into the park's interior chain. Camping inside the park is reservation-only through Ontario Parks; designated sites only; permit fees apply per night per person. The headline access points elsewhere in the park — Long Lake, Anstruther Lake, Wolf Lake — sit on the North Kawartha side.
Read field guide arrow_outwardPaddling — Flatwater
The Kawartha lake chain — Buckhorn Lake, Lower Buckhorn Lake, Pigeon Lake, Catchacoma Lake, and Crystal Lake — runs the length of the township as a connected flatwater network, with Buckhorn Lock 31 between the two Buckhorn lakes on the Trent-Severn Waterway. Catchacoma Lake on the north side is the principal Trent-Lakes-side put-in into Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park's interior canoe-route network; the bulk of that network sits in North Kawartha, but the Catchacoma access supports day and overnight routes from inside the township.
Read field guide arrow_outwardSailing & Boating
Buckhorn Lock 31 sits at the centre of the township between Buckhorn Lake and Lower Buckhorn Lake on the 386 km Trent-Severn Waterway, the Parks Canada heritage canal between Lake Ontario at Trenton and Georgian Bay at Port Severn. Through-cruising and houseboat traffic between the Bay of Quinte and Lake Simcoe passes the lockstation directly, and the Buckhorn / Lower Buckhorn / Pigeon Lake reach is one of the heavier-used cruising stretches inside the Kawarthas. Lockage operates on the Parks Canada navigation-season schedule.
Read field guide arrow_outwardFreshwater Fishing
The Buckhorn, Lower Buckhorn, Pigeon, Catchacoma, and Crystal lakes carry the multi-species Kawartha fishery — walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskie, and panfish across the warmwater chain, with cold-water lake trout in the deeper Shield lakes (Catchacoma and Crystal). Trent Lakes sits within Fisheries Management Zone 15 (Haliburton Highlands & Kawarthas) and the Central Bait Management Zone, so the bait-transport rule and FMZ 15 seasons apply across the township.
Read field guide arrow_outwardHeritage & Culture
Buckhorn Lockstation (Lock 31) is a working Parks Canada Trent-Severn site — the masonry, gates, and operating equipment of the heritage canal infrastructure remain in seasonal use between Buckhorn Lake and Lower Buckhorn Lake. The lock grounds are a public visitor space during navigation season, with the broader Trent-Severn Waterway carrying federal heritage-canal designation across its 44 lockstations.
Read field guide arrow_outward12. more outings
surveyed.
Activities supported across Trent Lakes without a featured write-up.
- 01
Hiking
day-hiking - 02
Walking & Strolling
Buckhorn village waterfront and lockstation grounds - 03
Nature & Discovery
birding · nature-interpretation - 04
Cycling
road - 05
Swimming & Beach
lake-swim - 06
Cross-Country & Nordic
classic-xc - 07
Snow Adventure
snowshoeing · ice-fishing · snowmobiling - 08
Sky Watching
stargazing - 09
Seasonal Phenomena
fall-colours - 10
Wildlife Viewing
Kawartha Highlands shorelines (Catchacoma side) - 11
Motorized Touring
scenic-drive - 12
Food & Drink
Buckhorn village shops and small-cluster cottage-country food
Local operators.
Trusted outfitters, guides, and experience providers in Trent Lakes.
Anstruther Lake Marina
Boat, pontoon, bowrider, canoe, kayak, paddleboard rentals
Visit website arrow_outwardBoatman Rental
pontoon boat rentals
Visit website arrow_outwardBuckhorn Narrows
boat rentals (pontoon, jon boats), seasonal trailer sites
Visit website arrow_outwardBuckhorn Riding Academy
Horseback trail rides, pony rides, riding lessons, children's camps
Visit website arrow_outwardComfortech Bike Rentals and Retail Store
Bike rentals (comfort bikes, e-bikes, beach cruisers, mountain bikes, tandems, child bikes/trailers)
Visit website arrow_outwardKawartha Adventure Rentals
Canoe, kayak, SUP, boat rentals with online booking
Visit website arrow_outwardLiftlock Cruises
Lift lock boat sightseeing cruises on Trent Severn Waterway
Visit website arrow_outwardPeterborough Carping Guides
Guided carp fishing tours
Visit website arrow_outwardR & R Houseboats
Houseboat rentals w/ slides & hot tubs, other watercraft rentals
Visit website arrow_outwardRock and Rope Climbing Centre
Indoor rock climbing, lessons, youth programs, camps
Visit website arrow_outwardRooted Heart
Guided forest therapy walks, sensory invitations, tea ceremonies
Visit website arrow_outwardThe Land Canadian Adventures
Guided backcountry canoe trips, camping, snowshoeing, wilderness education tours
Visit website arrow_outwardWild Rock Outfitters
Bike shop with rentals implied, paddling/camping gear, route library
Visit website arrow_outwardWilliams Outfitters
Guided fishing tours, full/half day charters targeting various species
Visit website arrow_outwardWoodland Camp Site
camping (seasonal/daily), kayak/canoe/paddleboat rentals, fishing, boating, beach activities
Visit website arrow_outwardKey resources.
- parks.canada.caTrent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site — locks, navigation season, mooring — Parks Canada
- ontarioparks.caKawartha Highlands Signature Site Park — backcountry canoe routes, reservations — Ontario Parks
- otonabeeconservation.comOtonabee Region Conservation Authority — watershed access