Peterborough 
The Trent Severn Waterway and the many lakes it connects are a major defining feature of the Kawartha Lakes region of southern Ontario. And while the canals running through southern Ontario work to connect towns, communities, and the smaller lakes, the Trent Severn Waterway connects, overall, Lake Ontario to Lake Huron. Balsam Lake is closer to the western end of the waterway and canal, a waterway which gets its name from the eastern and western terminus: Port Severn on the Georgian Bay, and Trenton on Lake Ontario.
Balsam Lake is one of the many Ontario Lakes which is crossed by the Trent Severn Waterway. This access from the Provincial Park makes Balsam Lake a perfect destination or base camp for canoeing and kayaking adventures. The park still has many reasons to keep your adventures or getaway activities all within Balsam Lake.
Balsam Lake Provincial Park’s defining manmade feature makes it a big draw to visitors; however, the natural world around the park, including the scenery, birds, and fish, also helps to make the area attractive for any spring, summer, or fall camping trip. The Kawartha Lakes region, where you’ll find Balsam Lake, has a wide array of natural features that make it beautiful for any season: the lush and diverse forests, numerous wetlands busy with critters and birds, rolling hills created by the movement of ancient glaciers, and dozens of clear and pristine lakes!
Here are the top activities and ways to make the best of your trip—paddle, hike, swim, relax, and explore local eats!
Balsam Lake’s Nature Trails
The park’s main Lakeshore Legacy Trail follows the Balsam Lake shores between the day use area and beach and to the Elm or Oak Campgrounds. This is an excellent way to see the entire park as hikers and cyclists are both permitted on the route, while cyclists are also permitted on campground roads. The entire Legacy Trail is 2.5km out-and-back. The remainder of the park’s hiking trails are for foot traffic only, but those looking for more cycling routes will find about 10km of roads to travel around the neighbouring cottage community.
- The Lookout Trail and loop run for just over 2km and lead to a viewing platform that offers a forest-top vista showcasing the great diversity of trees that surround Balsam Lake. Lorie’s Link Trail offers the chance to extend that hike by about 1.5km as it winds around lush meadows with a diverse range of wildflowers.
- The Pond Loop and Woodland Loop combine to create the 4.2km Woodland Trail on the opposite side of the main road as the other trails. This part of the park is home to a red pine plantation, where there are several more natural gems to uncover, like more flowers, a peaceful pond, and other types of trees.
- Indian Point Provincial Park covers a large peninsula on Balsam Lake, which is visible from Balsam Beach. A hiking trail leads from Coboconk and out to the end of Indian Point to create a route of over 12km. This is the longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline in the Kawartha region and is sure to provide excellent birding and photography opportunities.
Birds & Wildlife of Balsam Lake
Any of the above-mentioned trails, or the quieter times around the beach and campground, will provide chances to spot the wide range of birds which call Balsam Lake home.
- Listen for the call of a loon and the noise of the woodpeckers, or watch for the colours of the cardinals, blue birds, and northern orioles. Some of the larger birds around Balsam Lake you might spot include owls, osprey, and hawks.
- Another way to appreciate or enjoy the wildlife of Balsam Lake is with a fishing trip! The lake is abundant with walleye, muskellunge, largemouth, and smallmouth bass.
Beach Day at Balsam Lake
The clear and cool water of Balsam Lake is incredibly inviting on a hot summer day. And with all the park’s beach amenities, plus the beautiful water, Balsam Lake Provincial Park is perfect for a beach day, weekend, or week.
- Take to the waters in the swimming areas, on an inflatable for a la float, or explore further with the park’s paddleboat rentals.
- There are no dogs permitted on the main beach area, but the pups have their own area at the far end of the sandy shoreline!
- Take comfort with amenities like picnic tables and shelters, the playground, volleyball courts, and washrooms.
- Those picnic areas surround the boat launch and the beach areas, and line the Legacy Trail.
- The Kawartha region has tons of awesome local dining to bring with you for a picnic at the beach. Some of the closest takeout spots include Portage House Restaurant, Finding Joy Sweet & Savoury Shop, Liz’s Handmade Bagels & More, The Coby Chipper, or Riverbank Pizza.
Boating on Balsam & the Trent-Severn Waterway
The Trent Severn Waterway connects Balsam Lake with Cameron Lake to the east and Mitchell Lake to the west. The Trent-Severn Waterway, while still in use, is also a National Historic Site with 42 lockstations dividing each section. Lock 35 – Rosedale is the lockstation to the east, while Lock 36 to the west is a lift lock! Camping is available via Parks Canada at both Lockstations, while Rosedale also offers glamping. So, while Balsam Lake on its own creates enough room for a day of paddling and shoreline sightseeing, these Trent Severn connections also make the lake a great place to start a longer canoe or kayak adventure
- Overall, the Balsam Lake shoreline runs for dozens and dozens of kilometres to offer plenty of paddling space within a short distance from the boat launch. Plus, the park office has canoes, kayaks and paddle boats available for rent.
Car, Cottage, or Lockstation Camping
Between the Trent Severn National Historic Site, Balsam Lake Provincial Park, other nearby parks, and neighbouring towns, this Kawartha region has plenty of options for ways to stay.
- The Balmsam Lake Campground is made up of several small loops of campsites with four comfort stations (washrooms, laundry, showers) to service the large campground. These loops are all interconnected by trails or offer trail access to the beach and boat launch. The campsites include those with and those without electricity.
- Balsam Lake Provincial Park also operates and rents out a 4-bedroom waterfront cottage that sleeps up to 8 people!
- Those two nearby lockstations also provide camping options which make planning a paddle adventure much easier. Lock 35 at Rosedale has both regular campsites and the Parks Canada oTENTik glamping option, while Lock 36 Kirkfield has a basic campground.
Planning your trip – Balsam Lake Provincial Park
What: Balsam Lake sits in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes Region with Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park to the east, and Lake Simcoe to the west. The Provincial Park is open seasonally, but snowshoers and skiers can access the park on foot from the main gates during the winter.
There is a large campground open from spring to fall, offering private and forested areas, as well as more open campsites along the waterfront. Boating is one of the most popular activities on the lake, with access in the east and west to the Trent Severn Waterway, and therefore a lot more paddling space.
The park also operates a beach and swimming area during the summer. And while the forests around Balsam Lake Provincial Park make the area feel secluded, its neighbouring highways and Coboconk have all the services a camper could need.
Location and how to get there: 100km east of Barrie via ON-11 & 12; 100km north of Oshawa via ON-35
2238 Kawartha Lakes County Rd. 48, Kirkfield
Best time to go: camping and day use open May 8, 2026 to October 26, 2026
How much: camping $19.36-$59.33 per night; day use $18 per group/vehicle per day
For more information:
Trent Severn Waterway Paddling Guide
