Planning a day out in the Kawartha Lakes region means choosing between very different kinds of experiences: quiet wetland trails, century-old engineering on the water, local history indoors, and hands-on family fun. The listings below cover parks, museums, waterway sites, and activity venues across Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and the surrounding townships — grouped by type to help you plan efficiently.
The Trent-Severn Waterway runs 386 kilometres between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay, and several of its lock stations double as free visitor destinations — open to boaters, paddlers, and land-based visitors alike. All operate seasonally, roughly from Victoria Day in mid-May to Thanksgiving in mid-October, and are managed by Parks Canada.
The standout engineering marvel of the group: the Kirkfield Lift Lock is the second-highest hydraulic lift lock in the world, raising and lowering boats 15 metres at the highest elevation point on the entire waterway, approximately 256 metres above sea level. Constructed between 1900 and 1905, it uses metal frames rather than the concrete towers seen at Peterborough’s lift lock. The site sits within the Carden Alvar, a habitat noted for rare plant and animal species, and offers overnight mooring (maximum two nights), washrooms, potable water, and a picnic area. Phone: 705-438-3126.
Lock 37 at Bolsover holds the distinction of being the deepest fully manual lock station on the Trent-Severn Waterway, built between 1900 and 1907. Located at kilometre marker 284.9 within the historic Balsam-Simcoe Division, it offers overnight mooring on two upper walls and a wing wall near the dam, along with camping, washrooms, showers, potable water, and a picnic area. Phone: 705-426-9681.
Lock 34 sits on an island adjacent to downtown Fenelon Falls, making it one of the more convenient lock stops for visitors who want to combine a waterway experience with a town visit. The concrete lock replaced an original structure first built between 1882 and 1885 and provides an average lift of 7.2 metres; a natural waterfall is visible on the lower side. Overnight mooring, shore power, washrooms, potable water, and a picnic area are all available on site. Phone: 705-887-3001.
Built between 1896 and 1900, Lock 20 at Ashburnham sits on the shore of Little Lake in Peterborough and connects to the canal leading to the Peterborough Lift Lock. It’s a quiet stop within city limits, with a paddle dock, picnic area, washrooms, and potable water. The Trans Canada Trail passes through the property, so cyclists and walkers can access it independently of any boating. Phone: 705-750-4952.
Lock 26 in Lakefield is one of the more amenity-rich stops on the waterway, offering overnight mooring, shore power, camping, a paddle dock, showers, washrooms, and potable water. The station is within a ten-minute walk of downtown Lakefield. Phone: 705-652-3056.
Harold Town Conservation Area offers approximately 10 kilometres of multi-use trails on a drumlin within the Peterborough Drumlin Field, designed for both mountain biking and hiking at beginner through advanced levels. Features include berms, rock gardens, switchback climbs, and log hops, as well as a shade shelter, picnic tables, and accessible washrooms from May to October. The area is open year-round (7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in summer; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter) and admission is free. Phone: 705-745-5791.
Miller Creek Wildlife Area, managed by Otonabee Conservation, encompasses forests, open fields, and a provincially significant wetland through which Miller Creek flows. A 1-kilometre trail and an observation tower overlooking the wetland make this a good spot for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. Ungroomed cross-country skiing is available in winter. No camping or fires are permitted. Free admission; open year-round with the same seasonal hours as Harold Town. Phone: 705-745-5791.
Sitting on the shore of Katchewanooka Lake, this provincially significant wetland is designated for source-water protection and biological diversity. A 100-metre trail connects to the Lakefield Trail System, and a two-level observation tower provides views over the marsh. The site is also accessible by canoe or kayak via the Otonabee River. Free admission; open year-round on the same seasonal schedule as other Otonabee Conservation properties. Phone: 705-745-5791.
Harper Park is a natural area within Peterborough managed by the Harper Park Stewardship Committee under the Peterborough Field Naturalists. It contains wetlands, coldwater creeks, meadows, and forest, and is home to one of the few remaining wild brook trout populations in Southern Ontario, found in Harper Creek. Trails are described as unmaintained; visitors should bring appropriate footwear and download the trail map before going. Open year-round; free admission.
Wolf Island Provincial Park is a 222-hectare natural environment park accessible only by boat — there is no road access. The island features Paleozoic limestone, Precambrian bedrock, glacier-carved striations, and varied vegetation. It is a non-operating park with no staffed amenities, though crown land campsites and connecting trails exist. A genuine backcountry experience for boaters willing to seek it out. Phone: 705-799-5170.
Ennismore Waterfront Park is a municipal outdoor park in the Ennismore hamlet, part of Selwyn Township’s parks network. It offers waterfront access and space for gatherings, with facility booking available for groups. Free admission. Phone: 705-292-9507.
Peterborough Museum & Archives is a Category A Collecting Institution under federal cultural property legislation. It maintains a permanent chronological exhibition on Peterborough’s history alongside rotating featured exhibitions, with archival collections accessible by appointment. Programs include school visits, PA Day and summer discovery camps, a toddler program, and a film series run in partnership with TIFF. Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and most holidays noon to 5 p.m. A suggested donation of $10 per group applies to the featured exhibition. Phone: 705-743-5180.
Hutchison House is operated by the Peterborough Historical Society, which has served the community since 1897. The museum focuses on the social history of Peterborough and the surrounding region in the nineteenth century, and is open year-round. It offers guided programs, special events including the annual Peach Tea, walking tours, a speaker series, and venue rentals. Phone: 705-743-9710.
Scugog Shores Museum Village and Archives sits on Scugog Island overlooking Lake Scugog and Port Perry, and presents eleven restored heritage buildings, heritage gardens, and Ojibway Heritage Interpretive Lands covering daily life from the mid-1800s to mid-1900s. Guided tours run Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from May to September. The site hosts Theatre on the Ridge in summer and is available for photography, wedding receptions, and other rentals from May to October. Adult admission is $5.50; children 4 and under are free. Phone: 905-982-2404.
Nature’s Place Interpretive Centre is housed within the Minden Hills Cultural Centre alongside the Agnes Jamieson Gallery, the Minden Hills Museum and Heritage Village, and a public library branch. Its exhibits explore the ecology of the Haliburton Highlands through the lens of Canadian naturalist R.D. Lawrence’s philosophy. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., from mid-May to early October; admission by donation. Phone: 705-286-1260.
Trent Valley Archives preserves historical records including the Peterborough Examiner photographic negatives and publishes the Heritage Gazette. Its public programming leans toward experiential history: guided walking tours through downtown Peterborough and Little Lake Cemetery covering true crime, women’s history, ghost walks, and military history. Guided tours are $20 per person. Travelling photo exhibits circulate to community venues throughout the region.
Located within the Peterborough Memorial Centre, the Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame has been honoring local athletes and sports builders since 1979. Its roughly 4,000 square feet of exhibit space holds over 10,000 items of memorabilia and artifacts spanning about 150 years of local sports history. The Hall hosts an annual induction ceremony in June and offers educational archive access for school and club groups.
The Art Gallery of Peterborough has operated since 1974 on the shore of Little Lake along the Otonabee River. As a public non-profit facility owned by the City of Peterborough, it presents rotating contemporary exhibitions with a focus on Canadian artists, particularly those from the Kawarthas region. Programs include Family Sunday art-making, summer art camps for children, adult programming, artist talks, and a gallery shop. Free admission; open year-round.
Peterborough Musicfest stages free outdoor concerts at Del Crary Park on the shores of Little Lake, and has done so since 1987, making it Canada’s longest-running free-admission music festival. Concerts run on Wednesday and Saturday evenings through summer. Season 39 begins June 27, 2026. Programming includes Indigenous music and cultural content through Woven Stories, and children’s drop-in music programming through First Note. All performances are free.
Another World VR Arena operates a 2,793 sq ft free-roam virtual reality gaming space at 379 George Street N in Peterborough. Sessions last 60 minutes and accommodate 2 to 12 players across shooter, adventure, and sci-fi game genres. Players must be at least 6 years old. Pricing is $40 per person on weekdays and $45 on weekends; birthday and corporate packages start at $700. The venue also has a lounge zone and offers gift cards. Phone: 705-768-2987.
Critter Visits is a mobile animal encounter service based in the Trent Lakes area that brings live animals to clients at their chosen location. It’s oriented toward events, parties, and group gatherings. Specific animals, pricing, and booking details are not advertised on the business’s public listing.
The Buckhorn District Tourist Association operates a Welcome Centre in Buckhorn, open seven days a week during the season (Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Staff can point visitors toward dining, accommodations, boating and fishing access, hiking trails, seasonal events, and winter activities including snowmobiling. The association also distributes the Explore Buckhorn visitor guide. Free to visit.
The breadth of this region means no single day can cover everything, but understanding which attractions share geography — downtown Peterborough clusters several museums and galleries within walking distance of each other; the waterway lock stations string together naturally by boat — helps you build a logical itinerary rather than doubling back across the landscape.
Several attractions in the region charge no admission. The Trent-Severn Waterway lock stations — including Trent Severn Waterway, Lock 36 – Kirkfield Lift Lock, Trent-Severn Waterway, Lock 34 – Fenelon Falls Locks, Trent-Severn Waterway, Lock 37 – Bolsover, and Trent-Severn Waterway, Lock 20 – Ashburnham — are free to visit by land or water. The Art Gallery of Peterborough is free year-round, Peterborough Musicfest is a free outdoor concert series running summer evenings since 1987, and conservation areas including Harold Town Conservation Area, Miller Creek Wildlife Area, and Imagine the Marsh Conservation Area all offer free access.
Art Gallery of Peterborough runs Family Sunday art-making programs and summer art camps for children. Peterborough Museum & Archives offers toddler programs, PA Day camps, and summer discovery camps. Another World VR Arena Peterborough accommodates players aged 6 and up for VR gaming sessions. Imagine the Marsh Conservation Area and Miller Creek Wildlife Area have short, accessible nature trails suited to younger visitors.
Trent Severn Waterway, Lock 36 – Kirkfield Lift Lock is a hydraulic lift lock near Kirkfield, Ontario, that ranks as the second-highest of its kind in the world at 15 metres. It is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site, operated by Parks Canada. The site is open seasonally from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving and offers free admission, with overnight mooring, washrooms, potable water, and a picnic area available for visitors and boaters.
Yes. Another World VR Arena Peterborough operates year-round as an indoor VR gaming venue with sessions from $40 per person. Peterborough Museum & Archives is open year-round with exhibitions, camps, and programs. Art Gallery of Peterborough is open year-round as a free public art gallery. Hutchison House is open year-round and offers museum exhibitions, programs, and events.
Trent-Severn Waterway, Lock 37 – Bolsover at Bolsover offers both camping and showers alongside overnight mooring. Trent-Severn Waterway, Lock 26 – Lakefield in Lakefield also offers camping and showers, plus shore power. Trent-Severn Waterway, Lock 34 – Fenelon Falls Locks in Fenelon Falls provides shore power but does not advertise showers or camping. All operate seasonally from approximately mid-May to mid-October.
Details verified as of July 2026.
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