In spring
Look for wildflowers while you hike along a walking trail, watch for birds at the Carden Plain, or pedal along one of the area’s mountain-biking trails.
In summer
Summer offers the greatest variety of recreational options, including fishing (bass, walleye, muskie, panfish, and pike), swimming, boating, sailing, windsurfing, horseback-riding, biking, hiking, and golfing.
In the summer, canoeists and kayakers can explore the lake’s numerous little inlets, which are a safe distance from Trent-Severn Waterway boating traffic.
If you’re boating on a sultry afternoon, Indian Point and Grand Island are scenic places to stop.
In autumn
In September and October, experience a lovely day spent in nature by exploring Balsam Lake Provincial Park.
The park’s lookout trail will lead you to the tower where you can take in the panoramic view and witness the changing palette of colours.
In winter
During winter, a very quiet time on Balsam Lake, cross-country ski or snowshoe in picturesque solitude. Balsam Lake is also a fabulous place to ice fish and snowmobile.
One of the most memorable things about Balsam Lake may be the distance it takes you from your everyday life.
(Learn more about Balsam Lake Cottage and Real Estate Trends.)
A few sights you shouldn’t miss
A few not-to-be-missed Balsam Lake sights include Balsam Lake Provincial Park and Indian Point Provincial Park; the lift locks; and the dry-stone walls on Balsam Lake Drive.
Balsam Lake Provincial Park
Balsam Lake Provincial Park is found on the lake’s northern shore, a few kilometres southwest of Coboconk. The park encompasses limestone sheaths and rolling granite rock, offering visitors diverse and exquisite landscapes.
There are 506 campsites. The gift shop at the park entrance carries park souvenirs. There are playgrounds for children along with a snack bar on the beach. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats are available for rent at the park, which is accessible by water. There’s also an expansive, sandy, child-friendly beach.
In addition, cyclists can pedal along the network of paved roads throughout the park.
Hikers can also take advantage of the park’s two trails: the lookout trail and the plantation trail.
The lookout trail meanders for 2.6 kilometres through a range of landscapes including a cedar swamp, a deciduous forest, and a meadow. The trail’s lookout tower offers visitors a view of the entire park and the surrounding countryside.
The plantation trail underlines how humans have affected the land over the past 150 years; the trail winds for 4.2 kilometres through logging sites, farm fields, and reforestation plantations.
While the park is closed in winter it is a well-known destination for skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
Indian Point Provincial Park
On the northern shore of Balsam Lake, Indian Point Provincial Park is an extensive parcel of unspoiled land and one of the longest undeveloped shorelines in the Kawartha Lakes. The park is located on a low limestone escarpment described as an alvar.
Since it is not an operating park, there are no facilities or services for visitors; camping is prohibited. As a result, the park lacks a “maintained” feel, which makes it more appealing to naturalists.
The park has a six-kilometre trail for hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
The Lift Locks of Kirkfield and Rosedale
The lift locks in Kirkfield and Rosedale are worth a visit. Indeed, children and adults alike love to watch boats travel through the locks.
Kirkfield is home to the highest lift lock while Rosedale is known for the prettiest lift lock. Surrounded by trees, Rosedale’s secluded lock station is a lovely spot to picnic and moor overnight.
The Dry-Stone Walls on Balsam Lake Drive
The dry-stone walls on Balsam Lake Drive are a must-stop for those interested in the lake’s history and lore. George Laidlaw commissioned the dry-stone walls, which line a three-kilometre stretch of the roadside, for his property on the western shore of the lake where he raised sheep and cattle. In 1880, a Scottish stonemason built the walls to keep the livestock off the road.
The walls require no mortar. Instead, walls derive their strength from the strategic positioning of each stone. These historic walls are believed to be the longest dry-stone walls in Canada.
Balsam Lake Provincial Park
Balsam Lake Provincial Park is found on the lake’s northern shore, a few kilometres southwest of Coboconk. The park encompasses limestone sheaths and rolling granite rock, offering visitors diverse and exquisite landscapes.
There are 506 campsites. The gift shop at the park entrance carries park souvenirs. There are playgrounds for children along with a snack bar on the beach. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats are available for rent at the park, which is accessible by water. There’s also an expansive, sandy, child-friendly beach.
In addition, cyclists can pedal along the network of paved roads throughout the park.
Hikers can also take advantage of the park’s two trails: the lookout trail and the plantation trail.
The lookout trail meanders for 2.6 kilometres through a range of landscapes including a cedar swamp, a deciduous forest, and a meadow. The trail’s lookout tower offers visitors a view of the entire park and the surrounding countryside.
The plantation trail underlines how humans have affected the land over the past 150 years; the trail winds for 4.2 kilometres through logging sites, farm fields, and reforestation plantations.
While the park is closed in winter it is a well-known destination for skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
Indian Point Provincial Park
On the northern shore of Balsam Lake, Indian Point Provincial Park is an extensive parcel of unspoiled land and one of the longest undeveloped shorelines in the Kawartha Lakes. The park is located on a low limestone escarpment described as an alvar.
Since it is not an operating park, there are no facilities or services for visitors; camping is prohibited. As a result, the park lacks a “maintained” feel, which makes it more appealing to naturalists.
The park has a six-kilometre trail for hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
The Lift Locks of Kirkfield and Rosedale
The lift locks in Kirkfield and Rosedale are worth a visit. Indeed, children and adults alike love to watch boats travel through the locks.
Kirkfield is home to the highest lift lock while Rosedale is known for the prettiest lift lock. Surrounded by trees, Rosedale’s secluded lock station is a lovely spot to picnic and moor overnight.
The Dry-Stone Walls on Balsam Lake Drive
The dry-stone walls on Balsam Lake Drive are a must-stop for those interested in the lake’s history and lore. George Laidlaw commissioned the dry-stone walls, which line a three-kilometre stretch of the roadside, for his property on the western shore of the lake where he raised sheep and cattle. In 1880, a Scottish stonemason built the walls to keep the livestock off the road.
The walls require no mortar. Instead, walls derive their strength from the strategic positioning of each stone. These historic walls are believed to be the longest dry-stone walls in Canada.
