Marinas

There's nothing like experiencing the beauty the Kawarthas from the water. The Trent Severn Canal system stretches all the way from Trenton to Georgian Bay and can afford you the best vantage point to enjoy this region.

Don't have your own boat, or just don't feel like towing it up? No problem. The marinas in the area can offer everything from a zippy bowrider for some watersports, to a comfortable houseboat for a couple of weeks to cruise the waterway.

Bringing your own boat? The area offers plenty of launch points, and marinas to moor either overnight or for a few hours. No need to worry - we have lots of spots to stop in case of mechanical trouble or just to fuel up.

The Kawartha Lakes region is home not only many wonderful lakes and rivers, but the world famous Trent Severn Waterway and canal systems runs right through the region. Because of the Trent Canal, which brings countless recreational boaters to the area to cruise its fine waterways, and the Kawarthas’ large population of cottage residents who boat, there are many marinas located on different lakes, and at different points throughout the area. The region is one of the most beautiful places in Ontario to go boating, or just to spend time on the lake fishing or swimming.

When visiting the Kawartha Lakes Region you will want to spend some time on the water. If you have your own boat, there are marinas where you can shop for supplies, gas up and get parts and service, find boat docking, either short or long-term, and boat launching as well. If you would like to rent a boat, there is sure to be a Kawartha Marina close by offering boat rentals where you can rent boats for the day or for the week.

The Friendship
Spring is in the air! I am sipping my coffee on the front deck of the houseboat. The steam mixes with the cool, crisp morning air. My friends are still asleep and I am relishing the solitude after a busy week with family and work. We have been planning a "friendiversary" for a long time.

We've renamed our houseboat "The Friendship".

A fish jumps on my port side as the osprey circles overhead. I marvel at being surrounded by the circle of life. Deep thoughts on a shallow lake.

My stomach growls for the breakfast feast we have planned. Bacon and eggs and all the fixin's. We have a complete galley on board and the bacon gets cooked to perfection on the bbq. We stopped at the local farmer's market before boarding. Goat cheese, honey and fruit wine from the local winery have won international awards and we are going to enjoy exploring our inner foodie. Buttertarts are one of the many claims to fame so we got plain, pecan and raisin.

The more we explore, the more we find! We started our journey on Pigeon Lake and settled in for the night at Lovesick Lock after passing through Lock 31 in Buckhorn. Lovesick Lock has campfire pits so we were able to sit outside and stargaze while we roasted marshmellows and made s'mores. The Tragically Hip got it right when they sang about the constellations revealing themselves one star at a time.

Today, we are going to Young's Point to the Lockside Trading Company. It feels like we are in the middle of nowhere but the shopping is fantastic!

We rented our houseboat from Happy Days Houseboats after exploring our adventure opportunities on line. After complete training and on board orientation we did some practice driving and docking. All of our questions were answered with enthusiasm and the staff were great at sharing their knowledge of all things local.

Our houseboat adventure has been trouble free. No one in our group had any boating experience prior to this journey which makes one wonder why we opted for a houseboat holiday. We are all working on our "bucket lists" and National Geographic named a houseboat journey on the Trent Severn Waterway as one of 500 Journeys of a Lifetime.

My friends and I are doing our best to do them all.