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Major city · Canada

Buckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney Lake

Come for 2 nights with a car: base in Lakefield or Buckhorn, boat the Trent-Severn locks, and day-trip the Petroglyphs. Without a car, skip it.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

This is cottage country north of Peterborough: three villages (Buckhorn, Lakefield, Bridgenorth) strung along the Trent-Severn Waterway, plus Stoney Lake and Burleigh Falls. There is no town centre to walk; sights sit 15–50 min apart by car on Highway 28. Two nights covers the locks, one lake cruise and the Petroglyphs; a third adds Warsaw Caves or a Kawartha Highlands paddle.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
CAD
Best months
Jun–Sep for boating and swimming; late Sep–early Oct for colour
avoid Nov–Apr (many lodges and restaurants close; ice and snow)
Airports
YYZ · YPQ
Nights
2
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
  • Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
  • Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Buckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney Lake911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Buckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney Lake, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Beerdraught pintC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)
  • Budget bedCampsite (tent or trailer), a night, per roomC$49 (≈ US$40)
  • Mid-range bedCampsite (tent or trailer), a night, per roomC$60 (≈ US$45)
  • High-end bedCampsite (tent or trailer), a night, per roomC$85 (≈ US$65)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget C$110 (≈ US$80) · Mid C$200 (≈ US$150) · High C$380 (≈ US$300)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Trent-Severn Waterway locksStoney Lake and Buckhorn Lake cottagesPetroglyphs Provincial Park rock carvingsWarsaw CavesKawartha Country Wines
Airports
YYZ Toronto Pearson (About 1.5–2 h by car via Highway 407/115/28; the usual gateway.) · YPQ Peterborough Regional (Small field, limited scheduled service; check before planning around it.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    −4°C (25°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    −2°C (28°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    3°C (37°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    11°C (52°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best*

    21°C (70°F)

  10. Oct

    Best*

    13°C (55°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    6°C (43°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    −1°C (30°F)

Best: Jun–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (27°C (81°F)), coolest Jan (−14°C (7°F) low), wettest Nov (11 rain days), driest Feb (8). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Buckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney Lake: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

−4°C (25°F)

−14°C (7°F)

10 rd

Feb

−2°C (28°F)

−13°C (9°F)

8 rd

Mar

3°C (37°F)

−7°C (19°F)

9 rd

Apr

11°C (52°F)

0°C (32°F)

10 rd

May

19°C (66°F)

6°C (43°F)

10 rd

Jun

24°C (75°F)

11°C (52°F)

10 rd

Jul

27°C (81°F)

14°C (57°F)

9 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

13°C (55°F)

9 rd

Sep

21°C (70°F)

9°C (48°F)

9 rd

Oct

13°C (55°F)

3°C (37°F)

10 rd

Nov

6°C (43°F)

−2°C (28°F)

11 rd

Dec

−1°C (30°F)

−9°C (16°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required: Highway 28 is the spine, Peterborough is about 25–30 min south of Lakefield, and the Petroglyphs are about 50 min northeast. The Link bus (weekdays, no holidays) links Peterborough with Lakefield and Curve Lake (route 31) and Bridgenorth and Ennismore (route 32). Boats use the Trent-Severn Waterway; Lock 31 at Buckhorn, Lock 30 (Lovesick), Lock 27 (Young's Point) and Lakefield Marina take overnight moorings.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Petroglyphs Provincial Park

go

Door to door: About 50 min from Peterborough; 1 h+ from Lakefield

Car via County Road 4, 28 and 6 to 2249 Northeys Bay Rd, Woodview

Pre-Columbian rock carvings; no vehicle access after 4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday in spring and fall. No photos.

Warsaw Caves Conservation Area

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min from Lakefield

Car to 289 Caves Rd, Warsaw

Seven caves, 15 km (9.3 mi) of trails, beach and canoe rental; bring a headlamp or buy one on site.

Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park

overnight

Door to door: Varies by access point

Car to a perimeter access point, then canoe

Backcountry canoe loops and camping; call park staff for trip planning.

Peterboroughgo

Door to door: About 25–30 min by car

Car via Highway 28, or The Link bus on weekdays

Bobcaygeon

go

Door to door: About 25 km west of Buckhorn

Car via Highway 36

Fenelon Falls

go

Door to door: About 18 km west of Bobcaygeon

Car via Highway 36 and 121

Lindsay

caution

Door to door: About 50 km west of Lakefield

Car via Highway 36 and 7

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Lakefield

Only real village with a walkable main street, a marina and a 26-room inn; best base without a boat.

Buckhorn

On Lock 31, restaurants and a wine bar within a few minutes' walk; good for one night passing through on the waterway.

Bridgenorth / Chemong Lake

Closest to Peterborough (about 15 min); motels and the Chemong Lodge for dinner.

Stoney Lake / Woodview

Resorts and cottages on the water; you need a car for everything, and summer rates are the highest.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
C$90–140 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
Mid
C$150–250 (≈ US$110–190) excl. bed
High
C$300 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or inn double room1 × 2 nights × C$160C$320
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × C$200C$800
Car, fuel and parking, per day1 × C$45C$45
Warsaw Caves day use, per car1 × C$19C$19
Canoe rental, per day1 × C$50 · Warsaw Caves about $50/day or $12.50/hr with a 2 h minimumC$50
eSIM, about a week of data2 × C$25C$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeC$128
Trip total≈ C$353 per person per day, bed includedC$1,412≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in Canadian dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeC$2–4 (≈ US$2–3)
Pub burger or fish and chipsC$18–26 (≈ US$14–19)
Medium pizzaPizza Alloro menu bandC$14–24 (≈ US$11–18)
Beer, draught pintC$7–9 (≈ US$6–7)
Wine tasting at Kawartha Country Winescheck
Petroglyphs Provincial Park day useOntario Parks fee per vehicle; check the official sitecheck
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekC$20–40 (≈ US$15–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a rural area; the real risks are driving Highway 28 at dusk (deer and moose), cold lake water even in July, and no phone signal on back roads.
  • No car means no practical way to reach the Petroglyphs, Warsaw Caves or most lakes.
  • Many restaurants and lodges close from late November to spring; Cody Inn runs roughly March–November only.
  • Petroglyphs Provincial Park: no vehicle access after 4:30PM, and in spring and fall it opens Tuesday–Sunday only.
  • No photos at the petroglyph site itself.
  • Cell coverage is patchy on the back roads between the lakes.
  • Moose and deer on Highway 28 at dusk; drive slowly after dark.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Ontario Parks (Petroglyphs)
+1 705-877-2552
Buckhorn Welcome Centre
+1 705-657-3288

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Buckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney LakeBuckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney Lake

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Ontario Parks (Petroglyphs)+1 705-877-2552
  • Buckhorn Welcome Centre+1 705-657-3288

Embassy

No embassies here; the US consulate-general is in Toronto, and most countries' missions are in Ottawa or Toronto.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • The Link bus, Peterborough → Lakefield: weekdays except holidays, route 31; fare check
  • Warsaw Caves day use: C$19 (≈ US$14) per car, or C$10 (≈ US$8) adult / C$6 (≈ US$5) child walk-in
  • Canoe rental, Warsaw Caves: C$12.50 (≈ US$10)/hr (2 h minimum) or C$50 (≈ US$40)/day

Tipping: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Buckhorn, Lakefield and Stoney Lake. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for boating and swimming; late Sep–early Oct for colour · avoid Nov–Apr (many lodges and restaurants close; ice and snow) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Lock-by-lock Trent-Severn fixture: Lock 27, 30 and 31 mooring rules, fees and pump-out points field-checked.
  2. Boat-rental and cruise operators with verified season dates and minimum hire.
  3. Petroglyphs and Warsaw Caves gate pages with last-entry cutoffs and parking limits.
  4. Winter fixture: which lodges, restaurants and marinas stay open from November to April.

Meanwhile

Back to Canada

Sources