Buckhorn Lake has a Trent-Severn dam at its outlet, and the Ontario fishing regulations place Lower Buckhorn Lake, also called Buckhorn Lake, in Smith and Harvey townships. Chemong Lake lies in the former Smith and Ennismore townships and is crossed by the Bridgenorth causeway on County Road 16. This guide covers the Harvey Township launches, the fishing closures at the dam and the causeway, and boating rules.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Waterway | Trent-Severn Waterway, 386 km, run by Parks Canada |
| Navigation season | Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, mid-May to mid-October |
| Fisheries Management Zone | Zone 17 |
| Municipalities | Municipality of Trent Lakes (Harvey Township shore); Chemong Lake’s shoreline is outside the Trent Lakes launch list |
| Lake sizes and depths | Not confirmed on a primary source. Check Fish ON-Line |
| Nearest large hospital | Peterborough Regional Health Centre |
| Township | Municipality of Trent Lakes |
Public access
The Municipality of Trent Lakes lists two launches on Buckhorn Lake. Its database lists none on Chemong Lake, so ask the host or the neighbouring municipality about Chemong access.
| Launch | Lake | Location | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawartha Hideaway (Harvey) | Buckhorn | 80 Kawartha Hideaway Loop | Pavement and gravel |
| Six Foot Bay (Harvey) | Buckhorn | 476 Six Foot Bay Road | Gravel |
Kawartha Hideaway at 80 Kawartha Hideaway Loop has a paved and gravel ramp, and Six Foot Bay at 476 Six Foot Bay Road is gravel. Trent Lakes does not list fees for either.
Fishing closures at the dam and the causeway
Both lakes are in Fisheries Management Zone 17. The Zone 17 summary sets two closures here, with different end dates in spring:
- Lower Buckhorn Lake (Buckhorn Lake): no fishing from the Trent-Severn dam to a point 400 metres below it, from January 1 to the Friday after the second Saturday in May and from November 16 to December 31.
- Chemong Lake: no fishing within 100 metres on both sides of the Bridgenorth causeway on County Road 16, from January 1 to the Friday before the second Saturday in May and from November 16 to December 31.
Seasons and limits by species are on the Zone 17 page; we do not restate them. Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. Fish ON-Line shows species and rules for each lake.
Boating rules for Buckhorn and Chemong
On Buckhorn and Chemong, a power boat driver carries proof of competency, and the Pleasure Craft Operator Card is the most common proof. A federal limit of 10 km/h applies within 30 metres of shore across Ontario for power and electric boats. Towing a skier on a course straight out from shore is exempt, as are canals, buoyed channels and rivers under 100 m wide. Ontario’s invasive species page asks boaters to clean plants and mud off the boat and trailer, drain standing water and dry the boat before moving to another lake. The Province’s Lake Partner map carries Secchi depth and phosphorus results for Lake Partner Program sites.
Rules at Trent Lakes launches
The Municipality of Trent Lakes sets four rules on its launch page: no littering, no fireworks, park so you do not block the launch, and wash hulls before and after boating (strongly recommended). It describes all launches as unsupervised and use at your own risk. Some launches sit on Crown land, some on municipal land and some on both.
The Trent-Severn route
Parks Canada runs the 386 km Trent-Severn Waterway, which links Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. Its navigation season runs from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, mid-May to mid-October. Check Parks Canada for current lockage hours and fees.
Before you book
Ask the host which of the two Harvey launches is closer to the cottage, and where guests on the Chemong side put a boat in, since Trent Lakes lists no Chemong ramp. Lake area, depth and species were not on a primary page we could read; Fish ON-Line has them.
Nearest town services
Peterborough Regional Health Centre serves the Peterborough area. Check its website for emergency department details. See Hospitals, groceries and essentials in the Kawarthas and Pigeon Lake and Bobcaygeon.
FAQ
Which fishing zone is Buckhorn Lake in?
Fisheries Management Zone 17. Checked November 3 2026.
Where can I launch on Buckhorn Lake?
Trent Lakes lists Kawartha Hideaway and Six Foot Bay in Harvey Township. Checked November 3 2026.
Does Trent Lakes list launches on Chemong Lake?
No. Its database lists none. Checked November 3 2026.
Are Trent Lakes launches supervised?
No. The municipality describes them as unsupervised and use at your own risk. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages on this lake
Browse cottages in Buckhorn and Trent Lakes or the Kawarthas region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the Municipality of Trent Lakes. Our dataset has no confirmed short-term rental rule for this municipality yet, so confirm with its clerk before you list.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trent Lakes launch page: no littering; no fireworks; parking must not interfere with launch; hull washing strongly recommended; launches unsupervised, use at own risk; some on Crown land | https://www.trentlakes.ca/play/boat-launches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Trent-Severn 386 km, connects Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay; navigation season Victoria Day to Thanksgiving | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Trent Lakes boat launch database: Buckhorn Lake launches Kawartha Hideaway (80 Kawartha Hideaway Loop, pavement/gravel) and Six Foot Bay (476 Six Foot Bay Rd, gravel); none listed for Chemong | https://trentlakes.ca/media/seblachc/trent-lakes-boat-launch-database.pdf | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Zone 17: Lower Buckhorn Lake (Buckhorn Lake), Smith and Harvey Townships, Trent-Severn Dam to 400 m below, no fishing January 1 to Friday after second Saturday in May and November 16 to December 31; Chemong Lake, Smith and Ennismore Townships, 100 m both sides of Bridgenorth Causeway on County Road 16, no fishing January 1 to Friday before second Saturday in May and November 16 to December 31 | https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-17 | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing-licences | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Power boat drivers need proof of competency, most often the Pleasure Craft Operator Card. | https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/pleasure-craft-operator-card | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Power boats may not exceed 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore, with exceptions such as towing a skier straight out from shore and canals and buoyed channels. | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2008-120/FullText.html | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Clean, drain, dry boat, motor and trailer | https://www.ontario.ca/page/invasive-species-ontario | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | Lake Partner map: Secchi depth and total phosphorus from Lake Partner Program sites | https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-lake-partner | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | Fish ON-Line is the Government of Ontario’s lake-by-lake fish information tool. | https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-use-fish-line | 2026-11-03 |
| 11 | Peterborough Regional Health Centre is the hospital in Peterborough (site checked; ED details not on the page we reached) | https://www.prhc.on.ca/ | 2026-11-03 |
Photo: Senning Luk, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).