Kawagama Lake is the largest lake in Haliburton County, at over 16 km long, and it is shared with the Township of Algonquin Highlands. At Kennisis Lake, a hand-launch area on the river side has a boat portage roller system over the dam to Red Pine Lake, which leads to the Algonquin Highlands Water Trails. The Municipality of Dysart et al describes both in its Explore Our Lakes guide.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Municipality of Dysart et al; Kawagama is shared with the Township of Algonquin Highlands |
| Kawagama size and depth | Over 16 km long; maximum depth about 240 ft (Dysart et al) |
| Kennisis size and depth | Not stated in the municipal guide |
| Kawagama species | Largemouth, smallmouth and rock bass; brook, lake and rainbow trout; round and lake whitefish; white sucker; yellow perch; brown bullhead; burbot; cisco; pumpkinseed; rainbow smelt |
| Kennisis species | Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, lake trout, brook trout |
| Fisheries Management Zone | Zone 15 |
| Marina | Kennisis Lake Marina and Storage, 1076 Wilkinson Road |
| Hospital | Haliburton Highlands Health Services, 7199 Gelert Road, Haliburton |
Public access
Dysart et al lists these launches. The municipal lake guide says the Kawagama concrete pad has excellent parking and is exceptionally wide. The 6354 Kennisis Lake Road launch is gravel with limited parking, and the 1120 Wilkinson Road launch is gravel and cement with good access. Dysart et al says it has 26 public boat launches in total.
| Launch | Lake | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Launch 24 | Kennisis | 1120 Wilkinson Rd. |
| Launch 25 | Little Kennisis (gravel) | 5336 Kennisis Lake Rd. |
| Launch 26 | Kennisis | 6354 Kennisis Lake Rd. |
| River-side hand and sand launch | Kennisis | 6721 Kennisis Lake Rd. |
| Launch 28 | Kawagama | 4567 Kawagama Lake Rd. |
Dysart et al treats all of its launches as use at your own risk and asks boaters to make sure their equipment suits low-water launching.
Fishing on Kawagama and Kennisis
Kawagama Lake is in Fisheries Management Zone 15 and appears in the Zone 15 lake trout exceptions, which carry their own season and size limits; read its entry before you fish for trout. Kennisis Lake is not named on the Zone 15 page, so the zone-wide rules apply to it. Zone 15 is part of the Central Bait Management Zone, so check the bait rules before you bring baitfish from another area. Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. Fish ON-Line maps species and rules lake by lake.
Boating the big lakes
On Kawagama and Kennisis, a power boat driver needs proof of competency, and the Pleasure Craft Operator Card is the most common form. Federal rules keep power and electric boats to 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore in Ontario. The exceptions are towing a skier on a course straight out from shore, and canals, buoyed channels and rivers under 100 m wide. If you portage a boat over the Kennisis dam roller to Red Pine Lake, Ontario’s clean, drain and dry advice for invasive species applies at each new lake. Secchi depth and phosphorus results from Lake Partner Program sites are on the Lake Partner map.
What the municipal lake guide says
Kawagama is over 16 km long and is the largest lake in Haliburton County, with a maximum depth of about 240 ft. Fourteen creeks and small rivers feed it; the two main ones are the short Bear River and the Hollow River, and the Hollow River flows into Lake of Bays. Its launch at 4567 Kawagama Lake Road is a concrete pad, exceptionally wide, with excellent parking.
At Kennisis, the river-side launch at 6721 Kennisis Lake Road has a privy, a sand launch and the hand-launch area with the portage roller to Red Pine Lake. Red Pine Lake itself is in the Township of Algonquin Highlands, even though the launch address is in Dysart et al. Kennisis Lake Marina and Storage at 1076 Wilkinson Road has Dockside Fuel, a convenience store and ice cream. Little Kennisis Lake, reached from the gravel launch at 5336 Kennisis Lake Road, has a maximum depth of about 114 ft. The guide’s depth line in the Kennisis section lists 203 ft, which belongs to Little Redstone Lake, so we do not use it for Kennisis.
Lake association
Dysart et al lists the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association for Kennisis, Little Kennisis and Red Pine lakes. It names no association for Kawagama.
Before you book
Ask the host which of the four Kennisis launches is closest to the cottage, and whether the dock suits your boat. If the cottage is on Kawagama, ask which side of the township line it sits on, Dysart et al or Algonquin Highlands, because that decides which municipality’s rules apply.
Nearest town services
Haliburton Highlands Health Services runs the hospital at 7199 Gelert Road, Haliburton (705-457-1392). Its site does not state emergency department hours, so confirm them before you rely on them. For non-urgent health advice, call 811, staffed by a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For an emergency, call 911. See Hospitals, groceries and essentials in Haliburton.
FAQ
How big is Kawagama Lake?
Over 16 km long, the largest lake in Haliburton County, per Dysart et al. Checked November 3 2026.
Where can I launch on Kennisis Lake?
Dysart et al lists launches at 1120 Wilkinson Road, 5336 and 6354 Kennisis Lake Road and a river-side hand launch at 6721 Kennisis Lake Road. Checked November 3 2026.
What fish live in Kennisis Lake?
Dysart et al lists largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, lake trout and brook trout. Checked November 3 2026.
Which fishing zone is Kawagama Lake in?
Zone 15, where it appears in the lake trout exceptions. Checked November 3 2026.
Is there a lake association on Kennisis?
Yes. Dysart et al lists the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages on this lake
Browse cottages in Algonquin Highlands or the Haliburton and Algonquin region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for Dysart et al and Algonquin Highlands. 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 | Explore Our Lakes (old URL 404; current copy): Kawagama over 16 km long, largest in county, shared with Algonquin Highlands, max depth ~240 ft, species list; 14 creeks and small rivers (Bear, Hollow), Hollow River flows to Lake of Bays; Kawagama concrete pad, exceptionally wide, excellent parking; Kennisis species; 6721 privy, sand launch, hand launch, portage roller over dam to Red Pine Lake and Algonquin Highlands Water Trails; Red Pine Lake in Algonquin Highlands; Little Kennisis 5336 gravel, max ~114 ft; Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association; Dockside Fuel, convenience store, ice cream; marina 1076 Wilkinson Rd | https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/dysartetal-ca/media/ivef2lla/explore-our-lakes-2nd-version-3.pdf | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Kennisis launch details: 6354 gravel limited parking; 1120 Wilkinson gravel/cement good access (cited summer-activities URL 404; details are in the lakes PDF) | https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/dysartetal-ca/media/ivef2lla/explore-our-lakes-2nd-version-3.pdf | 2026-11-03 |
| 2a | 26 public launches in Dysart et al; use at own risk; low-water launching caution | https://www.dysartetal.ca/explore-and-play/water-access-sites/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Dysart et al water access: Kennisis launches 1120 Wilkinson Rd, 5336 Kennisis Lake Rd, 6354 Kennisis Lake Rd; Kawagama launch 4567 Kawagama Lake Rd | https://media-003-ca.cdn.govstack.com/dysartetal-ca/media/kvuptzes/water_access.pdf | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Zone 15 page lists Kawagama Lake in lake trout species exceptions; Kennisis Lake not mentioned; Zone 15 part of Central Bait Management Zone | https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-fishing-regulations-summary/fisheries-management-zone-15 | 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 sampling 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 | HHHS: Haliburton hospital 7199 Gelert Rd, 705-457-1392; ED hours not stated on page; 811 staffed by registered nurse 24/7; 911 for emergencies | https://www.hhhs.ca/ | 2026-11-03 |