Three protected places lie in the Peterborough lake country. Petroglyphs Provincial Park holds the largest known concentration of Indigenous rock carvings in Canada. Warsaw Caves Conservation Area, 25 minutes outside Peterborough, has seven caves formed at the end of the last ice age. Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, north of Peterborough, is a backcountry canoe park. This guide covers each in turn, with the seasons and rules that matter.
Facts box
| Place | Where | 2026 season | Run by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroglyphs Provincial Park | 2249 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview | Day use May 8 to October 12, 2026 | Ontario Parks |
| Warsaw Caves Conservation Area | 289 Caves Road, Warsaw (Township of Douro-Dummer) | Gatehouse May 8 to October 12, 2026 | Otonabee Conservation |
| Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park | Park office at 106 Monck Street, Bancroft | Day use May 1 to October 31, 2026; backcountry camping January 1 to December 31, 2026 | Ontario Parks |
Petroglyphs Provincial Park
The park covers 1,643 ha and was established in 1976. Ontario Parks classes it as Cultural Heritage. It holds the largest known concentration of Indigenous rock carvings in Canada, including turtles, snakes, birds and humans. Ontario Parks calls it a sacred site known as "The Teaching Rocks". The Learning Place visitor centre presents the traditions of the Ojibway (Nishnaabe) people through the teachings of the medicine wheel.
Hours. Day use runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Vehicles cannot enter after 4:00 p.m., and all vehicles must leave before the gates close at 5:00 p.m. In spring and fall the park is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, except holiday Mondays. Reserve day use through the Ontario Parks reservation site. The park does not offer camping.
At the park. The Learning Place visitor centre, a park store, picnic shelters and vault toilets are listed. In July and August, evening programs begin with the film "The Teaching Rocks" in the visitor centre theatre. Visitors are then led to the sacred Petroglyphs site. Guided tours for public and school groups run through the operating season, and Ontario Parks lists no fee for group programs.
Trails.
| Trail | Length | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Accessible Trail | 600 m (15 minutes) | Easy, barrier-free, to a picnic area overlooking McGinnis Lake |
| Marsh Trail | 7 km (2.5 hours) | Moderate |
| Nanabush Trail | 5.5 km (1.5 hours) | Easy |
| West Day Use Trail | 5 km (1.5 hours) | Moderate |
Ontario Parks describes McGinnis Lake as one of only a handful of meromictic lakes in Canada, meaning its layers of water do not intermix.
Rules. Adults 19 and over may drink in most operating park areas. Ontario Parks says alcohol-free areas can include sites of cultural or historical significance. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 2 metres and are barred from swimming areas and beaches. Fires are limited to designated spots. The removal of natural objects is prohibited, and damaging, defacing or removing Crown property carries a $155 minimum fine. The rules page does not mention drones, and it has no carving-specific rules. Ask the park about photography before you visit, and follow staff direction at the site.
Warsaw Caves Conservation Area
Warsaw Caves is a conservation area, not a provincial park. It is run by Otonabee Conservation and takes its name from a series of seven caves that formed thousands of years ago at the end of the last ice age. Along the Lookout Trail you pass potholes and kettles and can hear the Indian River trickle beneath the rocks.
- Season: the gatehouse runs May 8 to October 12, 2026. From November to May, parking is outside the front gates and trails are not groomed or maintained.
- Caving: caving is not permitted from November to May. The gatehouse number is 705-652-3161.
- Trails: 15 km in total.
- Fees (listed November 3 2026): a vehicle day-use permit is $20. A walk-in adult (16 to 64) is $11, and a walk-in child under 16 is $6.50. An annual general pass is $75.
- Camping: 52 unserviced campsites, reserved online only, at $52 a night.
- Paddling: canoe and kayak rentals run in season. Otonabee Conservation says a paddle downstream to the village of Warsaw takes two hours out and two hours back. The Indian River here is not suitable for motorboats.
- Swimming and dogs: the swimming area on the Indian River is unsupervised, dogs are not allowed on the beach, and alcohol is not permitted.
Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park
Kawartha Highlands covers 37,587 ha. Ontario Parks calls it the largest park in southern Ontario after Algonquin Provincial Park. Camping here is backcountry only, at 121 backcountry campsites. There are 9 backcountry access points with limited facilities and parking. Car camping and electrical sites are not offered.
The park has six recommended canoe routes, from easy to moderate. A canoe route map is sold at the park office. Fishing includes bass, walleye, panfish and trout. Motorboats are allowed on most lakes, so check with the park office for specifics. Stay on designated trails and portages, and wear a lifejacket around water. Winter backcountry camping is an option.
Day use, camping or a nearby cottage
Petroglyphs and Warsaw Caves work as day trips from a cottage on Stony Lake or nearby. Kawartha Highlands asks for backcountry skills and a camping plan. A cottage gives you a base with a kitchen, and the three places fit into separate days.
Nearest town services
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay runs a 24/7/365 emergency department. See Hospitals, groceries and essentials in the Kawarthas and Where to eat near Stony Lake.
FAQ
When does Petroglyphs Provincial Park close for the season?
Day use ended October 12 in 2026. Checked November 3 2026.
Can I camp at Petroglyphs?
No. Ontario Parks lists camping as not available. Checked November 3 2026.
How much does Warsaw Caves cost?
In 2026 a vehicle day-use permit was $20 and a walk-in adult was $11. Checked November 3 2026.
How many campsites does Kawartha Highlands have?
121 backcountry campsites. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages near these parks
Browse cottages in Lakefield and Stony Lake or the Kawarthas region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for Douro-Dummer and North Kawartha. 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 | Petroglyphs: 2249 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview; 1,643 ha; established 1976; Cultural Heritage class; largest known concentration of Indigenous rock carvings in Canada; turtles, snakes, birds, humans; ‘The Teaching Rocks’; day use May 8 to October 12, 2026; hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m., no entry after 4 p.m.; closed Mondays and Tuesdays in spring and fall except holiday Mondays; camping not available; McGinnis Lake one of a handful of meromictic lakes in Canada; Learning Place presents Ojibway (Nishnaabe) traditions; visitor centre The Learning Place, store, shelters, vault toilets; McGinnis Lake meromictic | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/petroglyphs | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Trails: Accessible 600 m; Marsh 7 km; Nanabush 5.5 km; West Day Use 5 km; evening programs July and August begin with film in the theatre then lead to the site; guided group tours through the season, no group program fees (one-week booking and ‘appropriate respect’ wording not on page: removed) | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/petroglyphs/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | Alcohol 19+ in most areas; alcohol-free areas may include sites of cultural or historical significance; leash max 2 m; no pets in swimming areas/beaches; fires in designated spots; removal of natural objects prohibited; damage/deface/remove Crown property $155 minimum fine; no drone or petroglyph-specific rules listed | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/petroglyphs/rules | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Warsaw Caves: 289 Caves Road, Warsaw (Township of Douro-Dummer); gatehouse May 8 to October 12, 2026; gatehouse 705-652-3161; Nov-May parking outside gates and trails not groomed; caving not permitted Nov-May; 15 km trails | https://otonabeeconservation.com/camping-outdoor-recreation/warsaw-caves | 2026-11-03 |
| 5 | Warsaw fees 2026: vehicle day use $20; walk-in adult (16-64) $11; child under 16 $6.50; annual general pass $75; 52 unserviced sites, $52/night, online only; canoe/kayak rentals; paddle to Warsaw two hours each way; not suitable for motorized craft; unsupervised swimming area, no dogs on beach, no alcohol; seven caves formed at the end of the last ice age; disappearing river along Lookout Trail; 25 minutes outside Peterborough; child under 16, adult 16-64 | https://otonabeeconservation.com/camping-outdoor-recreation/warsaw-caves | 2026-11-03 |
| 6 | Kawartha Highlands: 37,587 ha; largest park in southern Ontario after Algonquin; day use May 1 to October 31, 2026; backcountry camping January 1 to December 31, 2026; 121 backcountry campsites; 9 access points; park office 106 Monck Street, Bancroft; stay on designated trails and portages; life-jackets around water | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/kawarthahighlands | 2026-11-03 |
| 7 | Six recommended canoe routes, map sold at park office; bass, walleye, panfish, trout; motorboats allowed on most lakes; winter backcountry camping; park north of Peterborough | https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/kawarthahighlands/activities | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Ross Memorial Hospital Lindsay, 24/7/365 emergency department | https://www.rmh.org/ | 2026-11-03 |
Photo: Michael Hamments, on Unsplash (Unsplash License).