Pigeon Lake is a Trent-Severn Waterway lake on the Bobcaygeon side of the Kawarthas. Bobcaygeon sits on the Bobcaygeon River, and the Ontario fishing regulations name Pigeon Lake as an endpoint of that river. Cottagers use the lake for boating, fishing and trips into Bobcaygeon for supplies. This guide covers public access, fishing zone, boating rules and where to find services.
Facts box
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Region | City of Kawartha Lakes (Bobcaygeon and Dunsford launches); Municipality of Trent Lakes (Harvey Township launches) |
| Waterway | Trent-Severn Waterway, a 386 km route run by Parks Canada |
| Navigation season | Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, mid-May to mid-October |
| Fisheries Management Zone | Zone 17 |
| Lake size and depth | Not confirmed on a primary source. Check Fish ON-Line |
| Nearest emergency department | Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay, 24/7/365 |
| Township | City of Kawartha Lakes; Municipality of Trent Lakes |
Public access
The City of Kawartha Lakes lists three launches on Pigeon Lake. The Municipality of Trent Lakes lists three more on the Harvey Township shore.
| Launch | Location | Depth / dock |
|---|---|---|
| Gordon Yacht Harbour, Bobcaygeon | 49 Front Street East | 3 m; wood dock |
| Highview Estates, Dunsford | Marilyn Crescent | 2 m; dock |
| Kings Wharf Road, Dunsford | Lakeview Crescent | 2 m; no dock |
| Nogies Creek (Harvey Township) | Bass Lake Road | Asphalt and gravel |
| Sandy Point (Harvey Township) | 47 Sandy Point Road | Gravel |
| Elim Lodge (Harvey Township) | 731 Elim Lodge Road | Pavement |
Trent Lakes describes all of its launches as unsupervised and use at your own risk, and notes that some sit on Crown land rather than municipal land. Its launch rules ban littering and fireworks, require parking that leaves the ramp clear, and strongly recommend washing hulls before and after boating. The City of Kawartha Lakes table gives a depth and dock type for each of its three ramps, and Gordon Yacht Harbour is the deepest at 3 m. The City also lists a municipal dock on Front Street in Bobcaygeon, on Pigeon Lake.
Fishing
Pigeon Lake sits in Fisheries Management Zone 17. Two sanctuaries in the Zone 17 summary touch the Bobcaygeon end of the lake. The Bobcaygeon River is closed to fishing from the Trent-Severn dam to Pigeon Lake, and for 100 metres from Little Bob Dam to Pigeon Lake. Both closures run from January 1 to the Friday after the second Saturday in May, and again from November 16 to December 31. Read the Zone 17 page for seasons and limits by species before you fish; we do not restate them. Most anglers need an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence. Fish ON-Line, the Province’s fishing map, shows species and rules lake by lake.
On the water
A power boat on Pigeon Lake needs a driver with proof of competency, and the Pleasure Craft Operator Card is the most common one. Federal rules cap power and electric boats at 10 km/h within 30 metres of shore in Ontario waters. The cap does not apply to a boat towing a skier on a course straight out from shore, or in canals, buoyed channels and rivers under 100 m wide. Before you trailer a boat here from another lake, clean off plants and mud, drain standing water and let the hull dry, as Ontario’s invasive species page asks. The Lake Partner map shows Secchi depth and phosphorus results from Lake Partner Program sampling sites.
Bobcaygeon and the Trent-Severn
Parks Canada runs the Trent-Severn Waterway, a 386 km route opened in 1922 to link Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. Boats on Pigeon Lake pass through Bobcaygeon on the waterway. The navigation season runs from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, mid-May to mid-October. Check the Parks Canada hours and fees pages for the current lockage rates, which we do not copy here.
Before you book
Ask the host which of the six launches is closest, whether the cottage dock suits your boat, and how deep the water is at the dock. The City and Trent Lakes lists are the record for public access, and a listed launch can close for repairs. Lake area, depth and a species list were not on a primary page we could read, so use Fish ON-Line for those.
Nearest town services
Ross Memorial Hospital, 10 Angeline Street N, Lindsay, runs a 24/7/365 emergency department. See Hospitals, groceries and essentials in the Kawarthas, Where to eat in Bobcaygeon and Boating the Trent-Severn Waterway through the Kawarthas.
FAQ
Which fishing zone is Pigeon Lake in?
Fisheries Management Zone 17. Checked November 3 2026.
Where can I launch a boat on Pigeon Lake?
The City lists Gordon Yacht Harbour in Bobcaygeon, Highview Estates and Kings Wharf Road in Dunsford. Trent Lakes lists Nogies Creek, Sandy Point and Elim Lodge. Checked November 3 2026.
Is Pigeon Lake part of the Trent-Severn Waterway?
Yes. Parks Canada’s navigation season runs Victoria Day to Thanksgiving. Checked November 3 2026.
Where is the nearest hospital?
Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay runs a 24/7/365 emergency department. Checked November 3 2026.
Cottages on this lake
Browse cottages in Bobcaygeon and Pigeon Lake or the whole Kawarthas region.
Township Rules Check
Thinking of renting out a cottage here? Run the Township Rules Check for the City of Kawartha Lakes or the Municipality of Trent Lakes. On the City side, the City of Kawartha Lakes requires a licence for short-term rentals of fewer than 28 consecutive calendar days (By-law 2023-111). Read the City’s owner and operator page before you list. On the Trent Lakes side (the former Harvey Township), the Municipality of Trent Lakes requires owners to register a short-term rental of 28 consecutive days or less under By-law B2025-024, passed March 4 2025; registration is renewed each calendar year. Rules change; confirm with the municipality.
Claims table
| # | Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trent Lakes launch database: Pigeon Lake launches Nogies Creek (Bass Lake Rd), Sandy Point (47 Sandy Point Rd), Elim Lodge (731 Elim Lodge Rd); unsupervised; some on Crown land | https://trentlakes.ca/media/seblachc/trent-lakes-boat-launch-database.pdf | 2026-11-03 |
| 1a | Trent Lakes launch rules: no littering, no fireworks, parking must not interfere with launch, hull washing strongly recommended | https://www.trentlakes.ca/play/boat-launches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 1b | City municipal dock: Front Street, Bobcaygeon, Pigeon Lake | https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/explore-play/waterfront/boat-launches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 2 | Trent-Severn 386 km, opened 1922 to connect Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay; navigation season Victoria Day to Thanksgiving (mid-May to mid-October) | https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern | 2026-11-03 |
| 3 | City of Kawartha Lakes Pigeon Lake launches: Gordon Yacht Harbour 49 Front St E (3 m, wood dock); Highview Estates, Marilyn Cres (2 m, dock); Kings Wharf Rd, Lakeview Cres (2 m, no dock) | https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/explore-play/waterfront/boat-launches/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 4 | Zone 17 includes the Trent-Severn, Kawartha Lakes and Crowe River; Bobcaygeon River sanctuary from Trent-Severn Dam to Pigeon Lake and Little Bob Dam to Pigeon Lake (100 m from Little Bob Dam), no fishing January 1 to Friday after 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-driven and electric vessels: 10 km/h within 30 m of shore in Ontario waters (s. 2(7)); exceptions for towing on a course perpendicular to shore, rivers under 100 m wide, canals and buoyed channels (s. 2(8)) | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2008-120/FullText.html | 2026-11-03 |
| 8 | Clean plants and mud from boat, motor and trailer; drain standing water; dry the boat (clean, drain, dry) | https://www.ontario.ca/page/invasive-species-ontario | 2026-11-03 |
| 9 | Lake Partner map shows Secchi depth and total phosphorus data from Lake Partner Program sampling sites | https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-lake-partner | 2026-11-03 |
| 10 | Fish ON-Line: plan a fishing trip, check fishing rules, identify sport fish | https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-use-fish-line | 2026-11-03 |
| 11 | Ross Memorial Hospital, 10 Angeline St N, Lindsay; 24/7/365 emergency department | https://www.rmh.org/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 12 | City of Kawartha Lakes requires an STR licence for stays of fewer than 28 consecutive calendar days under By-law 2023-111 | https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/business-development/business-and-economic-development/business-programs/short-term-rentals/owners-and-operators/ | 2026-11-03 |
| 13 | Trent Lakes: short-term rental accommodation of 28 consecutive days or less (by-law s. 1.37) must be registered under By-law B2025-024 (passed March 4 2025); registration valid for the calendar year | https://media-002-ca.cdn.govstack.com/trentlakeslibrary-012-ca/media/0r4dpaso/b2025-024-short-term-rental-accommodation-registration-by-law.pdf | 2026-11-03 |