Top 6 Lakes around Kingston

Lake Ontario is a central feature, offering diverse activities from swimming at Lake Ontario Park to boating and fishing. Loughborough Lake is renowned for fishing, especially for bass and pike, and is popular for recreational boating. Gould Lake is excellent for hiking with 20 kilometers of trails and offers clean water for swimming.

Yes, several lakes are great for families. Lake Ontario Park on Lake Ontario features a splash pad, play equipment, and accessible beaches. Gould Lake has a lovely beach area and clean water perfect for swimming and picnicking. Sydenham Lake's Sydenham Point Beach offers a shallow area for children, a play area, and a floating dock.

The lakes around Kingston offer diverse natural beauty. Lake Ontario features varied shorelines, from sandy to rocky, and is at the mouth of the Cataraqui River. Loughborough Lake is known for its scenic rocky shoreline, clear waters, and numerous small islands. Gould Lake provides a wilderness experience with rolling hills and rugged terrain, while Sydenham Lake includes a Provincially Significant Wetland.

The warmer months, from late spring to early fall, are ideal for swimming, boating, and hiking. Loughborough Lake offers year-round fishing opportunities, including a fall Lake Trout season. Winter also provides opportunities for ice fishing on lakes like Collins Lake.

Loughborough Lake is considered one of the best fishing spots, known for trophy bass, pike, and stocked Lake Trout. Other excellent options include Bobs Lake for Black Crappie and Walleye, Charleston Lake for lake trout and bass, and Buck Lake for bass and pike. Collins Lake is popular for winter ice fishing.

Yes, Gould Lake offers approximately 20 kilometers of hiking trails, including sections of the Rideau Trail, winding through scenic terrain. While the specific highlights mentioned in the guide are not in Ontario, you can find various cycling routes around Kingston, such as the Princeton to Millstone loop, which often pass by lake areas.

Lake Ontario is suitable for various boating activities, including pleasure boating, and connects to the St. Lawrence River and the Rideau Canal. Loughborough Lake is a popular recreational boating lake. Plainsboro Pond (though not in Ontario) allows non-motorized boating. Many smaller lakes are also great for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding.

Yes, Lake Ontario features several beaches, including an upland sand beach at Breakwater Park and Gord Edgar Downie Pier, and a scenic sand and rock beach at Crerar Park & Reddendale Beach. Charleston Lake also offers sandy beaches. Sydenham Point Beach on Sydenham Lake provides a great shallow sandy area.

Lake Ontario offers several swimming spots like Lake Ontario Park, Breakwater Park (with the Gord Edgar Downie Pier), and Richardson Beach. Gould Lake is known for its clean, deep water and a lovely beach. Sydenham Lake's Sydenham Point Beach is also a popular swimming destination. Other lakes suggested for good swimming north of Kingston include Desert Lake, Sharbot Lake, and Silver Lake.

While not exactly 'hidden,' lakes like Buck Lake, with its clear waters, many islands, and rocky shores, offer a more secluded experience than the larger, more frequented bodies of water. Dog Lake and Cranberry Lake, part of the Rideau Canal system, also provide excellent opportunities for cottage living and water activities away from the main city bustle.

Yes, there are several cycling routes available. For example, you can explore various options in the Cycling around Kingston guide, including routes like the 'Princeton to Millstone loop' or the 'Lake Carnegie (New Jersey) – Riverside trail loop,' which offer scenic views of lake areas. There are also gravel biking and road cycling routes that traverse the region.

While specific dog-friendly designations for all lakes are not universally listed, many natural areas around lakes welcome dogs on leash. For instance, the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve (though not in Ontario) is explicitly noted as a good place to bring your dog for a walk.