Crown Land Near Peterborough

12 crown land sites 8 fishing spots 8 campgrounds

Peterborough is the gateway to the Kawarthas, with the Otonabee River and Little Lake right downtown and famous walleye water at Rice Lake about 25 km south. The real backcountry begins north of Stony Lake: Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park — the largest park in southern Ontario after Algonquin — offers canoe-in campsites about 45 km from the city, and genuine crown land starts around Apsley and the North Kawartha lakes. Petroglyphs Provincial Park, home to Canada's largest concentration of Indigenous rock carvings, is 40 minutes northeast. This page rounds up the closest public land, fishing spots, campgrounds and road trips around Peterborough.

Map

Crown Land Nearby

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MARK S. BURNHAM PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
4 km
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SERPENT MOUNDS PROVINCIAL PARK (CULTURAL HERITAGE CLASS)
Provincial Park
18 km
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EMILY PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
18 km
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WOLF ISLAND PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CLASS)
Provincial Park
28 km
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PETER'S WOODS PROVINCIAL PARK (NATURE RESERVE CLASS)
Provincial Park
30 km
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Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Forest Reserve
Forest Reserve
35 km
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Kendal Crown Land Area
General Use Area
37 km
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QUACKENBUSH PROVINCIAL PARK (CULTURAL HERITAGE CLASS)
Provincial Park
38 km
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PETROGLYPHS PROVINCIAL PARK (CULTURAL HERITAGE CLASS)
Provincial Park
41 km
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FERRIS PROVINCIAL PARK (RECREATIONAL CLASS)
Provincial Park
42 km
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Ferris Provincial Park Addition
Recommended Provincial Park
42 km
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SHARPE BAY FEN CONSERVATION RESERVE
Conservation Reserve
44 km

Nearest Fishing Spots

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Little Lake
2 km
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Lily Lake
4 km
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Tindle Bay
9 km
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Fife's Bay
9 km
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Gifford Bay
10 km
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Telford Bay
11 km
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Lancaster Bay
11 km
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Donaghue Bay
12 km

Nearest Campgrounds

🏕️
Lancaster Cottage & Trailer Resort
Peterborough
11 km
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Kawartha Trails Resort
Peterborough
13 km
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Highland View Resort
Keene
16 km
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Pinewood Cottages and Trailer Park Ltd.
Omemee
16 km
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Pigeon Lake Park
Lindsay
18 km
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Birdsall Beach Resort
Hastings
21 km
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Arrowhead Camp & Resort
Bailieboro
21 km
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Islandview Resort
Youngs Point
21 km

Road Trips Nearby

🚗
Road Trip Kawartha Lakes – Peterborough, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon
Fenelon Falls
80 km

Explore the region

Prince Edward County Land O' Lakes Algonquin Madawaska Valley

Frequently Asked Questions

Not close to the city itself — the nearest blocks start around Apsley and the North Kawartha lakes, roughly 50 km north, where the Canadian Shield begins. Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (about 45 km) is the biggest public-land destination in the area.

Yes — the Otonabee River and Little Lake are fishable right in town with a valid Ontario fishing licence, and Rice Lake, about 25 km south, is one of southern Ontario's best-known walleye and panfish lakes.

Kawartha Highlands is an operating park with reserved, paid canoe-in sites; free crown-land camping starts further north around Apsley, where Canadian residents can camp up to 21 days at any one site.

The loop through Burleigh Falls, Stony Lake and Petroglyphs Provincial Park makes a classic half-day; continuing north on Highway 28 leads into crown-land country toward Bancroft.

Offline maps around Peterborough

Public land near Peterborough runs well past the last cell tower. Export the area as a geo-referenced PDF and read it in BorealMaps to keep your GPS position on the map when the signal drops.

Try PDF Export How geo-referenced PDF maps work

Regulations

A valid Ontario fishing licence (with an Outdoors Card) is required on all Kawartha waters, and the Trent-Severn locks have their own posted no-fishing zones. Kawartha Highlands and Petroglyphs are operating provincial parks with day-use or camping fees and reservations; on the crown land further north, camping is free for Canadian residents (21-day limit), while non-residents of Canada need a paid permit.

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