There’s nothing better than the scenic route. Picture this: it’s a crisp autumn day, the skies are clear and the foliage is changing colours. It’s the perfect time to take a trip to Kawartha Lakes. There are a handful of scenic driving routes in the Ontario region that wind through little lake towns, rolling hills and of course, autumn colours as far as the eye can see.

South route

The South route, according to the City of Kawartha Lakes Tourism, passes through “rolling hills and the abundant farm fields of Kawartha Lakes.”

The route is 52km in total, beginning in the small town of Omemee and then towards Bethany, before looping back up and ending just outside of Lindsay.

Stop at the end of Pigeon Creek Road just before Lindsay for a beautiful lookout experience.

South East route

This route goes through the heart of Kawartha Lake as you drive along the lakesides of Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes, stopping in the beloved Bobcaygeon.

The entire loop stretches 64 km.

After Bobcaygeon the route loops back down to Lindsay, where you’ll find Verulam Park and beach.

The area is right on the edge of Sturgeon Lake – perfect for taking photos and enjoying an autumn lakeside picnic.

North West route

Time for some off-highway driving!

The scenic route loops around Balsam Lake from Lindsay to Fenelon Falls and has gorgeous views of the waterways and lakes of the region. “This route is one you don’t want to miss,” says Kawartha Lakes Tourism. 

You’ll pass by the Balsam Lake Dry Stone Wall as you make your way around Balsam Lake. Be sure to get out of the car and walk around downtown Fenelon Falls or along Garnet Graham Beach Park to take in the colours of the forests that surround Cameron Lake.

This is the second longest of the four routes at 69 km.

North East route

The longest route is the North East route – 77 km past Fenelon Falls, through Coboconk, around Shadow Lake to Kinmount, and back down to Bobcaygeon.

The drive will take you past multiple lakes, waterways, trails, forests, and nature reserves.

You can go off the path a little for more views, from Kinmount to Furnace Falls. The scenic stop has spots to sit to view the falls.

There’s also the option to follow the Burnt River along the forests and farmlands.

Finish the drive by heading into Bobcaygeon.

Whew! That’s a lot of driving but worth every second. Fall is almost here, are you taking any of these scenic routes, Ontario?

Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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