Muskoka lake guide
Gloucester Pool
Gateway to Georgian Bay: Trent-Severn Boating at Muskoka's Southern Door
- Nearby
- Port Severn (5 min), Honey Harbour (15 min), Coldwater (15 min), Midland (30 min), Barrie (45 min)
- In a line
- The last major lake on the Trent-Severn Waterway before it empties into Georgian Bay. Over 20 islands and a 400-family community organized around Canada Day boat parades.
Overview
Gloucester Pool spans approximately 1,377 hectares with a maximum depth of 32.6 m and is fed by the Severn River from Big Chute to the north and Six Mile Lake via Whites Falls. The lake straddles the boundary between Severn Township (Simcoe County) and Georgian Bay Township (District of Muskoka), so properties on different shores fall under different planning jurisdictions. Its warm, sheltered waters hold largemouth bass, northern pike, and other warm-water species with no lake trout designation. From here you can boat the full 386 km, 45-lock waterway to Lake Ontario, or head west through Port Severn into the 30,000-island Georgian Bay. Highway 400 is 10 minutes away, the shortest GTA drive of any lake in this guide.
Good to know
- Boat from your dock to Georgian Bay in under 30 minutes
- 90 minutes north of Toronto via Highway 400, the shortest drive time of any lake in this guide
- 20+ islands create sheltered anchorage pockets
Worth checking
Before you buy on Gloucester Pool.
- 01
Gloucester Pool straddles Muskoka District and Simcoe County. A property on the Simcoe County (Severn Township) side has different Official Plan policies, shoreline setback rules, and building permit processes than one on the Muskoka (Georgian Bay Township) side of the same lake.
- 02
The Trent-Severn Waterway is federally administered by Parks Canada. Any dock, breakwater, or boathouse projecting into the navigable channel requires Parks Canada approval under the Navigable Waters Protection Act in addition to municipal permits.
- 03
Lock 45 (Port Severn) and Big Chute Marine Railway (Lock 44) bring transient boater traffic through the pool from May to October. Properties nearest the channel route see more motorized traffic.
- 04
Southern exposure and Georgian Bay proximity create variable weather. Freeze-up is less predictable than on inland Muskoka lakes, and spring breakup brings Severn River debris that can damage stationary docks.
General information. Your home inspector, your lawyer and the township confirm the details on any specific property.
Talk to Seth
Thinking about Gloucester Pool? Call Seth.
He'll tell you the long version: the bays, the roads, and what to look at on any cottage you're considering.