Muskoka lake guide
Kawagama Lake
Haliburton's Large, Wild Lake at the Edge of Algonquin
- Nearby
- Dorset (10 min), Huntsville (45 min west), Minden (45 min south), Carnarvon (20 min)
- In a line
- One of the largest and most remote-feeling lakes in the Haliburton Highlands, with 60% of its 109 km shoreline still Crown land. Robinson's General Store in nearby Dorset was voted Canada's Best Country Store.
Overview
Kawagama Lake (also known as Hollow Lake) covers 3,150 hectares with a maximum depth of 73 m and water clarity of 7.9 m Secchi, among the clearest major lakes in the region. It drains via the Hollow River into the broader Muskoka River system, with water levels regulated by an MNR-owned dam at the lake's west end. The lake supports a native, naturally reproducing lake trout population, and MNR halted stocking in the 1970s because natural recruitment proved sufficient. A special 40 to 55 cm slot limit protects the population and ice fishing is restricted to one line only. Important: Kawagama lies within the Township of Algonquin Highlands in Haliburton County, not the District of Muskoka.
Good to know
- Administratively in Haliburton County, where land transfer tax rebate programs and cottage tax assessment structures differ from Muskoka municipalities
- 3,150 ha with 109 km of perimeter, similar in scale to Lake of Bays
- Two marinas on the west side provide boat storage and repair, which matters because the nearest major marine service outside the lake is 45 minutes away
- 383 m elevation, the highest of any lake in this guide; ice-in arrives 1 to 2 weeks earlier than on lower-elevation Muskoka lakes
Worth checking
Before you buy on Kawagama Lake.
- 01
Kawagama Lake lies within the Township of Algonquin Highlands in Haliburton County, not the District of Muskoka. Planning approvals, official plan designations, and building permits go through Haliburton County, not the Muskoka District office.
- 02
The MNR's 40 to 55 cm lake trout slot limit and one-line ice fishing restriction apply here. If you plan to rent the property short-term, make sure guests know the rules.
- 03
Past winter drawdown under the old water management plan exceeded 2 m, which left dock cribs deep-set on some older properties. Have them inspected.
- 04
With 60% Crown shoreline, MNR-licensed water access points exist at Kawagama Lake Road, Bear Lake Road, and McClintock Road. Boat launch traffic peaks near these on summer weekends.
General information. Your home inspector, your lawyer and the township confirm the details on any specific property.
Talk to Seth
Thinking about Kawagama Lake? Call Seth.
He'll tell you the long version: the bays, the roads, and what to look at on any cottage you're considering.