Rice Lake (Ontario)
Lake Shallow kettle lake popular for fishing and boating
West of Peterborough, Rice Lake is a shallow Ontario lake known for walleye and bass fishing, boating routes, cottage rentals and summer islands.
Rice Lake is a shallow lake in south-central Ontario in the Kawartha Lakes region, noted for historical stands of wild rice. It is connected to the Trent-Severn Waterway.
A regional destination for boating and angling, the lake is popular with fishers targeting walleye and smallmouth bass and with recreational boaters exploring its shoal-rimmed bays and islands. Facilities and services are concentrated in small lakeside communities and marinas around the shoreline.
Indigenous peoples harvested wild rice and used the lake’s resources for centuries. European settlement in the 19th century brought increased navigation and shoreline development, and the lake was incorporated into broader regional waterways and transport routes.
The lake sits within the mixed-forest and agricultural landscape of south-central Ontario, within the broader Kawartha Lakes area and the southern margin of the Canadian Shield.
- Navigation: Forms part of the Trent-Severn Waterway and is connected to regional navigation and recreational boating networks.
- Wild rice: Historically named for stands of wild rice that grew in its shallows and were harvested by Indigenous peoples.
How to Get to Rice Lake (Ontario) #
Rice Lake sits between Peterborough and Cobourg in south-central Ontario. From Toronto, take Highway 401 east to Cobourg or exit north toward Peterborough on Highway 115, then follow local County Roads toward the lake (allow about 1.5-2 hours). Smaller communities around the lake (Keene, Bewdley, Hastings) are reached by county roads; the closest VIA Rail stations are in Cobourg and Port Hope with onward car or taxi transfer.
Tips for Visiting Rice Lake (Ontario) #
- Use one of the smaller, lesser-known boat launches (e.g., at Keene or Bewdley) to avoid the weekend crowds at the bigger ramps.
- Spring and autumn are the best times for anglers chasing walleye; the lake is famous for its slab-sided, stump-haunted fishing.
- Drive the Rice Lake Trail - the backroads along the south shore reveal drowned tree stumps that look like a drowned forest at low water; use a local map (county roads change names).
- Avoid the hottest July long weekends if solitude is the goal; early mornings at sunrise are quiet.
Best Time to Visit Rice Lake (Ontario) #
Best visited shoulder seasons for quiet and wildlife; summer brings recreational crowds.
Weather & Climate near Rice Lake (Ontario) #
Rice Lake (Ontario)'s climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -12°C to 26°C. Moderate rainfall (891 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -3°C and lows of -12°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm).
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February
February is freezing with highs of -2°C and lows of -12°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm).
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March
March is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm).
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May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).
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June
June is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -1°C. The wettest month with 92 mm of rain.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm).
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