A popular canoe route, the Burnt River offers scenic views through the southern region of Ontario known as Haliburton and the north-western edge of the Kawartha Lakes. Although only located about 2 hours from the mega city of Toronto, this area offers small town charm and a seemingly remote wilderness experience.

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The Burnt flows from Canning Lake, north of the town of Gelert, through Kinmount down towards Cameron Lake in the Kawarthas. There are a number of camping opportunities, cottage rentals, and other accomodations such as bed and breakfasts in the area. For canoers, the river is well known for both one day and longer trips with fairly easy portages, the maximum being about 450 metres.

There is a trail for hikers, bicyclists, and in the winter, snowmobilers along the old railway line that runs between Kinmount and Lindsay. The trail covers about 36 km and in some areas, it runs right along the river.

Although some of the locals claim that the river holds musky and pike, I didn't see any evidence of these fish in the section we were fishing. Rather, just an abundance of fiesty smallmouth and rock bass that are found in the swift moving currents and rapids as well as the calm holes.

Typical of the area's lakes and rivers, the water is also clean and swimmers can find lots of places to jump in and enjoy a refreshing dip. Beware that even though there is a feeling of remoteness about the place, and there is that temptation to skinny dip, there could be others around!

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Be sure to visit the Icelandic Disaster Memorial in Kinmount, which was officially dedicated on July 31, 2000, to the memory of a group of Icelanders that immigrated to Canada and settled in the Kinmount area after the promise of work on the railway lines. The promise of work ended up a broken dream and the settlers suffered hardship.

For those planning a visit to Southern Ontario, Canada, a trip to the Burnt River should definitely be considered! Be sure to take a look at About Camping for tips, information and resources on ensuring a great camping trip, and About Backpacking to make the wilderness experience more enjoyable.

Getting There: From Toronto, take Hwy. 401 East to Hwy. 115/35. Go north, staying on Hwy. 35 after Hwy. 115 splits to the east. Remain on Hwy. 35 and go north of the town of Lindsay. Take Hwy 121 into Fenelon Falls and drive on about half an hour to Kinmount. Fenelon Falls is also a great place to visit, and is on the Trent Severn Waterway. Visit the Locks or fish the river. There are also a number of special events, festivals, and other activities to watch, see and participate in. For more information, visit the Tourist Information centers which are very accessible and helpful.

Return To:

Cat's Whiskers & Skinny Dippers
The Fish Of Burnt River
The Flies That Worked!

RELATED LINKS

County Of Victoria
The official website for the County of Victoria, Ontario, where a large part of the Burnt River flows.

Drag River-Burnt River Canoe Route
From Canadian Canoe Routes, a description including information on portages and distances.

New Magazine Hits The 'Net
My review of the Western Flyfisher.

Second Fly Swap
Looking for some new fly patterns? Take a look at the latest swap's flies! Some nice nymphs, streamers, and more.

Custom Rod Component Selection (Part II)
Snakes VS. SiC guides. Which ones are for you?

Custom Rod Component Selection (Part 1)
Some things you should think about before choosing the grip and reel seat for your custom rod.

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