A Burleigh Falls Inn and kayak tour combo in the Kawarthas

We’re about to let you in on one of central Ontario’s true hidden gems. Did you know you can kayak on the historic Trent-Severn Waterway to see waterfalls and wildlife, then enjoy a three-course dinner and overnight stay at a historic hotel? It’s all available in one easy to book package through the Burleigh Falls Inn, located less than two hours from Toronto.

Through the Burleigh Falls Inn and its partnership with Lovesick Kayaking, this package comes together so easily. All you need to do is book it, show up, and enjoy a fabulous outdoor experience in the Kawarthas!

Here’s a look at how our weekend getaway in the Kawarthas went and how to plan this same experience for yourself. Have questions about planning your visit? Join our Facebook community!

Presented in partnership with The Kawarthas Tourism

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on these and make a booking or purchase, we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check our Disclaimer for more information. Thanks for your support!

Lovesick Kayaking offers kayaking tours in the Kawarthas

With its extensive network of waterways, some of Ontario’s best canoeing and kayaking can be found in the Kawarthas. But where do you start when planning your own Kawarthas kayaking excursion, especially if you don’t have your own equipment?

This is where Lovesick Kayaking comes in. It’s operated by Alex Grant, an experienced guide and Paddle Canada certified kayaking instructor. Alex has a variety of pre-planned tours and classes to choose from on his website. If you’d prefer something a little different, give him a call and he’ll help you tailor a half- or full-day kayaking excursion to meet your interests and kayaking abilities.

Our tour with Alex began at the Trent-Severn Waterway’s Lock 28 at Burleigh Falls. Conveniently, this lock is just across the highway from the Burleigh Falls Inn. Alex set us up with all the equipment we needed, including a loaner kayak and some PFDs. (I brought my own life jacket, but I wish I’d taken his as Alex’s equipment is better suited for kayaking.)

We brought our own hats, sunscreen, water bottles, and clothing (in layers for comfort). Our boxed lunch was provided by the kitchen at the Burleigh Falls Inn as part of the kayaking package. Our tour started with a safety briefing and an overview of basic paddling techniques — much appreciated for clearing out the winter cobwebs — and then we set out to paddle across Lovesick Lake.

Lovesick Kayaking can take you to some Kawarthas hidden gems

I had one request from Alex when designing our day on the water: I wanted to paddle out to see Trent-Severn Waterway Lock 30 at Lovesick. I’ve seen nearly all the waterway’s locks thanks to an epic road trip a few years ago. But since Lock 30 is one of just two locks in the entire system reachable only by boat, I jumped at the chance to check this unusual location off my bucket list!

Here’s how to explore the Trent-Severn Waterway on a road trip >

The Lovesick lock turned out to be even cooler than I’d expected. The lock isn’t unique in itself: apart from being surrounded by islands, it’s a standard single lock much like others in the Trent-Severn Waterway. But it has some unique features: a canoe ladder for easy portaging, a little free library (such a fun find in the middle of a lake!), and some picnic tables with scenic views.

On the way up, we paddled into and passed through the lock. This was my first time experiencing this in a kayak, an exciting moment for this waterway nerd! We then paused to enjoy our packed lunches at the lock’s picnic tables. On the way back, we paddled around the lock and used the nearby canoe ladder to pull the boats from Lower Buckhorn Lake back into Lovesick Lake. The rungs in the ladder roll, so all you need to do is lift your boat onto it and pull it along to the other side. It makes for the easiest portage ever!

As we paddled back toward Burleigh Falls, we took a peek at Wolf Island Provincial Park, another hard-to-reach landmark with no road access. We watched the shorelines for for wildlife like ospreys and turtles, and admired the lake’s rocky islands and outcroppings.

A surprise side trip to view Burleigh Falls

On returning to Burleigh Falls, we learned we’d been strong enough paddlers that we had some extra time. Alex surprised us with a side trip: we continued on and passed through Lock 28 at Burleigh Falls.

This used to be a flight lock, a series of locks boaters would pass through in succession. The second lock was removed in 1967. (This is why there’s no Lock 29 on the Trent-Severn Waterway today. That’s a fun bit of trivia!) As a result, this single lock is very deep. The gates are imposing and impressive when you’re looking up at them from the bottom!

Once through the lock, we paddled for just a few minutes to reach Burleigh Falls, the waterfall that gives the surrounding community its name. This powerful waterfall is not at all visible from the highway, making it another local feature that can only be reached by boat. We got out of the kayaks to get a closer look at the flows from the islands in between. It was such a thrilling experience.

Depending on your skill and comfort level, Alex can guide you on a kayaking trip very similar to ours, stick to one lake or the other, or curate something entirely different. Alex also leads kayaking tours up Eels Creek to High Falls north of Stony Lake, and he runs kayaking instruction and safety sessions in the Kawarthas and in downtown Toronto.

Enjoy a historic stay at the Burleigh Falls Inn

If you’re looking for a signature stay in the Kawarthas, look no further than the Burleigh Falls Inn. This historic location, based on an island between Stony Lake and Lovesick Lake, has been providing refuge for travellers for 165 years.

Today, the Burleigh Falls Inn offers eight rooms on the second floor and three third-floor one-bedroom suites. Nine motel rooms in a separate outbuilding offer a stair-free alternative, and three of these are pet-friendly.

The Burleigh Falls Inn has an on-site restaurant, a private swimming pool, shared fire pits, and docks on Stony Lake exclusive for guest use. Many rooms have added amenities such as whirlpool baths and balconies with spectacular views of the Lovesick Lake dam. This makes the Burleigh Falls Inn a popular spot for weddings and other memorable celebrations in the Kawarthas.

While there has been a hotel on this property since 1859, the original building was destroyed in a fire in 1901. This means the current version of the Burleigh Falls Inn is more than 100 years old! Though much of it has been rebuilt over the years, some original details remain such as the main staircase, wood floors, and pressed tin ceilings in the main lobby.

Book the Burleigh Bundle with Lovesick Kayaking and the Burleigh Falls Inn

The Burleigh Falls Inn offers a series of seasonal activity and stay combos known as the Burleigh Bundle. The kayaking bundle includes a two-night stay at the inn, the kayaking tour with Lovesick Kayaking, plus four meals. You’ll enjoy a full country-style breakfast on the morning of your kayaking excursion, a boxed lunch to take with you, and a three-course dinner in the historic dining room. After another night of rest at the inn and breakfast the next morning, you’ll be back on the road with some wonderful memories.

In season, you’ll find specific dates when this package is available on the Burleigh Falls Inn website. But if dates aren’t posted yet or the ones online don’t work for you, give the Burleigh Falls Inn a call. The package is available whenever both Lovesick Kayaking and the Burleigh Falls Inn have availability. Once it’s booked, all you need to do is show up and have a fantastic time.

Head to Peterborough for a paddling-themed weekend

If you love paddling and want to explore it even more, consider turning your outing into a paddling-themed road trip in Peterborough and The Kawarthas!

Explore these things to do in Peterborough, Ontario’s Lift Lock city >

On your way to Burleigh Falls, stop for dinner at the Canoe and Paddle in Lakefield. This pub has been slinging great food and a long list of draft beers for more than a decade. With a name like Canoe and Paddle, it’s a natural addition to a paddling weekend. It’s also an essential summer stop for baseball fans: the Astroturf on the pub’s outdoor patio is the very same turf the Toronto Blue Jays were playing on when they won the World Series!

To learn more about this region’s rich paddling history, check out the recently revitalized Canadian Canoe Museum. Based on the shores of Little Lake in Peterborough, this beautiful new space offers a stunning exhibit hall, an on-site satellite location of Peterborough’s Silver Bean Café, and canoe and kayaking tours and rentals, including a Voyageur canoe experience.

If you time it right, you could even do what we did and combine this experience with Parks Canada’s Lock & Paddle event. Each year, hundreds of canoers and kayakers load into the historic Peterborough Lift Lock and travel up and down it together amid an upbeat party atmosphere. Combined with this Burleigh Falls Inn kayaking package, this makes for one seriously memorable weekend on the water!

Find out more about how to join Peterborough’s Lock & Paddle event >

And if you’ll be in Peterborough on a Wednesday or Saturday in July or August, check out Peterborough Musicfest. This festival is Canada’s longest-running free concert series and hosts fantastic acts all summer long. Peterborough Musicfest has attracted some big Canadian names such as Metric, Big Wreck, Our Lady Peace, Walk Off the Earth, Randy Bachman, Blue Rodeo, and more.

Learn more about Peterborough Musicfest, Canada’s longest-running free concert series >

Discover more Ontario road trips >