Kennisis Lake
Kennisis Lake
Kennisis Lake is a large lake in Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada, near Algonquin Provincial Park. It covers about 14 square kilometres and is roughly 11.5 kilometres long when you include Little Kennisis Lake. It’s the second-largest lake in the Haliburton Highlands and is very deep—average depth is around 23 metres, with a maximum close to 95 metres. The water is usually clear, but can seem a bit cloudy after heavy rainfall because the lake gathers water from nearby wetlands.
Location and access
The lake lies next to Haliburton Forest to the north and east, is near Algonquin Park to the north, and borders a large Crown land area called the Frost Center Area to the west. You can reach Kennisis Lake from the town of West Guilford via Kennisis Lake Road (County Road 7).
Who uses the shore
Most of the lake’s shoreline is privately owned, with many new homes along the western shore. The area around the lake is close to Haliburton Forest and Algonquin Park, making it a popular place for cottages and outdoor recreation.
History in a nutshell
- The lake got its name from Joe Kennisis, a First Nations man who lived and fished in the area.
- It was originally named Lake Alexandra by the Canadian Land and Emigration Company, but the old name didn’t stick.
- In 1859, the Crown Land Department began selling the area to encourage settlement. Roads were poor in early days, but improvements in the mid-20th century helped turn the lake into a vacation spot. By the 1960s, new roads and cottages attracted many people, and by the 2000s there were many year-round homes.
Kennisis Lake Cottage Owner’s Association (KLCOA)
KLCOA is a nonprofit group that represents cottagers and visitors. It runs summer activities for members and does so without taking on debt. Membership costs around $50 per year.
Norah’s Island
Norah’s Island is Kennisis Lake’s largest island (about 22 acres). It was named after Norah Carruthers and was donated to the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust in 2007 to protect its natural habitat, which includes native trees and rare orchids. The island is safeguarded from development, and a committee helps fund its ongoing protection.
Norah’s Island Land Transfer
The transfer was part of Canada’s Ecological Gifts program, recognizing Norah’s Island as an ecologically sensitive area. A celebration marked the joining of the Land Trust and KLCOA on the island.
Activities around the lake
- Snowmobiling: Volunteers track ice thickness in winter and help connect Kennisis Lake to Haliburton Forest’s 400 km of groomed winter trails.
- Skiing: About 10 kilometres of Kennisis ski trails run along the western shore in the Clear Lake Conservation Area.
- Fishing: There are three public access points to the lake. Since 1925 the lake has been stocked with lake trout. The fish community also includes white suckers, yellow perch, bass, rock bass, and many minnows.
- Tree planting: Started in 2009 to rehabilitate shorelines and reduce erosion. Trees include white pine, white spruce, balsam fir, red oak, white birch, and sugar maple, plus shoreline dogwoods and upland sumac. The program includes weed control and watering as needed.
- Regatta: An all-day event with many races and games, including a marathon swim, morning swims, boat races, and various family activities with prizes.
Water quality
Kennisis Lake sits in the Canadian Shield, so it has relatively low mineral content. Phosphorus levels are around 7 micrograms per litre. Clarity can vary due to dissolved organic carbon and sediment from rainfall, but the lake generally remains clean and healthy for wildlife and people.
Interesting facts
The lake’s history is tied to logging and road development. A four-foot dam built in the 1800s helped maintain water levels for log transport, and the area gradually developed into the cottage community it is today.
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 21:57 (CET).