Kettle Lakes Provincial Park has been shaped by fire and ice!
Its landscapes were shaped by glacial ice and meltwaters thousands of years ago, and its forests have been influenced by hot summers, occasional forest fires, and cold winters ever since.
For locals, the park is an easy drive. But for many Ontario residents, Kettle Lakes is far away.
Still, more than a quarter of the park’s visitors come from more than 500 km away. What is it that brings them all that way?
Check out just five of the many reasons to visit Kettle Lakes:
1. Experience evidence of the past!
Of these 22 spring-fed lakes, 20 are what is considered true “kettle lakes,” which are small depressions in the land formed by glaciers thousands of years ago.
Glaciers that were 3-4 km thick (that’s about 7 CN Towers tall!) once covered all of eastern Canada. When they melted and receded, big pieces broke off and became buried in sand and sediment. These buried ice chunks melted much more slowly than ice exposed to the sun. This slow melt created the depressions that we call kettles. Find out more about this process here.
Evidence of the landscape’s chilly past is found in all corners of the park, from sand left behind by huge glacial meltwater rivers and lakes, and the kettle lakes themselves, as well as “glacial erratics,” huge boulders that were picked up and carried in glacial ice, then left behind by the receding glaciers.
These giant rocks are now scattered amongst the trees throughout the park.
On a hot summer’s day, it’s hard to imagine the landscape looking any different, but these reminders of the icy forces of the past shaped Kettle Lakes’ landscapes, giving park visitors much to explore!
2. Bountiful boreal forest
A real tree-t
This park’s northern location means that visitors may find themselves immersed in a forest type very different from home.
Kettle Lakes is located in Ontario’s boreal forest, which stretches across the top of North America, from Alaska to Newfoundland. Its spiky evergreens and tall cotton swab-like leafy trees give the boreal forest a distinctive look.
Winters can be very cold in the boreal, but many hardy plants and animals make their homes here, some of whom you cannot find as easily in southern Ontario.
You’ll find yourself surrounded by hardy Jack Pines and Trembling Aspens, both trees with fascinating adaptations that help them survive in the boreal.
Wonderful wildlife
The animals here, too, have unique ways of not only surviving, but also thriving in this climate.
Take the Wood Frog, for example, whose laughter-like croak serves as a springtime reminder that the forest is waking up again after several frozen months. These frogs manage to survive the winter by having very high levels of glucose (sugar) in their cells, which stops the cells from freezing.
You have probably heard that Northern Ontario is buggy… and while this doesn’t sound that especially appealing to you, it is very appealing to many songbirds who come to the boreal for breeding season.
Many of these birds only pass briefly through southern Ontario during their migration, but spend their whole summers up here at Kettle Lakes!
This makes the park a great place for birders to spot warblers and other migratory species. The boreal forest is often called Ontario’s “songbird nursery” for that reason. Bring your binoculars, field guides, and birding apps!
3. Twenty-two spring-fed lakes to explore
The park’s water is your playground.
These lakes are all relatively small, making them a perfect size for swimming, paddling, or fishing.
Island Lake, Green Lake, Slab Lake, Point Lake, Hughes Lake and Pexton Lake all have boat rentals available.
Canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards and peddle boats are available to rent, and are located at lakes around the park (availability varies by lake; check with the Park Office for more info).
Fishing is excellent within the park, whether you are looking for Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Yellow Perch, or Small-mouth Bass! Fish from shore or from a canoe – and always wear your PFD when in a watercraft!
Three sandy beaches offer great opportunities for kids and the young at heart to play in the sand and splash in the water. These beaches are located at the Slab Lake day use area, at the Island Lake beach, and at the Green Lake day use area.
4. Trails to hike and bike
Explore the park’s landscapes on four hiking trails.
Many of the park’s kettle lakes and wetlands can only be seen from these trails, so it’s a great way to see more of the park.
You’ll also be rewarded with opportunities to see cool glacial features, including a hike along a sandy ridge called an esker on the Oh-Say-Yah-Wah-Kaw Trail, whose name means “sandy ridge” in the Cree language.
These quiet trails also offer chances to view and hear wildlife, ranging from ducks and other waterfowl, forest songbirds like warblers and woodpeckers, and Wood Frogs making their laughing croak.
Not only does the park have lots of hiking trails, but there are also many kilometres of biking opportunities.
Fourteen kilometres of biking trails range from easy to moderate difficulty. The trails wind through the forest and lead you to Slab Lake, where you can have a swim before continuing your journey.
Bicycles are available for rent at the park office.
4. Awe-inspiring dark skies
Kettle Lakes isn’t close to any towns or city lights, so it doesn’t suffer from light pollution, and has very dark skies.
That makes for perfect conditions on clear nights for star watching — sometimes you might even see Northern Lights! We can talk all about the beautiful skies… but why don’t we show you instead?
5. Fun for the whole family (including the furry members!)
Regular weekly programs are held by the park’s Discovery staff, so check park notice boards for scheduled programs.
Prefer to learn yourself? The park’s Discovery staff make their home base at The Post, a nature centre with interactive displays and exhibits that highlight Kettle Lakes many stories!
The Post is open daily through July and August.
Brought along your pooch? A pet exercise area is located at Green Lake where they can enjoy a swim in the lake.
Planning a visit?
Kettle Lakes’ campgrounds are full service and offer 93 electrical and 44 non-electrical campsites.
A comfort station with flush toilets, hot showers and laundry facilities, is located centrally in the park.
The park is open from May 15, 2026 to October 13, 2026.
Book your trip today!
