Welcome to Lake and Loon Cottage, a peaceful, family-friendly retreat nestled on a quiet point of Buckhorn Lake in scenic Kawartha Lakes. This cozy three-bedroom waterfront getaway is the perfect place to relax, reconnect, and create lasting memories with family and friends. Thoughtfully designed with accessibility in mind, the cottage features a ramp to the front entrance, an open-concept interior, and flat, easy-to-navigate land and shoreline, making it manageable for guests using a wheelchair or walker.
The gentle, shallow entry into the lake has a sandy bottom that is ideal for safe swimming, wading, and water play for children. The calm waterfront makes it easy to supervise little ones while enjoying the peaceful views. Buckhorn Lake is naturally weedy, which supports the abundant wildlife that makes this area so special. We are fortunate to have a sandy, weed-free shoreline in the shallow beach area (approximately two feet deep), with weeds beginning about 20 feet from shore. If you prefer weed-free swimming, simply take a paddleboard out to deeper water and jump in. For safety, life jackets must be worn or attached to all watercraft in accordance with water safety guidelines. The dock is a wonderful place for fishing, dipping your toes in the water, relaxing in the sun, or watching loons and geese drift by, though it is not deep enough for diving or docking boats.
Inside, the cottage is bright and welcoming, with large windows that frame beautiful lake views and fill the space with natural light. The open-concept layout includes a fully equipped kitchen, a family-sized dining area, and a comfortable living room designed for gathering after a day on the water. An adjoining den is perfect for board games or cozy movie nights, and Smart TVs are available in two of the bedrooms as well as in the den. The cottage comfortably sleeps up to six guests and includes Wi-Fi, board games, and a small library for relaxed indoor enjoyment.
Outdoor living is just as inviting. A spacious lakeside deck offers outdoor dining, and the BBQ is conveniently located off the dining room for easy meal preparation. The large, flat yard provides plenty of room for children to run and play, and the fire pit is perfect for roasting marshmallows, stargazing, and unwinding in the evening with a cold beer or a glass of wine. For guest use, we provide two stand-up paddleboards, a pedal boat, a kayak, and a canoe with paddles, along with adult life jackets (children’s life jackets are not provided), badminton racquets, and basic beach toys and balls.
The charming town of Buckhorn is just a short 10-minute drive away and offers quaint shops, Kawartha Dairy ice cream, Foodland grocery store, LCBO, a bakery, bait shop, and several restaurants if you prefer dining out. While there, you can visit Lock 31 on the Trent-Severn Waterway to watch boats pass through the lock system, an experience that fascinates both children and adults. For hiking and exploring nature, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is just a 30-minute drive away.
In the spirit of full transparency, Buckhorn Lake is a haven for wildlife, including frequent visits from Canadian geese. While lovely to see with their goslings, they can sometimes wander onto shore. A removable shoreline flag barrier system is in place to help deter geese from resting on the property and can be adjusted when accessing the sandy beach. The lake’s natural weedy conditions beyond the shallow sandy area are part of its ecosystem; if you are uncomfortable swimming in natural lake conditions, this may not be the right fit. The cottage water supply comes from a tested, potable well and has a natural taste that differs from city water. We use it for cooking and bathing, though some guests prefer to bring bottled drinking water. Please also note there is no central air conditioning; however, ceiling fans are installed in all bedrooms and common areas to keep the cottage comfortable.
Whether you are catching minnows at the shoreline, fishing off the dock, enjoying a sunset paddle, or sipping coffee as the sun rises over the water, Lake and Loon Cottage is a place to slow down, breathe deeply, and enjoy the simple pleasures of lake life.
