Beautiful Balsam Lake is the head lake of the Kawartha Lakes region of south central Ontario, Canada. which is made up with over 250 scenic lakes, rivers and waterways, many linked to The Trent-Severn Waterway. Balsam Lake is often referred to as the Jewel of the Kawarthas having over 50 miles of shoreline. It is 16 km long and averages 3 km wide, though its actual width varies due to the many large bays that carve its shoreline. The Gull River empties into the lake. The Trent Severn Canal System extends from the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay on Lake Huron, a distance of 386 kms (as the fish swims). 

Balsam Lake is the highest point of the Trent Severn Waterway with an elevation on the upstream side of the Rosedale Lock, 598 ft above Lake Ontario. There are two channels through Balsam Lake to either side of Grand Island. The lake has 4 major arms with Grand Island close to its center. Balsam Lake can be traversed any of three channels.

The main Trent Severn channel runs to the south of Grand Island, directly to the canal, then to Mitchell Lake en route to Kirkfield Locks. Another channel leads north of Grand Island to the village of Coboconk.

Balsam Lake is the first place to stop for a swim and lunch for down bound boats since Lake Simcoe and is surrounded by cottages. The bottom of the lake is varied and provide a good home for fish which guarantees there are always a large number of boats on it. With the exception of the islands which provide some cover it is mostly open water making it a poor choice for overnight anchorage.

The lake is the highest point of the Trent-Severn Waterway, from here, the waterway descends to Georgian Bay in the northwest, and to Lake Ontario in the southeast. Balsam Lake, at 256.3 m (841 ft) above sea level is the highest point on Earth to which a boat can be navigated from sea level.

Balsam Lake Provincial Park is located on the north west shoreline of Balsam Lake. This is an all season recreational park. There is a clean safe sandy beach, hiking trails to a lookout tower, great fishing, sailing, canoing, windsurfing and snowmobiling on 448 hecters. 

Balsam Lake Provincial Park is pretty, with good ground for anchoring and the swimming is great. The Park has no transient facilities for boaters even though it has 24 slips and over 500 campsites. The facilities here are wonderful with a long sand beach and 2 nature trails. There is everything you would expect from a provincial park with outhouses, playground, picnic facilities, a snack bar and gift shop. As there are no transient spaces you may anchor off and use park facilities paying standard camping rates. 

Coboconk is as far north as you can go on the Gull River as there is a highway bridge with very limited vertical clearance. Not many transient boats make it up this far, but if you are not in a hurry the village of 800 has that out of the way charm.

Explore Coboconk and utilize the village dock which is 250' long with an elevation of 3'. The wooden structure is well maintained and there is a map of all the village facilities mid way along the dock.

There are a number of small shops close by but the IGA is 15 minutes away on the west side of the bridge with the beer store beside it. There is a home hardware on hwy 35 closer to the dock a drug store, and laundromat.   

Canal Entrance is located at Laidlaw Point. There is a long concrete wall on both sides of the canal where self supported vessels can usually find a mooring. This is a SPEED CONTROLED ZONE. The canal has restricted width until it begins to open into the marshlands before Mitchell Lake at the county road 505 bridge which has a 25' vertical clearance. The walls of the canal are lined with rock making an error in judgment unforgiving and caution must be used when meeting approaching vessels.

Fishing Facts for Balsam Lake.......... offers excellent fishing for bass, walleye, muskie and panfish
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