10 of the Best Hikes Near Peterborough, Ontario

Peterborough is an outdoors-person’s paradise. Set within the Kawarthas tourism region, alongside the Otonabee River, in central Ontario, Peterborough is known for easy access to lakes, cottage country and, of course, great hiking trails—many near the downtown core and even more in the expansive wilderness surrounding.
In fact, narrowing down an area to explore may be the toughest part of a Peterborough adventure. So we’ve done that for you with our list of 10 of the best hiking trails in and near Peterborough.
Viamede Trail
Length: 4 km
Elevation gain: 88 m
Part of the Stoney Lake Trail Network, Viamede Trail isapproximately four kilometres long, with a shortcut section halfway along. It has moderate elevation and winds its way through mixed forest, including one giant oak that’s a must see. There’s also “The Chute,” a geological masterpiece where an ancient glacial river eroded the limestone to create a long, gully-like cut through the rock. Access is from the parking lot at Viamede Resort or along Reid’s Road on the way to the resort.
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Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve
Length: 2.5 km
Elevation gain: Minimal
This is a loop of 2.5 kilometres with a side trail to a lookout, which offers striking views of Stony Lake at the eastern edge of the Stony Lake Trail Network. It’s a moderate walk on top mounds of granite and through stands of impressive maple and hemlock. There’s a small parking lot along Fire Route 10a (off of Northeys Bay Road).
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Ingleton-Wells Trail
Length: 3.5 km
Elevation gain: Minimal
Across from the parking on Fire Route 10a is the Ingleton-Wells Trail—a 3.5-kilometre loop that takes you through lowland swamp and rolling terrain of mixed forest. It’s alive with bird and mammal life.
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Boyd Island Trail
Length: 1.2 km
Elevation gain: Minimal
This one comes with a twist. It’s on an island on Pigeon Lake, which means you’ll need to paddle to the access. It consists of a 1.2-kilometre loop through an old meadow and an extremely diverse forest. Boyd Island is the largest undeveloped island in the Kawarthas. The trailhead is about halfway down the east side of the island. A boat launch at the end of Bear Creek Road in Trent Lakes Township gives access to the shortest paddling route across.
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Ballyduff Trails
Length: up to 10 km
Elevation gain: Varies
This consists of five interconnecting trails, creating a series of jaunts of up to two kilometres or a combined 10-kilometre loop on moderate terrain. The trail twist across the glacially-formed Oak Ridges Moraine. There’s a mix-match of rolling hills, an elongated rock ridge (esker), diverse wetland and a significantly rare tall-grass prairie habitat. It’s located near the small town of Pontypool, southwest of Peterborough.
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John Earle Chase Memorial Park Trail
Length: up to 7.5 km
Elevation gain: 40 to 60 m
This is a new trial system created by the Kawartha Lands Trust and Parks Canada. It’s located near Gannons Narrows and consists of three, two- to three-kilometre loops, adding up to 7.5 kilometres of hiking. It’s set on an old farm and takes you through a blend of deciduous tree species and up along moderately sloped field that gives you a stunning view of Pigeon Lake.
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Emily Tract Trail
Length: 3 km
Elevation gain: 53 m
There are two loops that run through this mixed forest property, located near Emily Provincial Park, along county road 14. The first is relatively moderate terrain that makes its way through a stand of red pine. A section of it runs along an ancient glacial land feature called an esker. The second loop, linking up by a wooden foot bridge across a coldwater stream, is much steeper in elevation and has a mixed forest habitat of maple, pine, and rare blue beech. The forest floor is blanketed with rare and significant ferns.
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Doube’s Trestle Bridge
Length: 1 km
Elevation gain: Minimal
The historic trestle bridge was once a railway crossing, built in 1883, and is now part of the Kawartha section of The Great Trail, just outside the city of Peterborough. It spans 200 metres and is suspended 29 metres above the twisting and tranquil Buttermilk Creek and Valley. The Kawartha section of The Great Trail spans 54 kilometres—but the bridge can be reached by simply walking a kilometre from Orange Corner’s Road.
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Warsaw Caves Conservation Area
Length: 4 or 7 km
Elevation gain: 127 m
There is a choice of three loops in the park. A four-kilometre Caves and Scenic Lookout trail that includes a high view of the Indian River and cave spelunking. Two loops make up the Limestone Plains Trail. The northeast loop is four-kilometre and is a flat path across slabs of limestone, cedar trees and scenic views of the Indian River. The southwest loop is seven-kilometre and leaves the limestone plains to rolling hills of mixed forest. It’s an enjoyable hike that gets little use.
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Ennismore Heritage Trail
Length: 4 km
Elevation gain: Minimal
There are three moderate loops, totalling four kilometres, that include boardwalks twisting their way through a thick cedar forest, a rolling pathway through a managed pine plantation, and a shoreline section along Chemong Lake which includes an osprey nest viewing platform. Interpretive signage will guide you through a variety of natural settings and regional points of interest. Access is located along Ennis Road, north of the Ennismore causeway.
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