Great Beaches Near Peterborough
Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 7:26AM 
The view from Jones Beach. Photo: Evan Holt
One of the many sweet benefits of living in the Patch is the proximity to beaches. A hot day—and we've had a lot of those this summer—practically commands a trip to one of the many great swim spots that pepper the area.
While the beaches located within the city limits are nice for evening strolls, I can’t really condone swimming at them. Little Lake is a visual gem, but I wouldn’t dip more than a toe into it. As for the Otonabee River? Pretty much the same rules apply, especially south of Little Lake. Short of those taking part in the annual Peterborough Triathlon, you will not see many folks dipping beyond their waists.
My family talks about installing a pool each and every spring. Yet, we’ve avoided taking the plunge. Why would we go to that cost when we can jump into the car and in under 15 minutes be kicking off our shoes and jumping into Chemong Lake. Frequented by a selection of regular faces, a little known beach called Jones Beach is located at the north end of Bridgenorth (on Jones Beach Road), just as the road turns out of town towards Lakefield. Jones Beach is small, but features a nice sandy area, a gentle slope into the deeper water and a solid platform to swim and jump from. Yeah, people will say that Chemong is full of weeds, making swimming less than delightful. They are wrong. The weeds of Chemong Lake are present, but far enough out that most folks will not likely feel their tickling tentacles.
Another beach, Lakefield Beach, lies on the south-west shore of Katchewanooka Lake, within the town of Lakefield. It’s a larger beach than Jones, and far more populated. The swimming in my opinion isn't as good as Chemong Lake, but for kids and teens, this is a great hangout. A grassy park lies adjacent, giving shade to picnickers and those who prefer to be out of the hot sun.
Stray a little farther from town, and other wet, refreshing locations await. Sandy Beach, west of the town of Buckhorn, is a prized destination both for its Caribbean blue shallow waters and its people watching. Most people make a day of it and bring all the necessary gear to get them through their adventure.
We are all very lucky to have these beaches nearby. Now, get out there and take advantage!
—Jeffrey Macklin, PtboCanada contributor
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Reader Comments (8)
Hey Jeff - How do you get to Sandy Beach? Sounds like a worthwhile trip. Good for toddlers and preschoolers too?
I was wondering the same thing. Always hear people talking about it but have never quite known it's whereabouts!
Hey guys, yeah, well getting to Sandy Beach could not be easier. Head up the 507 to Buckhorn, go over the bridge and take your first left at the "Big Buck". Follow that road as it makes a few curves through the town, and stay on it as it leaves. Stick with that road for approx 5-8k and you will arrive.
It's called the Lakehurst Road...
http://maps.google.ca/?utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-ca-bk-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20maps
let me know your thoughts!
jeff
(2) points about Sandy Beach:
The sand base gets stirred up making it impossible to see young swimmers under water, even one foot away. That can be quit scary when your kid momentarily disappears, this is offset somewhat be the shallowness of the water.
The free parking is first come first serve at the adjacent lot, and fills very quickly. The overflow lot is east of the beach. No sidewalks and the shoulder narrows to 3-4 ft in places. Traffic is very busy along Lakehurst road, and the speed limit of 50 Kph is just a suggestion to many.
Good luck trying to find Buckhorn's Sandy Beach actually pinpointed on an internet map. To clarify a bit, if you're not familiar with the area, it is NOT the Sandy Beach Resort or Trailer Park which is in the town of Fenelon Falls (an hour's drive west of Buckhorn). This Sandy Beach is on Sandy Lake, west-southwest of Buckhorn, and yes it is accessed from Lakehurst Road, also known as County Road 16. And Sandy Lake is landlocked for anyone wondering if this lake leads into any other body of water.
If you don't mind the 40 min drive - Victoria Park in Cobourg is a good spot. Nice sized beach, great for people watching and just getting away from it all. I would take it over a swim at Rogers Cove or Beavermead any day.
I second the beach at Cobourg. It's also got a well stocked cafe, and best of all a huge freshwater splashpad which also serves as a shower when you're covered in sand and want to go home. There's also formal showers in the city run changerooms, but a light kiddie pool dunk is usually enough to get you home.
I would also add a great little public beach in Bobcaygeon on Big Bob Channel. It's just a the top of the lock, in fact boats moor just off the swimming area and there's a great waterfront walkway to get you downtown quickly and safely. Prime boat watching and the chip truck has awesome poutine.
I have grown up going to Sandy Lake (many of us don't call it Sandy Beach, just Sandy Lake because we know where the beach is). These days it is far too crowded and a tricky spot for parking. And Technically it isn't landlocked as Sandy creek runs in from Upper Buckhorn but it is likely only a canoe or small boat can do it.
Hey and you didn't mention the heart!