Stoney Lake is the easternmost of the Kawartha Lakes, in Peterborough County near Lakefield — about two hours from Toronto — right where the Canadian Shield meets the St. Lawrence Lowlands. It’s big water: more than 30 kilometres long and dotted with hundreds of islands. People have been coming here as a tourist destination since the steamboat era of the 1850s, and it still carries that classic cottage-country feel.
The lake has one feature that sets it apart from the other Kawarthas. Most Kawartha lakes sit on mud bottoms; Stoney sits on granite rock, which keeps the water colder and clearer. It’s a true cold-water lake, and that shows in the fishing: Stoney holds lake trout in a way the other Kawarthas can’t match, alongside walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskie, lake whitefish, and yellow perch. The islands and narrows offer endless structure, with deep-shield fishing in places. Note that you’ll see the lake spelled both “Stoney” and “Stony” — same lake, two spellings in local use.
The cottage community is long-established, and the lake is well serviced from both ends. Lakefield anchors the west end with shops and dining; Burleigh Falls sits at the east; marinas and boat launches serve both directions. Peterborough is a short drive for full services.
With this much history, most waterfront is established cottages rather than vacant lots. Private well and septic is the standard rural setup, so inspecting both belongs on your list — along with the dock, the shoreline, and how the property handles spring runoff. To look at Stoney Lake properties, contact Wade Kovacic, Sales Representative with CENTURY 21 Granite Realty Group Inc., Brokerage. The islands are a big part of the appeal here — and a practical factor, since island lots come with different access and servicing realities than mainland lots, so confirm how you get to and from the property in the off-season.
