Discover Peterborough County

Peterborough County offers fascinating themes for a trip that combines nature experiences with rock art and local history. Petroglyphs Provincial Park is home to one of the largest single concentrations of prehistoric rock art in Canada. There are also conservation areas with caves, wetlands and trails, as well as places where historic crafts come to life. You can choose the focus of your trip based on whether you’d rather spend time outdoors, explore culture or combine both.

Rock Art, Mills and Living History

Petroglyphs Provincial Park is distinguished by its extraordinary concentration of prehistoric rock art. For anyone interested in early cultural history, it offers a special starting point. The Lang Pioneer Village Museum offers a different perspective on history: this open-air museum includes more than 30 restored and reconstructed buildings. Costumed interpreters demonstrate the lives and crafts of 19th-century settlers. The museum also includes a fully operational grist mill. A visit therefore brings together historic buildings, demonstrations of traditional crafts and a tangible example of the importance of grain processing.

Hope Mill Conservation Area is centered around the historic Hope Mill. The mill was built in 1835 on the Indian River near Lang, Ontario. Since 2006, volunteers with the Hope Mill Restoration Volunteers have successfully sawn lumber using the original water-powered turbines. Hope Mill also offers free tours and sawing demonstrations. It is open every Thursday from mid-April through the end of October, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you’d like to plan your trip around this visit, you can take the specified day and period into account when planning.

Caves, Water and Nature Trails

Warsaw Caves Conservation Area is home to seven caves that formed thousands of years ago at the end of the last ice age. Its trails extend for 15 km through forests and over open limestone plains. This makes the area interesting for visitors who like to combine time outdoors with a geological feature. Canoes and kayaks are also available to rent for paddling on the Indian River in the conservation area. Hiking and paddling offer different ways to explore the surroundings.

Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is open year-round for adventures in the remote backcountry. Outdoor activities range from canoeing and backcountry camping to short hikes. This variety appeals to travelers who either plan to spend time on longer backcountry activities or prefer a shorter outing. Winter activities at Squirrel Creek Conservation Area include snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There is also a free public beach and free access to a boat launch on the Otonabee River. These offerings add water activities and winter outings to the range of excursion options.

Walks and Wildlife Viewing

For a walk through a different landscape, Miller Creek Wildlife Area offers a 1 km hiking trail through forests, open fields and wetlands. An observation tower provides a view of the Miller Creek Wetland, which is designated as provincially significant. The trail and tower appeal to different interests: you can explore the varied landscape along the trail or use the lookout to view the wetland.

Hope Mill Conservation Area also offers opportunities for nature walks and exploring Ontario’s heritage. If you’d like to include nature and history in your vacation, you can combine these interests with a visit focused on historic Hope Mill.

Places to Get Your Bearings

For further orientation, you’ll also find the following places here: Havelock, Bailieboro, Ennismore, Curve Lake, Keene, Peterborough, Norwood and Woodview.

For the broader travel overview: Ontario.