Outdoor Adventures
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Summer water adventures, cycling day trips, trail hikes, picnics in the park, winter snowshoeing and cross country skiing... the possibilities are endless! Enjoy the beauty of nature all year round in Peterborough.
Warm Weather Activities
Beaches, Splash Pads and Wading Pools
Bring a blanket and picnic basket, or enjoy a stroll along one of Peterborough’s sandy beaches. If you’re planning to swim, be sure to check the water quality reports from Lakelands Public Health.
Beavermead Beach (2011 Ashburnham Drive) is the only supervised public beach in the city, with lifeguards on duty daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the last week of June to the end of August.
Hint: bring your own volleyball to take advantage of the beach volleyball courts, or bring a soccer ball and head to the soccer field on the west end of the park!
Rogers Cove (131 Maria Street) is another great public beach complete with a paved boat launch, splash pad, playground and parking lot.
Riverview Park & Zoo (1300 Water St N) has a splash pad open 9am – 7pm daily in summer
Jackson Park
Jackson Park is a wooded oasis with beautiful dog-friendly walking trails along Jackson Creek. This park was once in danger of becoming a new highway through the city, but locals rallied to protect it as a park for future generations to enjoy.
Jackson Park features an historic pagoda bridge, pond, playground, picnic tables, public restrooms and parking. In the winter after a fresh snowfall, the trails make for great snowshoeing too!
610 Parkhill Road N, Peterborough
Cycling Day Trips
Peterborough – Lakefield – Peterborough (31kms)
Start at
The Railyard Café and Taphouse (127 Hunter St, Peterborough); bike to
Stuff’d Ice Cream Bakery and Café (18 Bridge St, Lakefield)
If you’re up for a half-day adventure, jump on the Rotary Greenway Trail from East City and ride north to Lakefield. The trail is flat, paved and partially shaded, with one small detour around the Trent University campus.
Stop for an ice cream break in Lakefield before you head back, and reward yourself with a great meal at The Railyard when you return!
Peterborough – Keene – Peterborough (29kms)
Start at
Canadian Canoe Museum (2077 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough); bike to
Muddy’s Pit BBQ ( 3247 County Rd 2, Keene)
This adventure is 99% on the Trans Canada Trail, with some small sections off trail on either end. Once you’ve found the trailhead at the southeast corner of Landsdowne and Ashburnham, it’s straight forward (and beautiful!) trail riding. Your last 2.5kms in Keene are on Heritage Line road (on a generous paved shoulder).
Make sure you arrive at Muddy’s Pit with an appetite, and check out their website for live music listings. On your return, you can rehydrate at the Silver Bean Café in the foyer of the Canoe Museum.
Hint: There is free public parking across the street from the museum.
Haroldtown Conservation Area
Not for the faint of heart, Harold Town Conservation Area offers a 10km network of advanced mountain biking trails featuring a double track loop trail with connecting single-track trails, berms, technical rock gardens, switch-back climbs, rock pile features, log hops, bridges, small rock drops and tight turns.You’ll also find another 10km of scenic multi-use trails for hiking.
Check the website for seasonal hours of operation.
Bike Rentals
Need a bike? You can rent one from Wildrock Outfitters downtown. Both routes below can be easily biked right from Wildrock… no car needed!
139 Charlotte St, Peterborough
Winter Activities
Cross Country Skiing
If you’re looking for a great way to get warm… strap on some skis and get your body moving! The Peterborough Nordic Club is a not-for-profit volunteer run organization that transforms the Liftlock Golf Club each winter into a family friendly ski trail!The club offers affordable ski rentals, free parking, family friendly trails, and a clubhouse to warm up with hot chocolate and catch up with friends.
Hint: Be sure to buy your day or season pass online before hitting the trails.
Snowshoe or Hike - Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park
This small provincial park offers a year-round 3km hiking trail through the woods. A great place for beginners to try snowshoeing for the first time after a fresh snowfall.
This park is also a great place to enjoy the fall colours and a picnic.
846 Highway 7, Peterborough
