Located in Ontario, this city of 85,000 people has the world's highest hydraulic lift lock, built in 1904. The Trent-Severn Waterway flows through its downtown core.
Peterborough lies at the junction of the Otonabee River and the Kawarthas, an area filled with lakes and places to paddle, fish, or hike. Cross the world’s largest hydraulic lift lock, see hundreds of canoes at the Canadian Canoe Museum, or listen to live music at Del Crary Park during summer evenings. The city earned the nickname “The Electric City” after installing one of Canada’s first electric streetlight systems in the 1880s. Forests and campgrounds surround the area, with trails like the Rotary Greenway and Jackson Creek Loop within a short drive. Little Lake’s Centennial Fountain shoots water higher than a 20-story building near the downtown marina.
Visit the Peterborough Lift Lock and Trent-Severn Waterway
The Peterborough Lift Lock uses water pressure to lift boats 65 feet between the Otonabee River and Canal Lake. Take a 90-minute boat tour to watch the lock in action and hear how engineers built it in 1904 without modern machinery. Rent a kayak from the marina to paddle the Trent-Severn Waterway, a 386-kilometer route linking Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay. Walk from the lock to downtown in 15 minutes, passing benches where locals often sit to watch boats pass. At night, the lock’s control tower lights up, casting reflections across the water.
Explore the Canadian Canoe Museum
Over 600 canoes and kayaks fill the Canadian Canoe Museum, including a 23-foot dugout canoe carved from a single tree trunk. Interactive displays explain how Indigenous communities built birchbark canoes and used them for trapping and travel. Test your balance on a paddleboard simulator that mimics navigating rapids. The museum plans to move to a larger building by the Otonabee River in 2024, adding a workshop where visitors can watch canoe restoration. After touring the exhibits, follow the gravel path behind the museum to spot herons along the riverbank.
Listen to Live Music at Del Crary Park
Del Crary Park holds free concerts every Saturday and Wednesday from late June to August. Past lineups included Canadian bands like The Trews and Blue Rodeo, drawing crowds of up to 5,000 people. Bring a blanket and arrive by 7 p.m. to claim a spot near the stage, which faces Little Lake. Rent a paddleboard from the marina before the show to explore the lake’s calm waters. A paved trail from the park leads to Little Lake Cemetery, where you can read inscriptions on tombstones from the 1800s.
Hike Among Old Trees in Jackson Park
Jackson Park contains sugar maples and hemlocks planted before Canada became a country. Walk the Creek Loop Trail to see waterfalls cascading over limestone ledges and stone bridges built in the early 1900s. In October, the leaves turn bright orange, drawing photographers to the footbridge near the park’s eastern entrance. During winter, volunteers groom the trails for cross-country skiing. Drive to the Monaghan Road parking lot and follow the signs to the trailhead, which starts near a wooden gazebo.
See Animals at Riverview Park & Zoo
Riverview Park & Zoo lets you observe red pandas climbing trees and capybaras lounging near their pond. Children can pet goats in the barnyard area or ride a miniature train that loops through maple groves. The zoo breeds Vancouver Island marmots, a critically endangered species, in partnership with Wildlife Preservation Canada. Walk the Trans Canada Trail behind the zoo’s otter enclosure to reach a lookout point above the Otonabee River. Admission is free, but donations support animal care and habitat upgrades.
Shop and Eat in Downtown Peterborough
Hunter Street has stores selling vintage clothing, hiking boots, and locally made pottery. Order a latte at a café with sidewalk tables, or try the spicy green curry at a family-run Thai restaurant on George Street. Check the schedule at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, which performs plays like Arsenic and Old Lace in a converted church. The Art Gallery of Peterborough displays rotating exhibits, such as woodcarvings by Anishinaabe artists or abstract paintings from Toronto-based creators. From May to October, the Farmers’ Market sells honey, sourdough bread, and wild blueberries under white tents at Morrow Park.
Camp at Beavermead Park on Little Lake
Beavermead Campground has 95 sites with fire pits, some shaded by pine trees and others facing the lake. Swim from the sandy beach or rent a canoe to fish for bass near the docks. A paved trail connects the campground to the Rotary Greenway, a 7-kilometer path popular with cyclists. Reserve cabins months ahead for July and August, when the park hosts events like outdoor movie nights. Firewood and ice are sold at the camp office, which stays open until 9 p.m. during peak season.
Get to Peterborough by Car, Train, or Bus
Drive from Toronto to Peterborough in 90 minutes using Highway 115, passing farms and forests along the way. VIA Rail trains depart Toronto’s Union Station daily, arriving in Peterborough near the Trent University campus. GO Transit buses run hourly during weekday mornings and evenings, stopping at the Simcoe Street terminal downtown. Peterborough Transit buses reach major attractions like the zoo and university, with single rides costing $3. The Peterborough Airport added a new terminal in 2023, offering flight lessons and private charters.
Tour the Peterborough Museum & Archives
The Peterborough Museum & Archives holds letters, tools, and clothing from early Irish settlers who arrived in 1825. One exhibit details how the city became a hub for manufacturing clocks and radios in the early 20th century. Temporary displays have included vintage wedding dresses and maps of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Walk through the museum’s garden to see heirloom roses and medicinal plants used by Indigenous communities. The building sits atop Armour Hill, providing views of the Otonabee River valley from its front steps.
Walk Trent University’s Trails and Visit Startups
Trent University’s campus includes concrete academic buildings surrounded by forests and riverside trails. Join a free public lecture on topics like wetland conservation or Haudenosaunee history, often held in the Environmental Sciences Centre. A 10-minute drive east, the Peterborough Innovation Cluster occupies a red-brick factory renovated into offices for tech startups. Attend a workshop on topics like 3D printing or attend a networking event for entrepreneurs. Check the university’s website for guided nature walks open to visitors.
