Fortescue Lake Cottagers’ Association

Welcome to Fortescue Lake

Fortescue Lake straddles the Haliburton / Peterborough County line, just east of Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park.

With its clear water, rugged Canadian Shield scenery and friendly cottage community, the lake offers an ideal escape for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.

A blue Heron flies across the lake at dawn

Lake at a Glance

  • Location: Fortescue Lake is located on the Haliburton / Peterborough County line, south of Irondale.
  • Size & Depth: Average depth ≈ 38 ft (12 m); maximum ≈ 90 ft (27 m)
  • Shoreline: Irregular, with rocky rubble, submerged timber, and sandy / gravelly points
  • Fisheries Zone: Provincial Fisheries Management Zone 15

Local Spotlight - Fortescue (Film)

The Globe & Mail calls it. “a layered exploration of female friendship, illness and the artistic process”. We call it ‘ours’. Sometimes referred to as ‘the Emily Dickinson of Rosedale’, Fortescue cottager, Writer and Director, Rebeccah Love, has filmed her first feature-length movie using our lake as its backdrop.

Beautifully shot in and around Fortescue Lake in the late summer/early fall of 2023, her rustic family cottage becomes Ground Zero for this dramatic, heartfelt tale of magical proportions. And what a thrill for us to see our lake so lovingly portrayed in its natural setting! It’s a must-see reminder of how lucky we are to be surrounded by such an awe-inspiring setting.

Checkout the article in KawarthaNow, catch the Globe and Mail Review, or checkout the trailer.

Fortescue film poster.

A Short History of Fortescue Lake

Logging brought the first wave of development to the Fortescue area in the late 1800s. When lumbering declined, early homesteads gave way to seasonal cottages. By the 1950s improved roads turned Fortescue into a favourite retreat for families seeking the peace and quiet of the Kawarthas.

In 1976 the Fortescue Lake Cottagers’ Association (FLCA) was founded to protect the lake environment and foster community. These goals continue to guide us today.

About the Fortescue Lake Cottagers' Association

The FLCA is a volunteer-run, non-profit group. We: