10 Beautiful Lakes In Ontario, Canada

Shamika
Contributing Writer
Updated
| 4 min read
lakes in ontario

Home to the world-famous Niagara Falls, Ontario holds a special place in the hearts of travellers when it comes to nature tourism. In addition to the famous Niagara Falls, it also has four of the five Great Lakes, and a plethora of wildlife and untouched woods and forests stretching for miles and miles. If you are a nature enthusiast, Ontario has to be one of the must-visit spots on your bucket list. In the evenings, you can go shopping for the famous cheese and maple syrup manufactured locally. Plus, there are a variety of cultural activities for you to explore, not to mention the cool places to stay like luxury Airbnbs and teardrop camper rentals. So if you are looking for an adventure-packed vacation in Ontario, read on to explore the 10 beautiful lakes in Ontario, Canada.

1. Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario shoreline, Mississauga (29869953971)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Joe deSousa used under CC0

Considered one of the five Great Lakes of North America, Lake Ontario is a sprawling lake that is surrounded by the Canadian province of Ontario on the north and New York state in the south. The national boundaries of each country run right through the middle of the lake, and it is popular for its incredible wildlife, including migratory birds that travel across the world to this lake every year. This lake has plenty of boating and sightseeing facilities, and is a great tourist attraction. The boat ride is very enjoyable and takes you through the important landmarks of Toronto and New York City that are visible from the lake. It is a must-visit lake for any traveller. If you can’t get enough of this natural wonder, you could also opt to stay in one of the Airbnbs near Lake Ontario.

Lake Ontario

Address: Ontario, Canada, North America

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2. Lake Superior

Sunset over Lake Superior
Source: Photo by Flickr user Helena Jacoba used under CC BY 2.0

This lake hosts the prestigious position of being the largest of the Great Lakes of North America, and is also the world’s largest lake amongst freshwater lakes. This lake also has the cleanest water and underwater visibility that can sometimes reach 8 metres (26 feet), although we wouldn’t recommend you drink it. This lake contains 10% of the Earth’s fresh water reserve, which is really saying something. You can take advantage of the boating facilities or take a trip along the industry that has built itself around this Great Lake.

Lake Superior

Address: Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada

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3. Lake Erie

Lake Erie - Long Point, Ontario
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ryan Hodnett used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Relatively small as compared to the other Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the fourth largest amongst the five Great Lakes of North America. It is also the shallowest of the lakes, and this makes it conducive to fishing. You can go for a fishing trip yourself, or simply watch the fishermen here landing their catch of the day. In the winters, ice fishing is a popular activity here. This lake also forms a boundary between Canada through Ontario and the United States through Michigan, and therefore, it is accessible from either side.

Lake Erie

Address: Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada

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4. Lake Huron

Lake Huron Shore - Sarnia, Ontario
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ryan Hodnett used under CC BY-SA 4.0

This is the second largest lake amongst the Great Lakes. Lake Huron has been a vital shipping route for centuries, joining Michigan and Toronto. It is a very beautiful lake indeed, with deep blue waters and great underwater visibility, allowing you to see the rich marine life underneath the surface. It is named after the Huron people who were early inhabitants of this area, and the famous Saginaw Bay is located on this lake.

Lake Huron

Address: Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada

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5. Lake Simcoe

Lake Simcoe (4528946259)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Michael used under CC BY 2.0

Lake Simcoe is a popular tourist destination for nature lovers, as it is a clean and safe inland lake in Ontario. It is frequented by fisherpeople and tourists who are interested in watersports such as kayaking, paddle boating and canoeing. The waterfront areas are beautiful and you can have a relaxing day along the shores of the lake. You can stay at an Airbnb or a lakefront hotel overlooking this beautiful lake, so that you can wake up to the beautiful vista every morning.

Lake Simcoe

Address: Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

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6. Lac Seul

Lac Seul
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user P199 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Lac Seul is huge crescent-shaped reservoir that means “Lake Alone” in French. It is called so because it is said that you will feel extremely alone when you are in the centre of the lake, because of the way it is shaped. Once a major waterway frequented by ships and trade boats, today this lovely little lake is visited by tourists interested in water sports or fishing.

Lac Seul

Address: Lac Seul, Kenora District, Ontario

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7. Lake Nipigon

Landscape-of-lake-nipigon.jpg - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Good Free Photos used under CC BY 3.0

Situated 80 miles (130 kilometres) away from the Thunder Bay district lies this quaint yet beautiful lake. Its Native American name refers to “deep and clear water”. The lake is sprinkled with tiny archipelagos, making it a wonderful place to engage in some safe water sports and water activities such as canoeing, paddle boating and sailing.

Lake Nipigon

Address: Lake Nipigon, Ontario, Canada

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8. Lake Saint Clair

Frozen Lake St Clair
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user MJCdetroit used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Lake Saint Clair is one of the most popular fishing destinations. This lake forms a part of the American and Canadian national boundary. There is a water park right next to this lake that is a popular tourist destination as well, and this combined with the classic lakeside things to do such as boating and water sports make this area a fun recreational activity centre during the summers. The lake connects with two other lakes, Lake Huron in the north and Lake Erie in the south.

Lake Saint Clair

Address: Lake Saint Clair, Ontario, Canada

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9. Lake of the Woods

Scenery of Lake of the Woods Ontario ^^Nestor falls ^^Au lac des Bois une des 14000 isles du Lac ^ - panoramio
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Roger Sylvia used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Lake of the Woods occupies a part of Canada and America, sharing borders with both the nations. You can rent a home that overlooks the beautiful lake and enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the setting sun, or take a boat trip into the waters and turn your phone off for a while. This lake is also great for water sports such as canoeing and paddle boating.

Lake of the Woods

Address: Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada

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10. Rainy Lake

Morans Bay Rainy Lake
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user P199 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Who hasn’t heard of the breathtaking Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights? However, if you think you need to plan a trip all the way to Scandinavia, think again. Rainy Lake is one of the few accessible tourist destinations in Ontario from where you can see the Northern Lights. Host a fun barbecue and bonfire night with your friends while you wait for nightfall, or enjoy some fun water sports to your heart’s content. In addition, if you are into fishing, this lake offers some wonderful shoreside fishing areas. It cannot get better than this!

Rainy Lake

Address: Rainy Lake, Ontario, Canada

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Explore the beautiful lakes of Ontario

Whether you wish to engage in some water sports, want to have a quiet and romantic picnic by the lakeshore, or simply want to take some Instagram-worthy pictures, the gorgeous lakes in Ontario have always been a constant tourist attraction. Make sure you visit these lakes when you travel to Ontario, so that you can experience the true natural beauty of this great state. Don’t forget to check out the best themed hotels and golf resorts as well for more accommodation options.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Being a military kid, Shamika has lived and travelled all over India, and her nomadic childhood has fueled an immense hunger and fascination for new cultures and languages (she's a polyglot!)...Read more

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