Horseshoe Lake

Introduction

Horseshoe Lake – well named, as it does, resemble a horseshoe – is located just 20 minutes west of the quaint village of Rosseau and 25 minutes southeast of Parry Sound. The lake is easy to find due to its proximity to Highway 400. You need only take Exit 213 along Highway 69 and immediately look for Horseshoe Lake Road on your left.

When you arrive at the lake, you’ll notice several things quickly. First, as a lake that is medium in size, the waterbody is diverse. Parts of Horseshoe Lake are deep and narrow, measuring over 65 feet, while the other end is only 20 feet deep.

Activities on Horseshoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake is family-friendly and packed full of opportunities to explore. Parts of the shoreline are rocky, with cliffs ideal for the adventurous cliff jumper. However, for those less adventurous swimmers, you’ll find a scenic, sandy beach on the south side of the lake. The beach on McKaig Drive features a swim raft, play equipment, a small picnic area and portable restrooms, all available for public use.

Boating is popular on Horseshoe Lake. The Horseshoe Pines Marina on the lake’s southwest corner offers docking facilities, a water taxi, premium dockside fuel, boat rentals, repairs and a general store. In addition, the marina has everything from fresh bread and milk to sunscreen and propane for your BBQ. Boaters also have the option of a public boat launch on the southeast tip of the lake (off Allan Crescent), where playground equipment, picnic tables, and a 10X10 raft are available to the public.

Enjoy fishing by boat, off the dock, and from the shoreline. The small bays and inlets that make up Horseshoe Lake help shelter the fish species in the waters, so fishing will not be disappointing. So toss in your line and wait. It won’t be long before you get a nibble. Fish are aplenty whether you reel in a large or smallmouth bass or a northern pike.

Along with fishing, water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding are great ways to experience life on the water.

Exploring the area

For fun away from the lake, The Seguin Trail is part of a Park-to-Park Trail system. It runs along the abandoned JR Booth Railway and is host to ATVs, hikers and cyclists in the summer. Or take a day trip into nearby Parry Sound and enjoy a boat cruise, provincial parks, air tours, a round or two of golf, or spend the day shopping and sipping a nice cold drink out on a lakeside patio.

End your days in the warmth of the setting sun with a glass of wine on the dock and then gather around the fire pit to regale about the day’s adventures.

Horseshoe Lake is the perfect cottage vacation destination!

Location
Official Name	Horseshoe Lake
County/District	Parry Sound
Municipality	Township of Seguin
Drainage Basin	Blackstone River
Latitude/Longitude	45.290 N 79.840 W

Physical Features
Surface Area (km)	3.7
Elevation (m asl)	230
Mean Depth (m)	6.5
Maximum Depth (m)	20
Perimeter (km)	31
Island Shoreline (km)	2.8
Clarity (m)	3.7

Land Use and Development
Crown Land (%)	5
Provincial Parks	Horseshoe Lake Conservation Reserve
Shoreline Development	high; shoreline residential, commercial
Access	public; boat Launch; Allan Crescent
Water Level Management	not regulated

Fish Species
Major Fish Species	smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, black crappie
Other Fish Species	white sucker, pumpkinseed, spottail shiner, bluntnose minnow, yellow perch, cisco, golden shiner, rock bass, mottled sculpin, rainbow smelt