Chemong Lake and Area

Chemong Lake is located in the Kawarthas and is part of the Trent Severn Waterway. Chemong borders Selwyn Township and Curve Lake First Nations. There are many settlements along the lake including Ennismore, Bridgenorth, Curve Lake and Smith Ward Township. Bridgenorth is the largest town located on the south east shores of the lake at the end of the James A Gifford Causeway. In Bridgenorth you will find all your shopping needs with beer, weed (coming soon)  and liquor stores, restaurants and grocery store, marinas, and of course a Tim Hortons!

Sunset over Ennismore from Bridgenorth

Chemong Lake Landmarks and Sister Lakes

Chemong Lake is part of a three primary lake system in the Trent Severn Waterway system called  the Tri-Lake water system. The other two lakes is Pigeon Lake and Buckhorn Lake. The major land mark for Chemong Lake is the James A Gifford Causeway that connects the communities of Bridgenorth and Ennismore together. Selwyn Conservation Area can be found on the North East shores offering picnic area, beaches and a nice trail system. Also look for the two main beaches, Jones Beach in Bridgenorth and Ennis Beach in Ennismore.

Jones Beach in the winter

Chemong Lake Fishing

Chemong Lake is 8.7 miles long with a surface that covers 5634 acres. The average depth runs at 10.6 feet with the maximum depth of 22 feet. Chemong holds many species of fish including Carp, Large and Small Mouth Bass, Muskie, Walleye, Perch. and Crapie.

Boating towards Bridgenorth

A little History

It was not always easy to go from Bridgenorth to Ennismore as it is today. In 1840 a ferry service was introduced to the lake to make travel more simple. The ferry did not last long due to costs of operation. In 1869 a floating bridge was built and towed into place in 1870 after many failed attempts to build a crossing. The floating bridge, the worlds largest floating bridge was nicknamed the bridge of terror. Many cars were lost over the side of the bridge. In 1949 the bridge was replaced with a modern structure and was rebuilt in the 1960s to resemble how the bridge looks today.

Drain Bros working on the causeway winter 2019

The rebuilding of the James A Gifford Causeway

The causeway is currently in a multi-year plan to rehabilitate. (2020 blog date)  The work will involve completion of the rock fill widening and the subsequent rehabilitation of the existing two-lane roadway. Other upgrades planned are walkways, street lights, roundabouts in Ennismore and Bridgenorth.

Looking North on Chemong Lake