Haliburton County isn’t just where we work, it’s where live and have raised our family. We’re very proud to be part of a vibrant community in a setting that offers all sorts of year-round activities, and we think you’ll love living here too. Which is why we decided to take a bit of time to share our thoughts on some of the many things we love about Haliburton County. 

Haliburton County: A natural beauty 

This area is known as the “Haliburton Highlands” for its location on an elevated portion of the Canadian Shield. For starters, we love what draws so many cottagers to our area: the lakes. There are hundreds of them in the area, large and small. For generations, cottagers have flocked to our region to enjoy lakeside living. Increasingly, as technology and remote working options expand, many are choosing to live by the lake year-round. Any healthcare concerns – certainly top of mind for anyone considered retiring at the lake – are amply covered by two local hospitals in our largest towns, Haliburton and Minden. 

One thing’s for sure when you’re in Haliburton County, you’ll never feel crowded. In an area that covers more than 4,000 square kilometres, there are less than 20,000 permanent residents. We definitely have room for a few more! 

Outdoor Activities 

Haliburton offers year-round fun for outdoors enthusiasts of all stripes. Our numerous lake offer endless opportunities for swimming, fishing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, or a simple pleasure cruise along a quiet stretch of water. Whitewater enthusiasts flock to the Minden Whitewater Preserve, a hub for canoeing and kayaking that hosted the 2015 PanAm Games. 

There are also golf courses, horseback riding, hiking (check out the 36-km long Haliburton Rail Trail, and more all close to home. In fact, the southern leg of world-famous Algonquin Provincial Park falls within the County’s borders, and much of the region shares the same unspoiled wilderness. 

One extremely popular local attraction is the Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve, which offers a wide variety of year-round activities, including their famous treetop canopy trail, mountain biking trails, dogsledding, and the 5,000-sq.ft. Wolf Centre. 

In the winter, the local Haliburton County Snowmobile Association maintain 370 km of groomed trails across the region. The Haliburton Highlands Nordic Trail & Ski Club Association has 37 km of groomed cross-county skiing trails in three different locations, plus, members and day-pass users can also access YMCA Camp Wanakita’s trails as well. For downhill skiiers and snowboarders, the highest point of land in the region is home to Sir Sam’s, on the shore of Eagle Lake. To truly soak the area in, climb to the top of the Dorset Scenic Lookout Tower for views from nearly 500 feet above Lake of Bays. 

The Arts 

Haliburton County is well known as the home to a thriving arts community with numerous artists’ workshops and galleries scattered throughout the area. We’re also home to Fleming College’s Halliburton School of Fine Arts campus. Right next to the campus is the Haliburton Sculpture Forest, featuring dozens of sculptures from Canadian and international artists. 

For music fans we host the annual Forest Festival and theatre lovers will enjoy our annual Highlands Summer Festival.

Kinmount is also home to the unique Highlands Cinemas. For more than 40 years, from spring through fall, local film buff Keith Strata plays first-run movies in five cinemas in his home.

We also have three community papers – the Minden Times, the Haliburton Echo, and The Highlander – and two local radio stations – Canoe FM and The Moose – to keep residents up to date on local news and events.  

And, every year, locals gather to wrap up the year at our annual Santa Claus parade. 

For more information on all that our area has to offer, the County’s official tourism site, MyHaliburtonHighlands.com, covers it all, including a regularly updated calendar of events.