Map of Buckhorn Lake with depth contours

Buckhorn Lake

44.4856° N, 78.3912° W

Depth contours from the government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Buckhorn Lake is 12.2 m deep at its deepest point, shallower than 65% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 32.8 km² and lies beside Buckhorn.

Government surveys have recorded 14 fish species here, including yellow perch, pumpkinseed and bluegill.

Maximum depth
12.2 m
shallower than 65% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
32.8 km²
larger than 98% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
126 km
longer than 98% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Water clarity
3.4 mSecchi depth, 2024
less clear than 54% of the 1,251 monitored lakes in Ontario
Fish species
14
more than 86% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
244 m

Today on the water

6.8 °C

Mainly ClearWind WSW 8 km/h

Observed at Peterborough, as of 3:00 a.m. EDT

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.4 m. Around 12 p.m., wind from the northwest: the northwest shore is sheltered, waves build toward the southeast shore.

Hourly forecast, next 24 hours
Time4 a.m.7 a.m.10 a.m.1 p.m.4 p.m.7 p.m.10 p.m.1 a.m.
Wind km/hW 15W 15W 15NW 30NW 30NW 15var. 5var. 5
Gusts km/h5050
Waves (est.) m0.20.20.20.4
Temp. °C561014161163
Precip. %20404040202000

Tonight: Partly cloudy. 40 percent chance of showers this evening. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this evening. Low plus 5.

Weather: Peterborough (local forecast), as of 3:02 a.m. EDT

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
6:52 a.m.
Sunrise
7:21 a.m.
Sunset
6:39 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:08 p.m.
Moonrise
6:13 a.m.
Moonset
5:58 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Air Quality Health Index

2 low risk

Peterborough, as of 2:00 a.m. EDT

Data Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada. Local times.

How waves are estimated

Significant wave height from the forecast hourly wind and the open-water distance (fetch) upwind, using the SMB method (US Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Manual, 1984), rounded up to the next 0.1 m. It is not a measurement: gusts, leftover swell and shoals can make water rougher. Under 0.2 m: calm; 0.2–0.5 m: choppy; over 0.5 m: rough.

Depth

The government depth survey records a maximum depth of 12.2 m, drawn from 88 depth contours.

Not for navigation. Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 54 government surveys (2008–2013) that recorded them.

  • Yellow Perch54 of 54
  • Pumpkinseed45 of 54
  • Bluegill44 of 54
  • Largemouth Bass40 of 54
  • Black Crappie39 of 54
  • Walleye29 of 54
  • Rock Bass27 of 54
  • Smallmouth Bass19 of 54
  • Muskellunge1 of 54
Forage fish and other species (5)

Forage fish

  • Golden Shiner 13
  • Bloater 1

Other

  • Brown Bullhead 6
  • White Sucker 5
  • Yellow Bullhead 1

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 10 species from Buckhorn Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Black Crappie20-25 cm1612Precautionary
Bluegill15-20 cm1616Precautionary
Largemouth Bass30-35 cm168Mercury
Pumpkinseed15-20 cm1612Precautionary
Rock Bass15-20 cm1612Mercury
Smallmouth Bass35-40 cm168Mercury
Walleye40-45 cm168Mercury
Yellow Perch20-25 cm168Mercury
Brown Bullhead25-30 cm1616Precautionary
Common Carp55-60 cm1616Precautionary

* As defined in the guide, including children and people who are or may become pregnant. Limits are for the length the guide lists most often; they change with the size of the fish. Read the official guide

Fishing regulations: Fisheries Management Zone 17. Check seasons and limits before you fish.

Water

Clarity was measured with a Secchi disk in 27 years between 1990 and 2024; the latest annual mean is 3.4 m.

Water clarity (Secchi depth, m)
Total phosphorus (µg/L)