Map of Riley Lake with depth contours

Riley Lake

44.8371° N, 79.1818° W

Depth contours from the 1975 government survey. Not for navigation.

Download the depth map (SVG)

Riley Lake is 15.2 m deep at its deepest point, shallower than 55% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario. It covers 1.56 km² and lies 3.1 km southeast of Houseys Rapids.

Government surveys have recorded 8 fish species here, including black crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike.

Maximum depth
15.2 msurveyed 1975
shallower than 55% of the 2,688 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Area
1.56 km²
larger than 76% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Shoreline
22 km
longer than 89% of the 18,731 lakes in Ontario
Water clarity
2.1 mSecchi depth, 2025
less clear than 82% of the 1,251 monitored lakes in Ontario
Fish species
8
more than 65% of the 2,454 surveyed lakes in Ontario
Elevation
249 m

Today on the water

8.2 °C

Mostly CloudyWind NNW 11 km/h

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

choppy Estimated waves, next 12 hours: up to 0.2 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.) m0.10.10.10.2
Temp. °C45812141163
Precip. %40404040202000

Tonight: Partly cloudy with 60 percent chance of showers. Risk of a thunderstorm early this evening. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this evening. Low plus 4.

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

Sun and moon

Civil dawn
6:55 a.m.
Sunrise
7:24 a.m.
Sunset
6:42 p.m.
Civil dusk
7:11 p.m.
Moonrise
6:16 a.m.
Moonset
6:00 p.m.
Moon
Waning crescent, 1% lit

Air Quality Health Index

2 low risk

Dorset, 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

44% of Riley Lake is shallower than 3 m, and 40% is deeper than 5 m.

How to read it: the lake’s area is sorted from the shore to the deepest point. Where the curve is flat, large areas share one depth (flats and weed beds); where it drops, depth changes quickly (drop-offs).

The government depth survey from 1975 records a maximum depth of 15.2 m, drawn from 27 depth contours.

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 Depths are from government surveys and may be outdated.

Fish

Sport fish by the share of the 1 government surveys (2012–2012) that recorded them.

  • Black Crappie1 of 1
  • Largemouth Bass1 of 1
  • Northern Pike1 of 1
  • Pumpkinseed1 of 1
  • Rock Bass1 of 1
  • Smallmouth Bass1 of 1
  • Yellow Perch1 of 1
Other species (1)
  • Brown Bullhead 1

Numbers are the surveys that recorded each species.

Eating your catch

The provincial guide to eating fish (2026) sets limits for 4 species from Riley Lake. Maximum meals per month:

SpeciesLengthGeneral populationSensitive population*Contaminant
Black Crappie20-25 cm168Mercury
Largemouth Bass30-35 cm8Do not eatMercury
Northern Pike55-60 cm84Mercury
Smallmouth Bass35-40 cm4Do not eatMercury

* 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 15. Check seasons and limits before you fish.

Water

Clarity was measured with a Secchi disk in 17 years between 2003 and 2025; the latest annual mean is 2.1 m.

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

Getting on the water

1 listed boat launch; 1 with parking listed. marks launches on the map.