This winding lake goes by many a-name: Lake Kashagawigamog to the generational cottagers; Kash, informally; Kashagawigamog Lake, officially. The name is an Anishinaabe word meaning “lake of long and winding waters.” With a rich cottaging history dating back to the 1890s and close proximity to Sir Sam’s ski hill, several golf courses, and two towns, the lake is great for a variety of cottagers.
Market overview
The central lake in Haliburton’s five-lake chain, Kash is long and narrow. Accessible by Hwy. 35 and County Road 21, it is connected to Grass Lake and Head Lake to the north, Canning Lake to the south, and Soyers Lake to the northwest. As a medium-sized lake with nearby services, “it’s an ideal location for cottagers and year-round residents,” says Tom Wilkinson, a Haliburton realtor who has lived in the area for more than 20 years. But buyers pay a premium. An average four-season cottage cost more than $1 million in 2025; some properties have recently sold for more than $3 million. As one of the earliest developed lakes in Haliburton, many cottages have been replaced by more luxurious abodes over the last 20 years.
A lake with a legacy
Historically an important passageway for Indigenous peoples and loggers, Kash evolved into a summer tourist hub in the early 20th century when the Victoria Railway expanded to the region. At its peak, there were 33 lodges operating on the five-lake chain. “The lodges encouraged people to come here, then they bought cottages,” says Tim Hagarty, who does historical boat tours on the lake. Though only two lodges remain—Bonnie View Inn and Kashaga Lodge—boaters travelling along the northeast shore can still spot a cluster of waterfront cabins from the former Chateau Woodland. The inn was broken up into shared-ownership cottages in the 1990s.
What’s the vibe?
Kash is the kind of place where neighbours offer up their docks when the iconic boat-in restaurant—The Dockside Patio at the Bonnie View Inn—is jam-packed on live music Wednesdays. “It’s fun to introduce new cottagers to people who have been here forever,” says Andrea Hagarty, the administrator at the inn. There’s also the annual “Kash Art on the Water” festival, a celebration of local artists around the lake that’s accessible by boat or car. Further north, the hockey camp, Haliburton Hockey Haven, founded by former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Jim Gregory, keeps the lake busy with their wake boats in summer. In the winter, the lake is dotted with ice fishing huts and skaters.
Car-free weekends
“I love being able to park the car and not get back in it until I leave,” says Wilkinson. Accessible via two marinas and two public boat launches—one of which leads into the village of Haliburton—cottagers boat along the “aquatic highway” to access everything from the Haliburton farmers’ market (for wood-fired pizza and local maple syrup) to Kate’s Burger Counter in Ingoldsby for a burger and a shake.
What about water quality?
Clean water is one of the most beloved things about Kash. The lake is regularly tested by the Lake Kashagwigamog Organization (LKO), and once a year, the group partners with U-Links, a community-based research program, for more robust data on information such as pH and dissolved oxygen levels. Kash has had some experience with the invasive banded mystery snail; the LKO is working with U-Links and the Ministry of Environment on managing them. There have been no documented blue-green algae blooms.
The good and the bad
-Clean, deep water with few hazards make this lake ideal for boating, swimming, and angling (there are 14 species of fish in the lake).
-The LKO is heavily invested in lake health, working with partners to test water quality and hosting “Love Your Lake” sessions to educate cottagers about environmental responsibility.
-Though it has a big-lake vibe for the area—some say it’s Haliburton’s Lake Muskoka—Kash’s winding topography provides a number of quiet pockets.
-Easy access to nearby services, including a hospital and grocery stores, via the water and maintained roadways.
–The presence of wakeboats is well known on Kash. Hockey Haven controversially runs wake boats throughout the summer, which is a concern to lake residents.
-Kash is under the jurisdiction of two municipalities: Minden Hills and Dysart et al. Differing laws, particularly in regards to shorelines and septic systems, make it challenging for the LKO to coordinate with both municipalities and their members.
Frequent CL contributor Sara Romano wrote “The Bylaw Breaking Point” in our Winter ’24 issue.
This story originally appeared in our Spring ’26 issue.
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