MindReachGetaways

Keene, ON

Elmhirst's Resort

Green Step Platinum resort on Rice Lake: 30 waterfront cottages, vegan spa, floatplane tours, and farm-to-table dining in the Kawarthas 90 minutes from Toronto

OntarioCanadaKawarthas
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Our read

The water is the reason to come, and it stays small enough to feel like a house rather than a hotel.

Come here for

  • Being told what happens next, instead of planning it
  • Staying somewhere that takes its land seriously
  • Bathing culture over treatment menus
  • Small groups and solo travellers who dislike crowds

Skip it if

  • You want resort scale, with several restaurants and a crowd to disappear into
  • You would rather improvise your days than follow a timetable
  • A trip without meat on the menu would frustrate you

We’d rather send you somewhere else than send you somewhere that doesn’t suit you.

From the property

Inside Elmhirst's Resort

Guests and hosts, filmed at the property.

01 - Arrive

The place itself

Elmhirst's Resort is a family-owned, Green Step Platinum Certified lakeside resort spread across 240 acres on the north shore of Rice Lake in the heart of the Kawarthas. Approximately 90 minutes from Toronto and 3 hours from Ottawa. The property's sustainability credentials are among the highest available to Canadian tourism operators, grounded in a long history of land stewardship and a genuine commitment to ecological responsibility that extends to how food is sourced, energy is managed, and waste is handled. Thirty waterfront cottages line the shores of Rice Lake, each fully equipped with kitchen, BBQ, private deck with dock access, fireplace, flat-screen TV, and Wi-Fi. Beyond the cottages, Elmhirst's offers an impressive wellness and activity infrastructure: the Spa @ Elmhirst's provides a full menu of registered massage therapy, acupuncture, tui na massage, facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures using sustainable vegan products; the indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and fitness centre offer year-round restorative capacity; and the outdoor pool and direct lake access add summer-season options. The dining program runs across two venues. The Hearthside Dining Room and the Wild Blue Yonder Pub & Patio. With ingredients from the resort's own farm and local Kawartha suppliers. Guests who want activity can access 10 km of onsite trails, treetop trekking, sightseeing flights from the resort's dock, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, waterskiing, tubing, and an escape maze. Elmhirst's is genuinely remarkable for delivering high-quality spa, accommodation, dining, and outdoor adventure within a single sustainable property.

02 - Feel

Why it is different

30 waterfront cottages on Rice Lake

Fully equipped cottages with private docks, kitchens, fireplaces, and decks on one of the Kawarthas' most beautiful lakes. A home-away-from-home experience at resort scale.

Spa @ Elmhirst's — vegan and sustainable

A full-service spa with RMT massage, acupuncture, tui na, and facials using sustainable vegan products. Therapeutic depth uncommon at Ontario cottage resorts.

Floatplane sightseeing from the resort dock

Sightseeing flights depart from Elmhirst's own dock on Rice Lake. An aerial perspective on the Kawarthas that makes for an unforgettable resort activity.

Green Step Platinum sustainability

One of Ontario's highest-certified sustainable tourism operations. Local and farm-sourced food, ecological stewardship of the Rice Lake shoreline, and values embedded in daily operations.

Farm-to-table Hearthside Dining Room

Beef raised on the resort's own farm, vegetables from local Kawartha suppliers, and two on-site dining venues that anchor the resort experience with genuine provenance.

03 · Live here

How the days go

  1. Arrival on Rice Lake

    Drive through Peterborough County and arrive at a 240-acre property on the north shore of Rice Lake. The scale of the land and water immediately signals that this is more than a typical Ontario cottage resort.

  2. Settling into the cottage

    A fully equipped waterfront cottage with private dock gives you the autonomy of a rented cottage combined with the support of a full resort: stock the kitchen if you choose, or let the Hearthside Dining Room do the work.

  3. The Spa @ Elmhirst's

    A full-service spa with genuine therapeutic depth. Registered massage therapy, acupuncture, tui na, and facials using sustainable vegan products. The indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna provide the restorative infrastructure before and after treatments.

  4. On the water and in the treetops

    Kayak or canoe on Rice Lake, waterski behind a resort boat, try treetop trekking in the forest canopy, or take a floatplane from the resort's own dock for an aerial view of the Kawarthas. Activity depth that most spa resorts cannot match.

  5. Farm-to-table dinner

    Dinner in the Hearthside Dining Room uses beef raised on the resort's own farm and vegetables from local Kawartha suppliers. The Wild Blue Yonder Pub offers craft local beer and casual dining for a different mood.

04 - Stay

Ways to stay

Cottage Stay (1–3 Bedrooms)

Seasonal rates — confirm at elmhirst.ca

Waterfront cottage on Rice Lake with full kitchen, dock access, private deck, BBQ, and fireplace. Indoor pool, sauna, and trails access included.

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Spa Day Package

Confirm at elmhirst.ca/spa

Day spa access at the Spa @ Elmhirst's with indoor pool, whirlpool, and sauna, plus one or more treatments. Open to day visitors and cottage guests.

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Group Spa Package

Confirm at elmhirst.ca/spa

Coordinated group spa experience for families, couples groups, or corporate teams. Multiple therapists available for simultaneous bookings.

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05 - Know

Before you go

Written from what the property publishes. Not yet checked by hand. Confirm on their site before you book.

Elmhirst's Resort is at 1045 Settlers Line, Keene, ON K0L 2G0. From Toronto: take Highway 115 North toward Peterborough, then head east on County Road 2 toward Keene, approximately 90 minutes. From Ottawa: take Highway 7 West toward Peterborough, then south toward Keene, approximately 3 hours. Ample on-site parking.

Find it in Maps

Stay for

Summer peak periods may require minimum 2-night or weekly stays. Confirm at elmhirst.ca.

Children

Elmhirst's is family-friendly and welcomes guests of all ages. The resort offers children's programs and activities.

If plans change

See elmhirst.ca for current cancellation and deposit policies.

Where is Elmhirst's Resort located?

Elmhirst's Resort is at 1045 Settlers Line, Keene, Ontario. On the north shore of Rice Lake in the heart of the Kawarthas. It is approximately 90 minutes from Toronto and 3 hours from Ottawa.

What sustainability certifications does Elmhirst's hold?

Elmhirst's holds Green Step Platinum Certification, one of the highest sustainability certifications available to Canadian tourism operators. The resort's practices include local food sourcing, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and ecological stewardship of the Rice Lake shoreline.

What does the Spa @ Elmhirst's offer?

The Spa @ Elmhirst's is a full-service day spa open to resort guests and day visitors. Services include registered massage therapy (RMT), acupuncture, tui na massage, facials, body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, and eye care. All using sustainable, vegan products. Day spa and group spa packages are available. Appointment required.

What cottage options are available at Elmhirst's?

Elmhirst's has 30 waterfront cottages on Rice Lake. All include a fully equipped kitchen, BBQ, private deck, dock access, fireplace, flat-screen TV, and Wi-Fi. Some cottages include hot tubs. Sizes vary to suit couples, families, and small groups. See elmhirst.ca for current configurations and rates.

Can I take a floatplane tour from the resort?

Yes. Sightseeing flights depart from Elmhirst's own dock on Rice Lake. An unusual amenity that gives guests an aerial view of the Kawarthas landscape. This is available seasonally; confirm availability and pricing when booking.

What dining venues are at Elmhirst's?

Elmhirst's has two onsite dining venues: the Hearthside Dining Room, which serves farm-to-table meals with ingredients from the resort's own farm and local Kawartha suppliers; and the Wild Blue Yonder Pub & Patio, a more casual option with local craft beer and pub fare. Beef served at Elmhirst's is raised on the resort's own farm.

What activities are available at Elmhirst's Resort year-round?

Year-round activities include spa treatments, hiking on 10 km of onsite trails, indoor pool and sauna use, fitness centre, wagon rides, wine tastings, and the onsite escape maze. Seasonal activities add kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, waterskiing, tubing, treetop trekking, sightseeing flights, swimming, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling trail access nearby.

How do I book at Elmhirst's Resort?

Book directly at elmhirst.ca or call the resort. Spa treatments require advance booking and are open to day visitors as well as cottage guests. Summer cottage weeks and holiday weekends book early.

06 · Go

Elmhirst's Resort

Keene, ON

The water is the reason to come, and it stays small enough to feel like a house rather than a hotel.

Season
Summer (June–August) for Rice Lake swimming, waterskiing, tubing, kayaking, and treetop trekking
Getting there
Elmhirst's Resort is at 1045 Settlers Line, Keene, ON K0L 2G0.
From where you are
Distance appears once we know where you are.
Included
Fully equipped waterfront cottage with dock access · Indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, and fitness centre access · Outdoor pool access (seasonal) · 10 km of onsite trails

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Elmhirst's Resort

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