The midpoint — two lakes, trail junction, and the heart of cottage country.
↳ K&P Trail · on route
Railway Heritage Park at the trail junction, Sharbot Lake — July 2026
Why stop
Sharbot Lake is the corridor’s midpoint in every sense: roughly halfway between Ottawa and Peterborough, the spot where you gas up and grab food in the middle stretch, and the centre of gravity for the lake country that spreads north and south of the highway.
The village sits between two lobes of its namesake lake, and the beach by the old railway station is a fine quick swim. And that old station points at Sharbot Lake’s other identity: this is the trail crossroads of Eastern Ontario. The K&P Trail — 75 finished kilometres of stone-dust rail trail running south to downtown Kingston, and continuing north toward Calabogie — crosses the east-west Trans Canada Trail on the old CP line right here. Cyclists, hikers, ATVs and snowmobiles (by season) can leave the village in four directions on old rail grade: south to Kingston, north into the highlands, east toward Perth, west toward Tweed.
Right at that junction is Railway Heritage Park, which makes the trailhead worth a stop even if you’re not riding anywhere: a caboose museum open Saturday afternoons in summer, a railway-themed playground, and picnic tables for the ride back.
Cottage country
This is where the corridor’s Live & Stay story is strongest. Sharbot, Silver, Crow, Eagle, Bobs and Christie lakes are all within a short drive, and if you’re shopping for waterfront within two hours of Ottawa, this is the area you end up studying. Our area guide covers what waterfront actually costs here, what the internet situation really is, and which townships differ on short-term rentals.
Friday nights in the St James Major church hall on Hwy 38 — doors at half past five, first ball at a quarter to seven, and a canteen doing hamburgers. Run by Sharbot Lake Bingo and Community Fundraisers.
Branch 425 puts on dinner every Friday from the 11th of September through to June. Twenty dollars for adults, ten for under twelves. Served at half past five, no reservations taken.
An afternoon of vendors under the covered rink, with the canteen open, billed as the season's closing market. The Harvest Feast is at Oso Hall the same evening.
The Sharbot Lake Farmers' Market moves indoors to Oso Hall for an evening market and a casual three-course dinner made from its own farmers' food, on a menu put together by Rampant Kitchen. Kick & Push Brewery and Winding Rd Coffee Co are on site, with live music from Jonathan Jones. Tickets are $55 with a drink from K&P included, from Kick & Push Brewery or by e-transfer to therisefarm@gmail.com.
A small township beach and boat launch at Crow Lake village, southeast of Sharbot Lake — a mix of sand and grass, a picnic table, and a dock. Quiet even by this area's standards.
1895 Crow Lake Rd, Crow Lake · Checked Aug 2026 · township sources; Frontenac County launch directory
A sandy township beach with grassy picnic space, washrooms, and a boat launch and dock — south of Sharbot Lake toward Tichborne, and another of Central Frontenac's free lake-access spots.
The trail crossroads of Eastern Ontario — the K&P (75 km of stone dust south to Kingston, north toward Calabogie) meets the east-west Trans Canada Trail right at the village. Four directions of rail grade from one trailhead.
A donated 130-acre property near Crow Lake, built around a headwater lake known locally as Beaver or Bass Lake. The Sandi Slater Memorial Walk is a 5 km loop through forest and over streams, with benches and lookouts over the water.
1392 Anderson Rd N, near Crow Lake · Checked Jul 2026 · conservation authority sources
Right at the K&P/Trans Canada Trail junction — a caboose railway museum (Saturdays 11–3, summer), a railway-themed playground, picnic tables, and a head-in-the-hole photo stand. Outdoor displays open anytime.
1110 Elizabeth St · Checked Jul 2026 · local heritage sources
A genuinely good sand beach with a playground, by the old railway station — plus a public boat launch and docking, with free parking and food a short walk away.
1021 Medical Centre Road, Sharbot Lake · Checked Jul 2026 · Central Frontenac Township beaches list
A few minutes east of the village — two sandy day-use beaches on Black Lake, shallow and gradual underfoot, ideal for small kids, plus a designated dog-swim area, picnic shelter, and washrooms. Distinct from the free village beach.
25467 Highway 7, Sharbot Lake · Checked Jul 2026 · Ontario Parks
The village's community hall as much as its Legion, out on Legion Road, and eighty years old in 2026. Friday dinners through the winter, Wednesday euchre, and a Monday dart league, all open to anyone who walks in. 613-279-2659.
1015D Legion Rd, Sharbot Lake · Checked Sep 2026 · branch submission by email, logo supplied by the branch
The parish hall on Hwy 38, and on Friday nights the room where Sharbot Lake Bingo and Community Fundraisers runs the village bingo. Doors at half past five, canteen doing hamburgers.
14608 Hwy 38, Sharbot Lake · Checked Sep 2026 · Sharbot Lake Bingo and Community Fundraisers
A café in a restored church on Hwy 38 in the village. Breakfast and lunch, espresso and gourmet coffee, teas, doughnuts, and soft-serve ice cream in season.
Funky cafe in an old church. Good food & hot drinks.
A reader · Oct 2026
14153 Hwy 38, Sharbot Lake · Checked Oct 2026 · reader submission via the site form; name, address and menu from the Ride the Highlands (Ontario's Highlands Tourism) listing and the café's own Facebook page. Hours left out: three sources give three different sets
A food truck in Sharbot Lake. The owners tell us it's open seven days a week, 11am to 8pm.
Checked Oct 2026 · owner submission via the site form, with their logo (fries and hot dogs on it, hence the Chip Truck Census); no street address, website or season given, so none is printed
Tree removal, pruning, storm cleanup and stump grinding for cottages and camps around Eagle Lake and through Central and North Frontenac, run by a certified arborist. Insured, WSIB-covered, and available for emergencies. 613-888-7991.
Checked Sep 2026 · owner submission by email, service area confirmed on the business's own site; logo from the same email
The lake country's boat shop since 2010 — engine work and repairs, full interior refits, parts and consignment, plus the seasonal essentials of spring launch, fall shrink-wrap, and winter storage. Mon–Sat; call for seasonal hours, 613-279-2837.
I highly recommend Markus. He is a knowledgeable, honest, clear thinking mechanic with very fair pricing. The go-to in the area for maintenance, repair, and winter storage.
A Petro-Canada right on Hwy 7 in the village, doubling as the general store — pumps, groceries and the essentials for the rest of the drive. Daily 6:30am–11pm. 613-279-2382.
24544 Hwy 7 · Checked Sep 2026 · GasBuddy and Yellow Pages business listings corroborated; coordinates via OpenStreetMap/Nominatim for this address 44.7985, -76.6802
