Cassidy Bay is a broad bay on the western shore of Clear Lake, around mile marker 108.5, in the northern half of the lake between Young's Point and Burleigh Falls. The bay offers 12 or more feet of water with good holding, providing comfortable depth for cruising boats transiting the Trent-Severn Waterway.
The bay sits west of the main lake body, which gives it natural protection from easterly exposure on most sides — but the one notable gap is to the east, where the bay opens directly onto Clear Lake. A sustained east wind will push straight into Cassidy Bay with little to break it. In prevailing westerly conditions, however, the bay is well sheltered.
Cassidy Bay is located near Kawartha Park on the western shore, and the surrounding area is a mix of cottage properties and natural shoreline. The water maintains the distinctive clarity that characterizes Clear Lake, and the 12-foot depth provides a meaningful margin over many of the shallower anchorages in the Kawartha chain.
| GPS Coordinates | 44.5349°N, 78.1923°W ⚠ Unverified |
| Water Body | Clear Lake — Cassidy Bay |
| Region | Kawartha Lakes |
| Mile Marker | MM 108.5 (from Veterans Skyway Bridge) |
| Depth Range | 3.7+ m 12+ ft — Waterway Guide |
| Holding Quality | Good |
| Nearest Lock | Lock 28 — Burleigh Falls (~3 km west) |
| Overnight | ⚠ Conditional |
Cassidy Bay provides good protection from westerly, northerly, and southerly winds thanks to its position on the western shore. The bay is exposed to the east, where it opens directly onto Clear Lake. In prevailing summer westerlies, this is a well-sheltered anchorage. In easterly conditions, the bay offers little protection and is best avoided in favour of MacKensie Bay.
| Dinghy Access | ✗ No |
| Shore Access | No formal public shore access at the anchorage. Kawartha Park is located along the western shore nearby. The shoreline is a mix of cottage properties and natural areas. |
| Pet Friendly | No votes yet |
Nearest provisioning: Burleigh Falls Inn is located near Lock 28, approximately 2.5 miles north. Young's Point General Store at Lock 27, roughly 6 miles south by water, offers a full range of groceries, dairy, bread, baked goods, beer, wine, liquor, fishing tackle, and postal service.
Scenic notes: A broad, attractive bay with the crystal-clear water that defines this lake. The western shore has good tree cover and a mix of cottages set back from the waterline. Views east across Clear Lake toward the far shore provide an open, spacious feel that the more enclosed bays lack. Sunrises from this anchorage are particularly good.
Cassidy Bay is located on the western shore of Clear Lake, positioned roughly midway between the lake's southern end at Young's Point (Lock 27) and the northern outlet at Burleigh Falls (Lock 28). The area near the bay includes Kawartha Park along the western shore.
Clear Lake is one of the deeper and clearer lakes in the Kawartha chain. Lock 28 at Burleigh Falls, approximately 2.5 miles north, features an 8.2-metre (27-foot) lift — one of the higher individual lifts on the Trent-Severn Waterway. The lock was rebuilt in 1967 from the original flight-lock configuration of Locks 28 and 29 into the single hydraulic chamber operating today.
| Lock | Name | Direction | Distance | Lift |
| #28 | Burleigh Falls | Upstream | ~7 km | 7.32 m24 ft |
| #27 | Young's Point | Downstream | ~6 km | 2.13 m7 ft |
Cassidy Bay is a solid choice in westerly weather — which, conveniently, is what the Kawarthas deliver most summer afternoons. The 12-plus feet of water is among the better depths you will find in a protected setting on Clear Lake, and the holding is reliable. When conditions cooperate, this is one of the more comfortable stops on the lake.
The eastern exposure is the factor you need to manage. Cassidy Bay opens onto the lake to the east, and while a light east breeze is no problem, a sustained easterly can build enough fetch to make the anchorage uncomfortable. Check your forecast before committing. If easterlies are in the cards, MacKensie Bay is roughly a mile away and offers all-around protection.
For boats heading north to lock through Burleigh Falls in the morning, Cassidy Bay puts you within easy striking distance — roughly 2 to 3 miles from the lock approach. An early departure from here gets you to the lock wall before the queue builds, which matters at Burleigh Falls during peak season.
The eastern exposure is the primary concern — monitor wind forecasts for easterly shifts. Sound carefully near the bay margins where depths transition from the 12-foot basin to shallower rock shelf along shore.
Have photos of Cassidy Bay — Clear Lake?
💌 Email captain@trentsevernguide.comCassidy Bay — Clear Lake — Video Guide Coming Soon
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