A village on the Gull River, with a lookout over the rooftops, a park of rapids, river beaches, and a cultural centre beside a marsh boardwalk.
14 things to do9 free1 ready-made trip
Photo: The Gull River looking north from the Bobcaygeon Road Bridge in Minden, MikeStnly, CC BY-SA 4.0
Minden sits on the Gull River in Haliburton County, about twenty-five minutes southwest of the village of Haliburton, in the Township of Minden Hills. Rotary Park has two beaches and a boat launch on the river just north of downtown. A short way south, Harrington Park looks over the rapids at the Minden Wild Water Preserve. Panorama Park sits above the village.
The Cultural Centre, on Bobcaygeon Road, holds a gallery, a heritage village and Nature's Place, and it is meant to connect to downtown by the Boardwalk and the Riverwalk. Official pages, read on 12 November 2026, still listed both paths as closed because of fluctuating water levels, check before you go.
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Free No charge to enter · Cheap A small entry, permit or parking fee · Paid Tickets, tours or rentals
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Rotary Park
A municipal park on the Gull River, just south of the Highway 35 and County Road 21 intersection, with two beaches, a boat launch and a small dock, a playground, picnic shelters and an accessible washroom. Free.
Season Township parks and trails are officially open from mid-May until mid-October. In 2026, Rotary Park and its washrooms (8 a.m.–8 p.m.) were listed as opening on 15 May, with parks, docks and boat launches listed to close starting 23 October (check before you go).
A short footpath, about half a kilometre, along the rapids at the Minden Wild Water Preserve, on Horseshoe Lake Road. Official pages call the walking easy to moderate, with good views of the kayaking water. Free.
A roughly one-kilometre accessible walk along the Gull River, with a footbridge and a shorter boardwalk from the Cultural Centre through a marsh. Official pages, read on 12 November 2026, still listed both paths as closed because of fluctuating water levels. Check before you go. Free when it is open.
Season The official parks page, read on 12 November 2026, still listed the Riverwalk and Boardwalk as closed because of fluctuating water levels. Township trails were also listed as unmaintained after 23 October 2026 (check before you go).
The township's largest park, 460 acres of mixed woodland south of the South Lake and Gelert Roads intersection, with hiking and winter walking. The official parks page said the Blue Trail was open, while the orange and yellow trails remained closed as cleanup continued. Free.
Season The official parks page said the Blue Trail was open, while the orange and yellow trails remained closed as cleanup continued (check before you go).
The township's largest beach, on Chambers Road, reached from Highway 35 at Omagaki Road, with a sandy shore, a mix of sun and shade, and a portable washroom. Free.
The Poker Lakes backcountry, about 1,800 hectares of forest and twelve lakes west of Carnarvon, with canoe routes, portages and interior campsites. A camping permit is required.
A heritage village of five historic buildings at the Cultural Centre, including Bowron House, the Stanhope Schoolhouse and the Stirling Bank. Admission is by donation. Self-guided tours are seasonal.
Season Admission is by donation. Official 2026 season 16 May–10 October; self-guided tours Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday (check before you go).
A municipal gallery at the Cultural Centre, with a permanent collection of work by André Lapine and changing exhibitions by local and regional artists. Admission is by donation. The official page said the gallery is open year-round, but closed periodically for exhibit installation.
Season Admission is by donation. Hours were listed as Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday; the official page said the gallery is open year-round, but closed periodically for exhibit installation (check before you go).
Admission is by donation. The gallery is part of the Cultural Centre and is open year-round, with periodic closes for exhibit installation.
Season Admission is by donation. Hours were listed as Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday; the official page said the gallery is open year-round, but closed periodically for exhibit installation (check before you go).
Parks and trails: Official pages say township parks and trails are open from mid-May until mid-October. In 2026, many parks opened on 15 May and were listed to close starting 23 October, with trails unmaintained after that date. The official parks page, read on 12 November 2026, still listed the Minden Riverwalk and Boardwalk as closed because of fluctuating water levels, and the Peck Street boat launch as closed. Check before you go.
Beaches: Lakelands Public Health tests municipal beaches and posts results. Check the posted conditions before you swim.
Snowdon Park: The official parks page said the Blue Trail was open, while the orange and yellow trails remained closed as cleanup continued.
We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: The Gull River looking north from the Bobcaygeon Road Bridge in Minden, MikeStnly, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: The Gull River at the Minden Wild Water Preserve, hkaito, CC BY 2.0
